397 
oceurs in the Central and N. W. Provinces, the Punjaub and 
Rajpootana, in suitable localities. 
As for the present species, HZ. Lettia, although very probably 
it does, as Mr. Blyth remarks, occur throughout the Indo-Chi- 
nese sub-region, all the specimens that I have yet seen were 
procured in the Himalayahs, in Sikhim, Nepaul and Kumaon at 
heights of from 3,000 to 5,000 feet above the sea; it seems to 
affect the warmer and more wooded valleys and preys largely on 
beetles and insects, these being the only contents of the stomachs 
of three specimens that I myself examined. 
No. 75 Bis. Ephialtes Plumipes.* (Spc. Nov.) 
Tut Priume-roor Scors Owt. 
Four eggs of this species, together with the female birds, 
were sent me from Kotegurh, where the latter had been cap- 
tured on the eggs, in a hole inatree. The eggs were taken 
on the 13th of May, and were partly incubated. They are 
intermediate in size between those of Athene Brama and 
Athene Cuculoides, but they are more spherical than either. 
They are of course pure white and slightly glossy. They do 
not appear to be quite as large as some of those of H. Griseus 
that I possess. 
* K. Piumirss, 
Dimensions. Length, 9°5 to 10. Expanse, 20. Wing, 6°7 to 7:3. The 
Ath Primary the longest; the 1st, 1°7 shorter; 2d, 0°8; and the 3rd, 0-2 
shorter. Length of tail, 3; exterior tail feathers, 0-2 to O'4 shorter than the 
interior feathers. Tarsus, 1:6 to 17. Mid toe to root of claw (feathered 
to base or middle of terminal joint) 1; its claw straight, 0°55: hind toe, 0°5; 
its claw, 0°5: inner toe, 0°8; its claw, 0°57. Bill straight, from edge of cere, 
0°6; from gape, 0°92; width at gape, 0°92; height at front at margin of 
cere, 0°33 ; length of cere, 038; lower tail coverts fall short of end of tail, 
by 1:1 to 1:5. 
Duscription. The full description given of #. Lettia, renders it unneces- 
sary to describe this species at length. The toes fully feathered to the base 
of, or even half way down the terminal joint, alone suffice to separate 
it from all our other Indian Scops Owls, but I may remark that the general 
tint of colouring is darker, and as a rule less rufous or buily, and the dark 
blotches on the head, back, ruff feathers, breast and abdomen, are larger and 
more conspicuous. The feathers of the throat and front of the ruff are also 
much more barred. I have never myself seen this bird alive, and therefore 
cannot give the colours of the irides and other parts which change in the dry 
specimens, nor can I, not having recorded them myself, vowch for the accuracy 
of those dimensions which cannot be checked from the dry skins, but I have 
no reason to doubt the correctness of those above recorded. 
