(BY) 
journey to the plains, taking in easy stages down the hills, as the 
cold increases and chances of food lessen. 
These owls are not averse to the light of day, when they can_ fly 
with considerable ease and are fairly swift on the wing. Although 
I have this species before me, which was procured in the Terai, 
nevertheless, it is a difficult bird to figure, in a general sort of way. 
Less prominent, perhaps, are the two aigrettes on either side of the 
head. Brachyotus is 15 inches in length ; tips of the wings exceed 
the tail ; plumage, above, is brown, pale tawny, the feathers with 
pale margins ; quills darker with brown bars ; bars also, on the tail 
which is yellowish grey ; disk pale fulvous with black streaks and 
buff mottled with yellowish brown, underparts are dull yellowish 
brown with narrow stripes; tarsus and part of the toes plumed ; 
irides yellow. Owls, being birds with nocturnal habits, offer but 
few opportunities for close observations, most of the species are 
difficult to find, as they hide away during the day time, and not a 
few frequent dense forests. Consequently they are a family, few 
care to push their enquiries, into, the habits and characteristics of 
the different species found in the district ; nevertheless they present 
two or three interesting types of birds, so that a closer acquaintance 
with the Forest-eagle Owl, or Tawny Fish Owl, or one of the Owlets, 
Cuculoides or Brodizi, will quite repay, an introduction. 
(71) Hunva Nipaensis, Forest Eagle-Owl. This fine Eagle Owl 
is often heard during the night ; in the dense forests at Tongloo and 
Sandakphu; not infrequently in Darjeeling in the rains, or cold 
weather. Its deep joo, hoo, sounds weird and melancholy in the 
silence of night, repeated at intervals, brings back to memory days 
of toil and dangers in the dense forests, where the big black bear 
Ursus Torquatus vel Tibetanus, and panther prowl close at hand, and 
now in the darkness of night these marauders are left to their own 
sweet wills. In appearance this owl is eagle-like ; colour of the 
plumage is dark brown ; feathers barred and with edge tawny ; 
yellowish on the back ; quills brown and having whitish bars ;_ tail 
pretty well the same colour; underparts of the body brownish 
white, spotted and barred with brown, more prominent where they 
coalesce into a pectoral gorget. In general apperance the bird is 
barred and spotted. In length nipalensis is 23 inches ; bill yellowish ; 
irides brown ; bill is strong, longish, straight and hooked like the 
eagles ; upper mandible festooned ; the facial disk imperfect ; wings 
long, 4th and 5th quills the longest, most of the primaries emarginate 
on the lower web, tail moderate ; tarsus short, strong and well fea- 
thered ; toes short, strong and scaled ; claws large and acute. 
(73) KetTuPA FLAVIPES, Tawny Fish-Owl. This fine /large owl, 
belong to the genus Ketupa, is about 24 inches in length, bill is 
