302 
“This species is figured by Gray and Mitchell, (Gen. Birds, 
pl. 14), with yellow irides, which is a mistake. ‘The species 
of Bulaca, as of Syrnium, have dark* irides, while those of 
Ptynx (I suspect) have yellow irides. In the great series of 
Scops-Owls, there are two groups, one having dark, and the 
other yellow irides. To the former belong certain African 
species of considerable size, as the so-called Bubo Jacteus, 
(Lemm. P. C. 4), also B. poensis, Fraser (figured in incom- 
pletely mature plumage as B. fasciolatus, Temm., in P. Z. 8. 
1863, pl. 383), and another beautiful species, B. cinerascens, 
now, together with B. poensis, in the Zoological Gardens, which 
seem to differ only from Bu/aca, (founded on the present species) 
in having tufts of peculiar and rather flimsy texture, which 
they have a peculiar mode of displaying, spreading them out 
laterally like the opening ofa wing ; and to this group of Scops- 
Owls also belongs the Ep/hialtes lettia, and its immediate con- 
geners (as noticed in the sequel). A parallel series of yellow- 
eyed Scops-Owls comprises the so-called Bubo Africanus and 
species akin to it, as also the small European Scops-Owl with 
others allied to it. Professor Schlegel and also Mr. G. R. 
Gray, erroneously identify Bulaca Newarensis of Hodgson 
with B. indrani of Sykes (BL. monticola, Jerdon), the Himalayan 
species being very much larger than the other, and differing 
more from it than Spilornis Cheela does from S. bacha As Dr. 
Jerdon remarks, the Himalayan bird mustt weigh fully double 
that from Southern India.” 
To my mind neither of Dr. Jerdon’s descriptions, 7. e¢., 
neither that of Indranee nor Newarense, sufficiently accurately . 
represent our Simla bird, and I have therefore given in the 
footnote, a detailed description taken from a fresh specimen 
(the old male) killed near Mahasoo, but I should note that 
some birds have the whole of the upper parts a paler and more 
decidedly rufous brown, than in the specimen described, and 
the feathers of the centre of the forehead, crown, and occiput, 
absolutely uncolorous with those of the nape, upper back and 
central scapulars, instead of contrasting with them by their 
deep chocolate-like tinge. 
The feathers of the tarsus and base of the foot are very thick 
and full. So that the lower portion of the tarsus appears fully 
one and three quarter inches deep, measured from front to back. 
The arrangement of the toes is somewhat remarkable, almost 
* Vide my description of the Simla Bird. 
¥ Our old Simla male weighed 2 lbs. 1 oz. it is to be hoped that some orni- 
thologist in Southern India will weigh some fine male Neilgherry Bird. 
