146 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



the others, Avhich inhabit both Africa and South America. This 

 genus contains the pigmies of tlie Owls 



80. Glaucidium Brodisei, Burton. 



Noctua, apud Burton, P. Z. S. 1835— Blyth, Cat. 163— 

 HoRSF., Cat. 77— Noctua tubiger, Hodgson, A. R. XIX. 75. 



The Collared Pigmy Owlet. 



Descr. — Back, wings, and tail, dusky brown, with pale fulvous 

 or rufous bars and spots ; a conspicuous broad fulvous collar, 

 marked with black on the back of the neck ; the usual white 

 markings on the scapulars ; throat and lower part of disk, white ; 

 rest of plumage beneath brown, with pale fulvous or white bars ; 

 a broad patch of white down the breast, and middle of upper abdo- 

 men ; and the lower tail coverts, vent, and sides, have also a good 

 deal of white. Some specimens are much more rufous than 

 others. 



The wings do not reach the end of tail by 1^ inches. Bill pale 

 greenish yellow ; toes the same, but more yellow. Irides bright 

 pale yellow ; the toes have a few scattered hairs on them. 



Length 6| inches ; wing 3f ; tail 2f ; tarsus | ; extent 15. 



This pretty little owlet is found throughout the Himalayas, from 

 3,000 or 4,000 feet, to a considerable elevation. It is not rare about 

 Darjeeling, and its low monotonous call or whistle of two notes 

 may be frequently heard at night-fall. It is hence called ' the 

 melancholy bird' at some of our hill stations. Hutton found the 

 nest in a hollow tree at Mussooree, in May, containing three round 

 white eggs. It lives chiefly on beetles and other insects. 



Gen. NiNOX, Hodgson. 



Syn. Ctenoglaux Kaup. 



Head small, disk obsolete ; bill short, cere large, nostrils tumid ; 

 wings long, firm ; 3rd quill longest, 1st and 2nd moderately 

 graduated ; tall long, firm, nearly even ; tarsi rather short, feather- 

 ed ; toes long, thinly clad with bristles, and bordered laterally by 

 stiff bristles ; lateral toes equal. 



