52 MR. CASSIN'S DESCRIPTIONS OF OWLS. 



Tail black, tipped with white and having about five bands, which are brownish on 

 the outer and white on the inner webs. 



Bill horn color at base, pale yellow at the tip. 



Younger or different sex? Bands on the upper surface of the body broader, those 

 on the wing coverts primaries and secondaries enclosing nearly regular bands of 

 black. Scapulars with their outer webs fulvous and pure white. 



Spots on the outer webs of the primaries and bands on the tail nearly white, 

 secondaries broadly tipped with white, each terminal spot enclosing a segment of 

 dark brown. 



Entire inferior surface of the body fulvous, the feathers having longitudinal spots 

 only of dark brown, under tail coverts nearly white. 



Younger ? Bands on the back and rump almost obsolete, having the appearance 

 of spots only ; scapulars and some of the wing coverts broadly edged with pure 

 white. 



Entire under surface of the body nearly white with but a tinge of fulvous, the 

 feathers having longitudinal bands only of dark brown. Under tail coverts and tarsi 

 nearly white. Wings rather shorter than in the preceding specimens. 

 Hah. South America and Mexico. 



Ohs. — Of this species I have seen many specimens, though I have met with no 

 plate nor description applicable to it. There are in the collection specimens from 

 South America, Trinidad, and Mexico, which present considerable variation in color 

 as I have above described. 



2. Syrnium albogularis, nobis.* Plate IV. — S. umbrino-fusca vermiculate et minute maculata nigro, in 

 capite quoque albo maculato. Pectore, fascia lata umbrino-fusco, nigro maculata, maculis in multis 

 plumis rotundis albis, aliquando in paribus ; abdomine fulvo striis longitudinalibus nigris ; cauda 

 umbrino-fusca, fusciis irregularibus fusco-albis, infra pallidioribus. 



Long. tot. exuvice ab apice rostri usque ad finem caudse 9i poll, alaa 8, cauds 4i pollices. 



Hab. America australi. 



Form. — Aberrant, approaching Athene? Wings with the fourth and fifth quills 

 longest and nearly equal, tail feathers weak, extending slightly beyond the wings. 

 Tarsi long and slender, about three fourths feathered ; toes naked. 



Dimensions. — Total length of skin from tip of bill to end of tail about 9| inches, 

 wing 8, tail 4i inches. 



Colors. — Entire plumage above deep umber brown, every feather more or less 

 finely vermiculated and minutely spotted with black, on the head also transversely 

 lined and spotted with pure white, especially in the region of the occiput, where upon 

 some feathers the white spots are disposed regularly in pairs upon the opposite webs. 

 Feathers of the back and rump having also three or four irregular transverse lines, 



* Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, IV. p. 124, Dec. 1848. 



