710 BtTLLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Northwestern Mexico, in State of Chihuahua (Durasno). 



Megascops vmaceus Bkewstee, Auk, v, Jan., 1888, 88 (Durasno, Chihualiua; 



coll. W. Brewster); viii, 1891, pi. 3, lower fig.— Hasbrouck, Auk, x, 1893, 



251, 264. 

 Scops vinaceus Gtjenet, Cat. Birds of Prey, 1894, 38. — SALViirand Godhan, Biol. 



Centr.-Am., Aves, iii, 1897, 19. 

 [Scop8\ vinacea Shaepe, Hand-list, i, 1899, 289. 



OTUS COOPERI (Ridgway). 



COOPER'S SCBEECH OWL.." 



Very similar in coloration to the grayish phase of 0. choliha, but 

 toes very distinctly bristled; under parts much more densely ver- 

 miculated, legs much more rufescent and more distinctly barred, 

 white variegation on outermost scapulars much less conspicuous, and 

 lighter bands on remiges and rectrices narrower and more numerous; 

 tail relatively much shorter, legs longer, and toes and claws larger. 



Adults (sexes alike). — ^Above light grayish brown or pale drab- 

 brown, minutely vermiculated with dusky, the feathers of pileum 

 and back having mesial, chain-Hke, streaks of blackish; outer webs 

 of exterior scapulars inconspicuously variegated with white irregular 

 spottijog; outer webs of primaries with quadrate spots of pale fulvous 

 mai^ined with blackish, there being about ten of these spots on longest 

 quill; tail crossed by about ten to twelve narrow bands of pale ful- 

 vous likewise mai^ined on each side by a dusky line; face brownish 

 white, finely but distinctly barred with dusky brown, the "eyebrow" 

 (superciliary region) l%hter and more coarsely mottled; face bor- 

 dered laterally or posteriorly by a distinct narrow band of dusky 

 spots; tmder parts white, densely penciled with blackish and grayish 

 brown zigzag lines, imparting a light brownish appearance to the 

 general surface; legs light rusty brown thickly barred with deeper 

 brown; "iris lemon yellow; cere, bill, and feet yellowish green." * 



Young. — General dblor above light grayish brown broken by very 

 minute and rather indistiuct transverse vermiculations of dusky and 

 larger but still iaconspicuous transverse marldii^s of white, these 

 larger and more obvious on outer webs of middle wing-coverts; under 

 parts dull whitish crossed everywhere with transverse vermiculations 

 or irregular narrow pencUliogs of dusky, strongly suffused with pale 

 brownish on chest, where the vermiculations are minute and confused; 

 flanks and imder tail-coverts with bars broad and distinct, the inter- 

 spaces nearly pure white and wider than the mottled-brownish bars; 

 remiges an(i rectrices (if developed) as in adults; biU pale horn color, 

 yellowish at tip; iris yeUow; claws pale horn color, darker terminally. 



a Named for Senor Juan Cooper, of Cartage, Costa Rica, well known aa a collector 

 of Costa Rican birds, and collector of the type-specimen of the present species. 

 6 Juan Cooper, on label. 



