132 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



the lower parts, with the flanks, pale fulvous-white, the feathers 

 barred with broadish cordate spots of brown, in some tending 

 to coalesce, and form a pectoral band ; tarsal feathers spotted 

 brown. 



Bill horny-yellow, irides brown ; claws dirty yellow. The wings 

 reach to about 1^ inches from the end of the tail. 



Length 22 to 23 inches ; wing, 16^ ; tail, 8j ; tarsus, 2 ; mid-toe 

 and claw, 3 ; inner do, 3| ; bill at gape, 2^ ; height, 1^. 



Hodgson assigns greater dimensipns to this bird, viz. 28 to 30 

 inches, extent 5^ feet ; but a specimen from Nepal corresponds 

 very closely in measurement with my Malabar one. Hodgson 

 further gives the tarsus 3 inches, and the inner talon along the 

 curve, 2^. 



It is doubtful if the Nepal bird be the same as the Malayan one, 

 figured by Temminck ; and also whether the one I obtained from 

 Southern India be the same as either : but materials are wanting to 

 form a just conclusion. Blyth and Horsfield join both to the Sf7Hx 

 07'ientalis, Horsfield, strepitans, Temm. PI. Col. 174 ; but Bonaparte, 

 whilst joining Hodgson's bird to Horsfield's, keeps mine as doubtfully 

 distinct. Kaup separates the Nepal bird from the Malayan one, and 

 in this I have followed him, without however having had oppor- 

 tunities of full comparison. For the same reason I have also 

 united the race from Southern India though with doubt ;* and 

 considering the great similarity of allied species in this family, 

 which are recognized as distinct, I think we may conclude that 

 there are two, if not three, allied races or species of this form 

 in India (including Burmah) and Malayana. 



Hodgson got his Owl in Nepal from the central region chiefly ; 

 and it is probably found through a considerable part of the Hima- 

 layas, at no great elevation however. I obtained my pectoralis in 

 high forest in Malabar, where it is not very common, and is said to 

 kill hares, various birds, cats, rats, and also fish. In this my informant 

 may have been in error, perhaps confounding it with Ketupa, which 

 is a well-known fisher. It has a low deep and far-sounding 



* Mr. Blyth mentions that in Cassin's list of Strigidae, H. pectoralis is kept dis- 

 tinct from orientalis. 



