DISTRIBUTION OF BARN-OWLS. 5 



tail 5*8, tarsus 3*1, middle toe 1*55. Although stated to be from '' Mexico/' 

 the locality is open to doubt. 



r. Costa Rica, The birds from this country commence to show indica- 

 tions of an approach to the Strix guatemalce of Ridgway. Two specimens are 

 in the Museum, received direct from Costa Rica by Mr. Henry Whitely, some 

 of whose specimens, however, which we have examined from the same source, 

 seem to be skins of Guatemalan origin (made up in the usual Coban style), 

 although they may have been forwarded to England via Costa Rica. This 

 might account for the appearance of S, guatemalce thence, as one of the 

 skins in the Museum has evident traces of zigzag bars on the under surface ; 

 the other is merely spotted below. In both specimens the bars on the quills 

 and tail are five in. number. Total length 14*5— 15*0 inches, wing 13'3, tail 

 5*7, tarsus 2'8-3'l, middle toe 1*4—1*55. I think it right to draw attention 

 to these facts as inducing further research into the form of Barn-Owl found 

 in Costa Rica. According to Dr. von Frantzius it is the commonest Owl in 

 the country (J. f. O. 1869, p. 367). 



V, Guatemala (procured both by Mr. Skinner and Mr. Salvin). The 

 specimen in the Museum bears out Mr. Ridgway' s characters for 6\ guatemalce y 

 which, he says, is likeS.^ammra in colouring, but is more uniform above and 

 more coarsely speckled below. Total length 14*5, wing 13*4, tail 5*7, tarsus 

 3*25, middle toe 1*6. 



0, x? V^. Veragua, The Museum possesses three skins obtained by Arce. 

 They are very rufous in colour, and two of them have remains of bars on the 

 breast ; but the third has only small spots and no bars. They are all very dark 

 above. The number of bars on the quills varies from four to five ; and on the 

 tail only four are to be seen, though one has indications of a fifth. Total 

 length 13-0-15-5 inches, wing 12*5-13*8, tail 6*3-5*8, tarsus 3*0-31, 

 middle toe 1*45-1* 5. As M. Boucard received these birds direct from 

 Arce, we are sure of their origin; and it is interesting to note that the 

 peculiarity of the barring on the breast is by no means constant in typical 

 S. guatemalce. 



VOL II. c 



