82 ' 



door Owl of Europe (Strix Jlammea), a comparison of several 

 specimens with the European bird satisfies Colonel Sykes that 

 Dr. Horsfield was right in separating it. Neither sex is un- 

 spotted white underneath, nor has the Indian species a white 

 disc. Sexes alike, with the exception of the plumage of the 

 female being a shade or two lighter than that of the male. 

 Length, inclusive of tail, 17 inches: tail 5 inches. One of 

 Colonel Sykes's specimens was captured alive while lying on 

 its back on the ground, defending itself against the attacks of 

 a body of crows. Irides reddish dark brown. 



20. Strix Indranee. Strix capite supra pallide brunneo, plumis 



albido marginatis ; dorso imo, pteromatibusque rujescenti-brun- 

 neis , fasciis albisfusco marginatis notatis ; dorso medio, ptilis, 

 remigibus cauddque brunneis, his rifescentifasciatis, hac fasciis 

 albidis gracilibus notatd % ad apicem albo marginatd ; guld cris- 

 soque albescentibus ; abdomine subrujb, brunneo graci titer fas- 

 ciato ; regione circumoculari nigra ; disco rufo, brunneo mar- 

 ginato. 



Irides rufo-brunneae. Longitudo corporis 21 uric, caudcz 9. 

 Inhabits the woods of the Ghauts : rare. The specimen de- 

 scribed is a young bird, and a female. 



Genus Ketupa, Less. 



21. Ketupa Leschenaulti. Less., Traite d'Ornith. p. 114. Strix 



Leschenaulti, Temm., PI. Col. 20. Scops? Leschenaulti, Steph., 



vol. 13. p. 53. 

 A rare bird in the Dukhun. Independently of the naked legs of 

 this bird, its aquiline aspect authorizes its separation from the 

 genera with which it had been placed previously to M. Les- 

 son's arrangement. 



Genus Noctua, Sav. 



22. Noct. Indica, Frankl. Peenglah of the Mahrattas. 



Irides King's yellow. Sexes alike. Mice and beetles found in 

 the stomach. An exceedingly noisy bird, and frequently heard 

 chattering during the day-time in dense trees. The Mahrattas 

 have a superstition respecting this species j and a class of per- 

 sons, called from it Peengleh, live on the credulity of the people 

 by pretending to consult it, and predict events. Length, in- 

 clusive of tail, 9| to II inches: tail 1\ to 3 inches. Numerous 

 in the Dukhun, and found in families of four or five. 



Order II. INSESSORES, Vigors. 



Tribus Fissirostres, Cuv. 



Fam. Meropidce. — Genus Merops, Linn. 



23. Merops viridis, Linn. Indian Bee-eater, Lath. Guepier a collier 



de Madagascar, Buff. 



