A LIST OF BIRDS FOUND IN THE SIMLA HILLS. 615 



1]14. The Banded Bay Cuckoo — Pentlwcoryx sonnerati, Latham. 



Only once observed. Some White-cheeked Bulbula were 

 persistently attacking it as it perched on the tops of cactns 

 bushes. 1 got a good view of it through my glasses, but it was 

 too wary to allow me to approach within gunshot. Elevation 

 5,000 feet. 



1118. The Pied Crested Cuckoo — Coccystes jacobinus, Bodd. 



Very common in the cultivated areas up to 5,500 feet, and 

 occasionally found as high as 8,000 feet. Much given to wander- 

 ing at night. I have heard it calling at 11 p. m. at the latter 

 elevation. Usually victimises T. lineatum in these parts. 



1138. The Rose-ringed Paroquet — Palceornis torquatus, Bodd. 



A male procured by Dodsworth in the lower hills. Elevation 

 3,000 feet. 



1139. The Western Blossom-headed Paroquet — Palceornis cyanoce- 



phalus, Linn. 



Occurs in these hills up to 5,000 feet at which elevation I 

 found it nesting in 1918. 

 1141. The Slaty-headed 'Paroquet — Palceornis schisticeps, Hodgson. 



A common woodland species. Does not appear to ascend 

 above 7,000 feet. Most eggs are laid in April. 

 1138. The Himalayan Wood-Owl — Syrniumnivicola, Hodgson. 



Not uncommon in and around Simla. Dodsworth was, I 

 believe, the first ornithologist to find the egg of this species. 

 The particular "nest" he took that egg from was placed in a 

 small cave in a cliff. Since tiien I have found several " nests" 

 all of which were in holes in trees, varying from 10 feet, to 35 feet 

 from the ground. The eggs are two or three, perhaps more 

 often the latter number. These are laid from the middle of 

 March to the second week in April. Six eggs average 1*886 x 

 1*583 inch each. This owl has quite a variety of notes besides 

 the usual "Who-hoo". One is a pecidiar squawk which can 

 easily be imitated by placing a blade of grass between the two 

 thumbs of one's hands and blowing sharply on the edge of the 

 grass-blade. Another is very similar to the note of the 

 domestic pigeon when he is showing off before the female. 

 Barely more than one young one is reared to maturity. I have 

 never found anything but rats in the nest-hole. Numbert* of 

 pellets found near their nests and under their rooting-places 

 have never contained remains of birds. A really iiseful bird. 

 1160. The Brown Wood-Owl — Syrnium indrani, Bykes. 



This grand owl must be considered very rare about Simla. 

 I have twice found its nest, in each case in a hole in a tree. 

 On the first occasion there was only one egg on the point of 

 hatching, 29th April. The second nest contained two young 

 about a week old on the 14th April. I have only heard this 

 owl using two different cries. The first is very much like that 

 of the male domestic pigeon. The others is a low, sonorous 

 squawk. The latter is a note of alarm, 1 am inclined to 

 think. No notes regarding food of this powerful bird, but one 

 would imagine it capable of taking a pheasant or even a fowl, 

 with ease. One egg measured 2*15 x 1"74 inches. 

 1175. The Spotted Himalayan Scops Owl— Scops spilocephalus, 

 Blyth. 



Fairly plentiful in the Oak and Rhododendron forests up to 

 8,000 feet. Usually lays in April. 



