106 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



" This species is quite common in the Island of Upolu, and other 

 islands of the Samoan Group. It is frequently abroad during the day, 

 and flies with ease and almost perfect silence. We obtained numer- 

 ous specimens, which vary but little, though some are light-gray above, 

 and snow-white beneath, while others are pale-tawny above, but having 

 also white breasts. 



" A single specimen was obtained at the Island of Ovolau, one of 

 the Feejee Group." 



2. Genus CICCABA, Wuglcr, Isis, 1832, p. 1222. 



1. CiCCABA MELANONOTA [Tschucli). 



Noctua mela not iota, TscHUDi, Faun. Peru. Aves, p. 114, PI. IV (1845). 



The specimen in the collection, which appears to have been obtained 

 in Brazil, differs from the figure and description given by M. Von 

 Tschudi (Fauna Peruana, Birds, p. 114, Plate IV), in having the 

 brown color of the upper parts extended to the neck in front, and 

 downwards on to the breast, somewhat broken on the neck in front 

 by the partially white feathers of the facial disk or ruff. It is proba- 

 bly a more mature specimen than that described by the discoverer of 

 this species, the learned and indefatigable naturalist and traveller just 

 mentioned. 



Plumage around the base of the bill and extending over the eyes 

 yellowish-white. Entire plumage of the upper parts of the head and 

 body, wings, and tail, dark umber-brown; neck before with the feathers 

 of the disk brown, mixed with white, and apparently forming an 

 irregular band, immediately succeeded by a wide transverse band of 

 brown across the breast. Abdomen, legs, and under tail-coverts pale- 

 reddish or rusty-white, many feathers having transverse bars of red- 

 dish-brown ; under wing-coverts pale reddish-yellow. Tail umber- 

 brown, with about four narrow transverse bars of white, and tipped 

 with white. Total length about sixteen inches ; wing twelve inches ; 

 tail seven and a half inches. 



This species, of which this is the only specimen that we have seen, 

 is strictly congeneric with Ciccaha iorquata, Daudin, but can readily 



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