106 
Birds of Celebes: Asionidae. 
■p. Ephialtes leucospila (1) Wall., Tins 1868, 25, 27 partim (OelebeSy. 
For synonymy see Salvad., ib. 
Diagnosis. General plumage of a jadlow tint, both above and below; ruff and ear-coverts 
oclu-aceous buff; no white, but yellowish, on the scapulars; no perceptible collar roiuid 
hind neck; entire npper surface very strongly banded with fulvous (Sharpe ml). 
Observation. According to Salvadori’s key, specimens, agreeing with the following two sub- 
species in having the upper surface darker than the lower, occur, but such may be 
distinguished from these other subspecies by the markings of the under sui’face being 
scantier, but bi’oader. 
Distribution. Amboina; Oeram ''wi 2). 
Observation. There are two .specimens of a Seopf^ in the Leyden Museum, mentioned by 
Schlegel as having the “teinte gendrale d’un roux foned tres ardent”, which are 
stated to have been obtained at Gorontalo by Forsteu: a third in the Darmstadt 
Museum, also from Celebes, Avas collected by Dr. Eiedel probably at Gorontalo like- 
AA'ise. Loth Schlegel and Hriiggemann agree in separating these from S. imvn- 
demis, and in recording two foi'ins of Scops OavI from Celebes. Dr. Sbarpe only 
alloAvs the island one race, and that the typical S. rnanademis. Bruggemann found 
his Oelebesian A magicus perfectly identical AAoth a Halmahera specimen; Scblegel 
his tAvo Avith one from Ternate. On the other hand Ave now consider these rufous 
birds from Celebes to l)e simply old examples of the local race (see supra). 
6. Scops manadensis leucospilus (Gray). 
q. Scops leucospilus (Gray;, (I) Sharpe, Cat. B. 1875, II, 72, pi. VI; (2) Salvad., Orn. 
Pap. 1880, I, 72, 74; (3j Pleske, Bull. Ac. Petersh. 1884, 522. 
r. Scops bouruensis (I) Sharpe, Cat. B. 1875, IT, 73, pi. VII, f. 2 (fide Salvad.). 
Diagnosis. Differs from S. m. magicus in haA-ing the marldngs of the under surface more 
finely diffused and numerous; and from S. m. morotmtsis in being paler and haA'ing 
the scapArlars spotted Avith wliite, not rufescent white (Salvad. ib.). 
Distribution. Batchian, Hahuahera; Ternate; Bum (q 2, q 3). 
7. (?) Scops manadensis morotensis (Sharpe). 
s. Scops morotensis (I) Sharpe, Cat. B. 1875, 11, 75, pi. YIT, f. 1; (2) Salvad., 0. Pap. I, 
72, 76; Agg. 1889, I, 22. 
Diagnosis. lake S. m. leucospilus, but darker; the spots on scapulars rufescent AA'hite 
ISalvad. ib.j. 
Distribution. Morty; Ternate fs 2). 
Observation. Mr. Pleske considers on good grounds that this form is identical Avith leuco- 
spiius. Although it is not advisable to unite them until more material from Morty 
Island is forthcoming, it appears to us very probable that what is called morotensis 
are only old specimens of leucospilus. As three specuuens in the Dresden Museum 
of the igpical manadensis, magicus and leucospilus with more or less remains of 
nesthng doAvn sIioav, as does also a specimen figured by Dr. Sharpe (pi. VI), the 
young of these owls luive a remarkably pale, blanched, appearance; hence and from 
specimens 1)efore us A\"e conclude that the more satimated, rufous, coloration is a sign of 
greater age. Of the four sjjecimens of morotensis in the British hluseum the three 
labelled ‘-Molucca Islands” may, of course, have come from Morty, or from one of 
the nciighboni’ing islands, Avhich hav-e furnished leucospilus. Tlii’ce specimens of the 
