374A 
Mr. Blyth is certainly correct in giving the irides as deep 
yellow. 
This is perhaps, if we except Athene Brama, the most 
common species of Owl in the North West Provinces. As far 
as my experience goes, it is most common in comparatively 
open country, greatly affecting mango topes, so common in 
Upper India. It is perhaps most numerous in the narrow belts 
of trees which fringe our canals. In such localities about 
Christmas time, a nest may be found, on an average, in every 
mile of canal, and in the Western Jumna Canal where the trees 
are somewhat old, I have met with half a dozen pairs in a 
morning’s walk. The birds seem to be omnivorous; no doubt 
rats and birds, especially the latter, are their favourite food, but 
I have found in their stomachs remains of both frogs and 
jungle lizards (Uromastiz ). 
They doubtless occur, as Dr. Jerdon says, in the lower ranges 
of the Himalayahs, but I have never happened to come across 
them in the North Western portions of the hills (they have I 
know been sent from Nepaul) and my impression is, that they 
somewhat eschew dense forests, and much prefer open and well 
cultivated, and watered, though of course tolerably well-wooded, 
country. 
Hastward they extend to Tipperah and into British Burmah, 
but not, it would appear into the Malayan Peninsula or further 
south. In Rajpootana, and the North-West Punjab they are 
excessively rare, and I can find no record of their having been 
found west of the Indus. 
No. 70 sis. Bubo Maximus,* Srspazp. 
Tur Great EHarep, Hornep or Hacie Owt. 
Strix Bubo, Linn. Latu. &c., &e. 
Bubo Atheniensis, Daupin—B. Huropeus, Lusson. 
Dr. Jerdon says in his appendix, “ Bubo Maximus of Kurope, 
or a pale variety of that bird, occurs in the higher region of the 
* Buso Maximus. 
Diuensions.—(From Macgillivray.) 
Male.—tLength, 24. Expanse, 58. Wing, 19. Tail, 11. Tarsus, 2°75. Bill, 
along ridge, 2°5. Cere, 0°92. 
Femate.—-Length, 26. Expanse, 61. Wing, 20. Tail, 10. (somewhat worn). 
Tarsus, 2°75. Bill, along ridge, 2°42. The 3rd primary the longest ; the Ist 
1°67 ; the 2nd, 0°17 ; and the 4th, 0°08 shorter. Central tail feathers exceed 
external do. by 1 inch. 
