370 On some new Genera of Raptores. [May, 



Scops seems to me to stand on the confines of the sub-typical group, 

 leading to Noctua as among the first of the aberrant group. One is 

 egretted, the other not ; one has the plumage characteristically soft 

 and lax, the other has the plumage, including the alar and caudal 

 feathers, a good deal firmer. The wings of one scarcely surpass the 

 base of the tail, those of the other reach nearly to its tip. 



The disc of the one is nearly perfect, and the ears comparatively 

 large, though simple. The disc of the other is very imperfect, and 

 the ears much smaller. So also the eye and head*. The one has 

 nude toes, and the other hirsute one. Lastly, a very maculate vest 

 seems as common with Scops, as a lineated garb with Noctua. The 

 size of both is small ; both have an Otine bill with feeble feet ; and 

 both are nocturnal and insectivorous. 



The above characters of known genera are, of course, mere 

 suggestions, as emanating from one who has neither museum nor 

 library at command. But, if practical experience be of any worth, 

 they are suggestions which the skilful may take much advantage of, 

 I suspect that plumage very soft, moderately soft, and more or less 

 hardened or firm, might be ascribed, respectively, to the typical, 

 sub-typical, and aberrant groups of the Strigidce with safety and 

 advantage. 



I have great doubts as to the position of our Urrua and Bulaca- 

 By the elongation and strength of the bill they are affined to the eagle 

 owls ; but the high development of the disc and conch, though far 

 short of Otus, yet seems to indicate the position of these birds to be 

 the sub-typical group. Though very similar in structure and size, one 

 has the egrets, as well as subdiurnal habits and pale iris of Otus ; but 

 in this {Urrua) the valve of the ear is evanescent : whilst the other 

 (Bulaca) with the smooth head and valved ear, has also the nocturnal 

 habits and dark iris of Strix. The size of both is greater than that 

 of either of these genera. In Scops the size and character of the disc 

 and conch are very similar to those of Urrua : but the former is a 

 small nocturnal and insectivorous bird ; the latter, a large, semi-diurnal 

 and mammalivorous one. Bulaca again, with something of the aspect, 

 and with entirely the manners, of Strix, is sundered from Strix, 

 toto ccelo, by the strength of its bill, the high gradation of its wings, 



* The relative volume of the head amongst Strigine birds is more apparent 



than real. It is caused by the immense quantity of plumes protecting the conch 



when the ear has much of the peculiar family structure ; and consequently this 



feature is quite as noticeable in Otus as in Strix ; because in the former genus 



* the ear is even more signally Strigine than in the latter. 



