Bongao (Everett); Sulu (Montano & Rey, Marche).

Diagnosis.—Distinguished at once from the common species (Ninox philippensis) by its greater length (290 mm.), by its much longer wings passing even the tip of the tail, and finally by its reddish brown plumage and transverse brown bars on head and on shoulders.[29]

“A female from Bongao. ‘Iris light yellow; bill greenish plumbeous; feet greenish yellow.’ The specimen now sent appears to be not quite adult, but it shows the distinctness of the species from Ninox philippensis in the barred upper surface. The upper breast is barred with white and dark brown, and the flanks are white, with longitudinal pear-shaped mesial streaks of pale rufous-brown. The tail has likewise ten dark bands, much narrower than in N. philippensis, which has six broad bands of dark brown.” (Sharpe.)

229. NINOX MINDORENSIS Grant.
MINDORO HAWK OWL.

Mindoro (Whitehead, McGregor, Porter).

Adult.—In color and color pattern very similar to Ninox spilonota but very much smaller; it also resembles N. spilocephala in size and pattern of upper parts but differs from the latter in having the breast and abdomen cross-barred instead of boldly striped. Both rufous and light phases occur in this species.

Male.—Iris yellow; bill, cere, and legs greenish; nails dark brown. Length, 225; wing, 167; tail, 88; culmen from base, 20; tarsus, 30.