SOOTY OWL. 
knowledge of the New Guinea bird, I believed that they were writing facts, 
and therefore, as I knew that I should deal with the species in a year or two, 
I accepted their conclusions and relegated to synonymy my magna when 
making up my “ List of the Birds of Australia,” p. 118. 
While in Australia in 1914 I made notes on various birds I saw and 
examined, and as one result I noted in the Austral Avian Record, Vol. II., 
p. 134, Jan. 28, 1915: “All the exafnples of Megastrix tenebricosa I saw from 
Victoria were the large variety which I called Megastrix tenebricosa magna'' 
As Rothschild and Hartert referred me to their series of T. t. arfaki, 
I requested the loan of their series, and Lord Rothschild, with his usual 
generosity, allowed me to criticise them. The Tring Museum does not 
possess a single specimen of T. t. arfaki, but a series of birds from a far distant 
locality, which is so named. 
Schlegel, in the “ Notes from the Leyden Museum,” Vol. I., p. 1879, 
described Strix tenebricosa arfaki as : “ Closely resembling the latter {Strix 
tenebricosa), it differs however by its smaller size, by the white spots of the 
feathers being larger and more regular orbicular, and by the light sooty -brown 
colour of the face, strongly inclining to white. The measures (in Brench 
measure) of the principal parts are as follows : In 8. t. arfaki — wing 9 inches 
1 line, point of wing 1 inch 10 lines, tail 4 inches 4 lines, tarse 30 lines, 
middle toe (without nail) 18 lines. In five specimens of 8trix tenebricosa 
from Australia — wing 10| to 11| inches, point of wing 18 to 27 lines, tail 
5 to 5| inches, tarse 32 lines, middle toe 1| to 2 inches. 
“ One specimen killed near Hattam (Arfak Peninsula).” 
Previously Meyer had recorded {8itz Akad Wissenscli Wien, Vol. LXIX., 
pt. I., p. 396, 1874) a specimen from the Arfak Ranges, noting its small size, 
recording : “ Wing 275 : tail 130 mm.” 
Before criticising this, I will contrast with it Rothschild and Hartert’s own 
idea of 8. t. arfaki, as laid down in the Nov. ZooL, Vol. XIV., 1907, p. 445. 
“ Mr. Meek sent a series of eight specimens from the Upper Aro^ River. 
The males agree with other males from the mountains of British New Guinea, 
while the females are considerably larger. 8trix arfaki is merely a darker 
and somewhat larger Papuan form of the North Australian Strix tenebricosus 
Gould. 
“ 1 $ Avera, Aroa R. Wing about 293 mm. 
“ 2 Owgarra, Angabunga R. Wing about 255 mm. 
“ 1 4 $$ Head of Aroa R. Wing J 255, ? 285-305 mm. 
“ 1 $ (? (5^ !) CoUingwood Bay. Wing 270 mm.” 
It will be at once noticed that this series does not agree with Schlegel’s 
description nor measurement. Consequently they are atypical, and as the 
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