THE BIRDS OF TRAVANCORE. 



Order STRIGES. 

 Family Strigid/e. 

 (197) Strix PLAMMEA. — The Barn-owl or Screech-owl. 

 Blanford, No. 1152 ; Jerdon, No. 60. 

 The Barn-owl is found occasionally in the low country about human 

 habitations. It breeds in December and January. 



Family Asionid^;. 



Sub-family Asionince. 



(198) Ario accipitrinus. — The Short-eared Owl. 



Blanford, No. 1157 ; Jerdon, No. 08. 



I have never come across this bird. Mr. F. W. Bourdillon shot a 



single specimen " while hawking at mid-day in bright sunshine at 4,000 



feet elevation in the end of December." 



(199) Syrnium ocellatum. — The Mottled Wood-owl. 

 Blanford, No. 1161 ; Jerdon, No. G5. 

 Two specimens were shot by my collectors at Perumbalam, an island 

 in the Verubanad lake, in January 1903. The contents of their stomachs 

 consisted of crabs and beetles. It is fairly common from Arukkutty 

 to Vycome. Eggs of this bird were brought to Mr. Bourdillon by the 

 hillmen in June. 



Sub-Family Buhoninoe. 



(200). Ketupa zeylonensis. — The Brown Fish-owl. 

 Blanford, No. 11G4 ; Jerdon, No. 72. 

 Common in forest land in the low country near the sea coast. Breeds 

 in March and April. The Public Gardens possess specimens that, have 

 been ten years in captivity. 



(201). Huhua nepalensis. — The Forest Eagle-owl. 

 Blanford, No. 1170 ; Jerdon, No. 71. 

 This grand bird is not common. Two specimens, taken alive in the 

 low country in forest, lived for some years in the Public Gardens. 

 Another was shot on the High Range and presented to the Museum. 



(202). Scops bakkamcena. — The Collared Scops-owl. 



Blanford, No. 1178 ; Jerdon, No. 75. 

 A very common bird throughout the low country. It does not 

 ascend the hills. 



