1179. Scops semitorques

1179. Scops semitorques.

The Plume-foot SCOPS Owl.

Otus semitorques, Schl. Faun. Jap., Aves, p. 25, pl. 8 (1845-50). Ephialtes plumipes, Hume, Rough Notes, p. 397 (1870). Ephialtes semitorques, Jerdon, Ibis, 1871, p. 348. Scops plumipes, Hume, N. & E. p. 68 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. ii, p. 85 (subsp.); Hume, S. F. vii, p. 358; id. Cat. no. 75 bis ; C. H. T. Marshall, Ibis, 1884, p. 408; Oates in Hume's N. & E. 2nd ed. iii, p. 105. Scops semitorques, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. ii, p. 83 ; Blanf. Ibis, 1894, p. 527.

Coloration similar to that of the greyer forms of S. bakkamoena; the markings, especially below, are as a rule more distinct and coarser, the shaft-stripes generally broader and better-marked, and the nuchal collar less distinct, and whitish rather than buff. The present species is rather larger than S. bakkamoena, and may be at once distinguished by having the toes feathered above to the end of the subterminal phalanx, and sometimes rather farther.

Length of Himalayan birds about 10; tail 3.4; wing 7 ; tarsus 1.4; bill from gape .9.

Distribution. Throughout the Himalayas from Sikhim to Murree, also (the typical form) in Japan and Corea. The Himalayan bird (S. plumipes) is slightly smaller than the Japanese.

Habits, &c. Four eggs were taken at Kotgarh, near Simla, on May 13th, from a hole in a tree ; they were very similar to those of S. bakkamoena, and measured about 1.27 by 1.03.