81 



the plumage is two shades lighter, the tail is barred with 

 six broad fuscous bars, instead of four, and the tail-feathers 

 are much more pointed. The remains of six lizards were found 

 in the stomach of one bird. Colonel Sykes never saw these 

 birds perch on trees. They frequent the open stony plains 

 only. The sexes were never seen together. 



16. Circus variegatus. Circ. capite supra, nucha, ptilis, pecto- 



reque rufis, plumis in medio late brunneis ; dorso, scapularibus, 

 remigibusque externis intense brunneis ; pteromatibus, remigi- 

 bus internis, cauddque griseis ; abdomine Jemorumque tectri- 

 cibus rujis; caudce tectricibus superioribus rufo albo brunneoque, 

 inferioribus griseo saturatiore, notatis. 

 Longitudo corporis 21 una, caudce 10. 

 This is a very remarkable bird, and in its plumage seems to pos- 

 sess much of the united characters of the sexes of this genus, 

 which are known generally to exhibit a marked difference. 

 Colonel Sykes possesses but one specimen, a male. 



Sub-Fam. Milvina. 

 Genus Milvus, Auct. Kite. 



17. Milvus Govinda. Milv. capite, nucha, corporeque subtus ru- 



Jescenti'brunneis, plumis in medio Jusco lineatis ; dorso 3 alis, 

 cauddque satis furcatd saturate brunneis, illarum pteromatibus 

 pallidioribus, hac Jusco obsolete Jasciato. 

 Longitudo corporis 26 una, caudce 11. 

 This bird differs from the Falco Cheele in the want of white spots 

 on the wing-coverts, white before the eyes, and white bar on the 

 tail ; in having the inner webs of the tail-feathers barred with 

 numerous narrow bars, and in the shafts of the feathers about 

 the head and neck, and generally underneath, being very dark. 

 Sexes alike. Constantly soaring in the air in circles ; watching 

 an opportunity to dart upon a chicken, upon refuse animal 

 matter thrown from the cook-room, and occasionally even 

 having the hardihood to stoop at a dish of meat carrying from 

 the cook-room to the house. 



Fam. Strigidce, Leach. — Genus Otus, Cuv. 



18. Ot. Bengalensis, Franklin, Proceed. Zool. Soc. I. p. 115. Goobur 



of the Mahrattas. 

 Irides, external margin dark orange, gradually changing to yel- 

 low at the internal margin. Very common^ in the Dukhun. 

 Generally found on the open rocky plains. A whole rat, (the 

 tail hanging out of the mouth, and the head and most part of 

 the body in the stomach, and partly decomposed,) was found 

 in one bird : another had a crab, a third a Pastor ; but the 

 usual food appeared to be rats. 



Genus Strix, Auct. 



19. Strix Javanica, Horsf. 



Although at a superficial view this species appears to be the barn- 



