1837.] On some new Genera of Raptores. 373 



defining the course of the disc in Stria and Otus, and seeming, as it 

 were, to lay bare the whole head. 



This oro-an, both in size and character, is essentially mediate in 

 these birds, between the typical structure as seen in Strix and Otvs ; 

 and the aberrant structure, as exhibited in Noctua, Ninox, Huhua, 

 and Cultrunguis. 



The following comparative measurements, in English inches, may- 

 help the curious to appreciate the value of those perplexing but 

 necessary terms, long and short, as applied to bills, tails, and legs. 



Length of the of the of the 

 of the bird. tail. tarsus. bill. 



Strix, I*i *i 3i If 



Otus, 1*} 6 2 li 



Urrua, 22 9f 3k 1| 



Bulaca, 22 9| 2§ l| 



Scops, H 3| 1* § 



Noctua, 9% 4 H I 



Ninox, 12 6 l T 3 g § 



Huhua, 30 12 3± 2 f 3 , 



Cultrunguis, 24 9§ 3§ 2| 



P. S. Since the above paper was composed, I have received, from 



the lower hills, a fine specimen of the Strix Coromandra of Latham. 



With the size it has all the characters too, of our Urrua, except in the 



legs, the tarsi being lower, and the toes scopine but stronger. The 



opening of the ear is about one inch, long, ovoid, and not valvular, 



though the membranous edge be more or less free all round it. j 



know nothing yet of the habits of this bird. If they agree with those 



of Urrua, it may form a species of this genus or sub-genus ; and its 



toes are not absolutely nude, though nearly so. But it seems to be 



an osculant species leading to Scops. The wings and tail are both 



somewhat elongated, and sufficiently firm, though the general plumage 



be remarkably soft. The wings are not much short of the tail, and 



they have the 3rd quill longest, the 4th nearly as long ; the first and 



second, moderately gradated. The toes, which are longish and not 



feeble, are remarkable for a softly papillose and flattish sole. To the 



external one there is a vague basal membrane ; and the hind is stronger 



than usual. The tulons are sufficiently elongated and acute ; the inner 



and central, the outer and hind, being respectively equal. 



The nostrils are nearly round and somewhat tumid : the bill, like 



that of Urrua and Bulaca, combines strength with a tendency to 



elongation and straightness, not noticeable in Otus. My bird is a 



mature female, 21 inches long, of which the bill is If, and the tail 9 h, 



the tarsus is 2f, and the central toe 1^. 



3 c 



