On a new Owl from Liberia

Amongst the last birds received from Mr. Stampfli, there was a very peculiar new Owl, which I propose to name Bubo lettii, after its discoverer Mr. Lett, our former landlord and huntsman at Schieffelinsville. This Owl shows no affinity to any of the Owls at present known from the old world, but might rather be compared with the West-Indian Bubo cristatus, on account of the exceedingly long ear-tufts and the white alar spots. General color rufous, forehead, superciliary streak, chin and upper throat pearly gray, slightly vermiculated with earthy brown, which latter color predominates on occiput, hind neck and ear-tufts. Eye-lashes and feathers in front of the eye black, cheeks and ear-coverts rufous, with darker vermiculations. Sides of throat white, each feather broadly tipped with black. Mantle, back, rump and upper tail-coverts uniform rufous, tail rufous, with seven broad black bars. Wings rufous, the quills and wing-coverts broadly barred with black. Four of the median wing-coverts have a large white oval spot on the outer web near the tip. Lesser wing-coverts and primary coverts almost black, tipped with rusty brown; scapulars rufous, strongly vermiculated with pearly and dark brown, the outer ones white on the outer web, with a broad black terminal edge, forming together a conspicuous longitudinal white row. Under wing-coverts rufous, with a patch of dark brown near the edge of the wing. Entire chest rufous, with paler vermiculations, breast and flanks pale fulvous, with very conspicuous dark brown shaft-streaks, abdomen, vent, thighs, tarsi and under tail-coverts uniform fulvous. Iris, bill and toes yellow, claws flesh-color. Wing 28 cm., tail 15, tarsus 3,5, middle toe without claw 3, culmen in straight line 2,6.