540 
Mr. Tristram remarks that “these eggs are interesting, as 
corroborating by their character, the position of the species 
between Astur and Butco.” 
Mr. Allen, who says he found this species common thronghout 
Egypt, at least as far up as Thebes, remarks that “it is said to 
breed in the Mokattam hills, behind Cairo, but I have never yet 
been able to meet with the nest.” 
Mr. Allen had some further interesting remarks, in regard to 
this species, amongst others (a point not noticed by Dr. Jerdon) 
referring to the different colours of the iris in the young, which, 
in a specimen which I shot, at Fazilka, on the Sutledge, on the 
15th November, was quite yellow. Mr. Allen says, “ The iris in 
the immature specimen is of a bright salmon colour, in the 
adult of a brilliant carmine red; and this bird, when recently 
shot, with its pure white breast, delicate dove-coloured back, 
and black shoulders, is an exquisitely beautiful object, though 
the soft, owl-like feathers of the face and throat and breast, inva- 
riably lose their delicate gloss when the skin has been prepared 
some days. ‘This species is crepuscular in its habits, feeding 
largely on mice and beetles, as well as on small birds. It has 
the sclerotic ring of the eye very deep, and altogether shows 
strong Strigine attinities.”’ 
Of the nidification of the allied EHlanus Scriptus in Australia, 
Mr. Gould gives the following account :—‘‘ It nests in companies, 
as near each other as possible. ‘The nest is composed of sticks, 
lined with the pellets ejected from their stomachs, which are 
principally composed of the fur of the rats upon which they 
chiefly subsist. The eggs, which are four or five in number, 
have a white ground, blotched and marked with reddish brown, 
darkest at the smaller end; they are one inch and three quar- 
ters long, by one inch and three-eighths broad. The markings 
are easily removed by wetting.” 
I have often watched these birds hunting over the dry bed of 
a jheel, catching now and then a mouse, but most generally 
large grasshoppers. 
‘They hover over the grass, in the fashion of a Kestrel, or per- 
haps more like a Circactus Gallicus, but in a clumsier and heavier 
manner. The wings point upwards, so that the tips are within 
3” or 4” of each other, instead of being retained nearly hori- 
zontal as in the Kestrel, and the legs and tail hang down unlike 
those of any other bird, that I have yet noticed. ‘Thus hovering, 
they, after a time, slowly descend, and when within a few feet of 
the ground, generally drop suddenly. ‘They are very tame, 
bold birds, passing wnconcernedly within a few yards of a sports- 
man, when busy hunting, over fields or grass, and sitting com- 
