110 Mr. H. E. Dresser's Notes on 



them the two species can be discriminated in every stage of 

 plumage. 



36. Circus cinerarius (Montag.). 

 Strigiceps cineraceus, Severtzoff, p. 63. 



Horizontal range. Is found during the breeding-season in 

 districts II. ^ III., and IV. 



Vertical range. Is found during the breeding-season in dis- 

 tricts 1, 2, and 3. 



37. SURNIA FUNEREA (L.). 



Surnia nisoria, SevertzofF, p. 63. 

 Horizontal range. Is resident in district I. 

 Vertical range. Probably occurs during the winter in dis- 

 trict 3, and is resident in distnct 4. 



38. Nyctea scaxdiaca (L.) . 

 Surnia nivea, SevertzoflF, p. 63. 



Horizontal range. Occurs during winter in district I. 

 Vertical range. Occurs during winter in district 2. 



39. ? Carine glaux (Sav.). 



Athene noctua orientalis, Severtzoff, p. 63. 



Horizontal range. Resident in districts II., III., and IV. 



Vertical range. Resident in districts 1 and 2, is found in 

 summer, and may possibly be resident, in district 5. Its oc- 

 currence in district 3 is doubtful. 



Respecting this species Mr. Severtzoff writes (p. 115) as 

 follows : — '' Athene orientalis differs from Athene noctua of 

 Europe in being greyish brown, like Athene noctua meridi- 

 onalis, from which latter it differs in having its legs covered 

 thickly with feathers; like Nyctala tengmalmi, A. noctua has 

 the orifice of the ear very large, whereas it is small in A. ori- 

 entalis. Athene orientalis is called Ay-chay by the Kirghis, 

 from its cry, and also Hay-kis (literally " inch-quill '') I 

 think that, taking into consideration the pale colour and fea- 

 thered legs, A. orientalis should not be considered a mere 

 variety, but a good species. '^ This bird, described by Severt- 

 zoff, may, I think, possibly be A. nudipes, Hodgs., respect- 

 ing which Mr. Blanford writes (Zool. of Persia, Aves, pp. 117, 



