110 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



badly-defined bars of pale grayish-brown, the feathers somewhat ochra- 

 ceous beneath the surface. Wings and tail as in the adult. 



Remarks. — The gray phase of this form is exceedingly similar in gen- 

 eral appearance to that of 8. cassini, not only above but also on the 

 lower surface. The upper parts are more coarsely mottled, however, 

 and the pale bands across the lower part of the nape and occiput are 

 less conspicuous, especially the latter. The rufous phase is more like 

 that of 8. barbarus, the upper parts in particular being quite similar. 

 On the lower parts, however, there is more rufous, while the black cross- 

 lines are more distinct as well as more numerous. The species may be 

 distinguished from all the other Mexican and Tropical American species 

 (except from S. cooperi, from Costa Rica) by the distinctly bristled 

 toes. In the latter feature, it agrees with 8. asio of the United States, 

 but is considerably smaller, while the red phase is very different from 

 the corresponding plumage of that species. It is also smaller, unless 

 compared with the small race bird distinguished as var. florid anus, which 

 differs in colors and markings, as explained in the remarks respecting 

 that form on page 113. 



The Scops MeCallii of Cassin seems to be the present form rather than 

 what has been so called by most subsequent writers (i. e., true asio and 8. 

 trichopsis ?), the description corresponding exactly, while the habitat is 

 nearly the same — i. e., Texas and u Northern Mexico". 



8. MeCallii is described as follows: — 



" In form and general appearance like the preceding, (8. asio), but 

 much smaller ; short and robust ; wing with the fourth quill longest; 

 tail short, slightly curved inwards; tarsi rather long, fully covered; 

 toes partially covered with long hair like feathers. Adult. Male. — 

 Much resembling in color the adult of the species immediately preced- 

 ing, [i. e., 8. asio,] but darker ; entire plumage above ashy brown, nearly 

 every feather with a longitudinal stripe of brownish black, and with 

 numerous irregular transverse lines and points of the same; under 

 parts, ashy white, every feather with a longitudinal stripe of brownish 

 black, and with well defined but irregular transverse lines of the same; 

 flanks and sides tinged with pale fulvous; quills brown, with several 

 transverse bands of pale reddish-white, assuming the form of quad- 

 rangular spots on the outer webs, and pale reddish ashy on the inner 

 webs; tail ashy brown, with about ten narrow transverse bands on all 

 except the two central feathers, well-defined on the inner webs; scapu- 

 lar feathers and some of the greater coverts of the wings, edged with 

 white; bill greenish horn-color, light yellowish at the tip; irides yellow. 



u Dimensions. Total length, 7£ to 8 inches; wing, 6; tail, 3 inches. 

 Male. 



u JlAi3. Texas (Mr. Schott) ; Northern Mexico (Lieut. Couch). Spec, 

 in Mus. Acad. Philada., and Nat. Mus., Washington City. 



"Obs. This species very considerably resembles the adult or gray 

 plumage of the Scops asio, but is uniformly much smaller and darker 



