PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 87 



another very much more closely than do the two extreme phases of any 

 one species! The geographical variations are 'also unusually pro- 

 nounced, while last, but by no means least of the obstacles presented, 

 is the very great range of individual variation within even a limited 

 area of country. 



Genus SCOPS, Savigny. 



— Scops, Savigx., Descr. de l'figypte, 1809, 291 (type, Strix scops, Linn.). — Cass., in 

 Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 51. — Coues. Key, 1872, 202.— B. B. & E., Hist. N. Am. B. 

 iii, 1874, 47. — <Sharpe, Cat. Strig. Brit. Mus. 1875, 43 (includes Lophostrix, 

 Less.). 



= Ephialites, Keys. & Bi.as., Wirb. Eur. 1840, p. xxxiii (type, Strix scops, Linn. — Neo 

 Schrank, 1802). 



? Pisorliina, Kaup, Isis, 1848, 769 (type, Scops menadensis, Quoy & Gaim.). 

 = Alegascops, Kaup, 1. c. (type, Strix lempiji, Horsf.). 



? Acnemis, Kaup, 1. c. (type, Scops gymnopodus, Gray). 



f Ptilopsis, Kaup, 1. c. (type, Strix leucotis, Temra.). 

 = Lempijius, Boxap., Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, 542 (type, Otus semitorques, Schleg.). 



Generic Characters. — Small owls with distinct ear-tufts, the tarsus 

 more or less feathered (usually completely feathered), the wings ample 

 (more than twice the length of the short, slightly rounded tail), the 

 plumage exceedingly variegated with vermiculations, cross-bars, and 

 mottlings; toes naked or bristled — never completely feathered, except 

 toward the base. 



The above brief diagnosis is sufficient to characterize this group. In 

 general aspect the species of this genus are miniatures of those which 

 beloug to the genus Bubo, and are perhaps as nearly related structu- 

 rally to the latter as to any other members of the family. 



All the American species have the outer webs of the scapulars mostly 

 light-colored (generally white, with a blackish terminal border — rusty- 

 ochraceous in flammeolus and the darker forms of brasilianus), producing 

 a more or less distinct stripe along each side of the dorsal region ; the 

 feathers of the upper and lower parts usually with blackish shaft- 

 streaks, those beneath generally with narrow transverse bars ; outer 

 webs of the remiges with light-colored spots, and the tail more or less 

 distinctly (never sharply) banded. All the species are, in some part of 

 their range, dichromatic, having a bright rufous phase, quite different 

 from the " normal " grayish plumage. 



Key to the Species. 



A. — Toes and lower half (or more) of tarsus completely naked 1. S. nudipes. 



B. — Toes alone (or with merely lower end of tarsus) completely 



naked 2. S. hrasilian us. 



3. S. barbarus, 



4. S. flammeolus. 



C. — Toes strongly bristled, sometimes densely feathered at base. .5. S. asio. 



6. S. cooperi. 



By the above characters, the American species of this genus are 

 readily divided into three groups. It now remains to distinguish 



