OWLS AND DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 317 
THE OWLS AND DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY 
FOUND IN CEYLON. 
By W. E. Warr, M.A., F.Z.S. 
(With one Plate.) 
spe present instalment of the rough draft for the Hand- 
book on the Birds of Ceylon includes the members of 
the Orders Striges and Accipitres. As in the earlier portions, 
I have followed the classification given by Oates and Blanford 
in the volumes on Birds in the ‘‘ Fauna of British India.” 
After this paper had been completed, I had the advantage of 
meeting with Mr. W. L. Sclater, and of reading the manuscript 
of his forthcoming rescension of the Accipitres. There is 
no doubt that since Blanford wrote much greater accuracy 
of classification has been attained, largely by the use of the 
trinomial system in differentiating sub-species, or geographical 
races. As, however, Mr. Sclater’s work was not complete, 
and as the adoption of his classification would have entailed 
the recasting of a considerable portion of my paper, I am 
publishing it as it stood, in order not to delay its appearance. 
I hope, however, when the Handbook is published in volume 
form, to follow the new trinomial classification of Indian birds, 
which Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker is bringing out in the Journal of 
the Bombay Natural History Society. 
Order STRIGES. 
Owls. 
The Owls form a naturally marked order, lying between 
the Parrots and the Birds of Prey. They are birds, mainly 
nocturnal, of very distinctive appearance. The whole 
plumage is soft and fluffy. In most genera the head is large 
and densely feathered ; the big round eyes are directed 
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