408 
and is common in Afghanistan, but does not enter the Indian 
sub-region, nor even the Himalayan province of the South 
Turanian sub-region, Mr. Hodgson’s specimens haying been 
obtained north of the snow.” 
As a matter of fact, however, I have now seen two specimens 
shot in the Peshawar valley. I have seen two more from 
Afghanistan, and have had in Col. ‘l'ytler’s museum, the oppor- 
tunity of comparing North African specimens of, apparently, 
the same bird, with Noctua of Europe. 
Mr. Bree tells us that this species “is generally believed by 
naturalists to be only a pale variety of our little Owl Strix 
Noctua,” but it appears to me, undoubtedly distinct from this 
latter species, though of course not so clearly so, as it is from 
A. Brahma. 
The dimensions of Athene Persica (I have only seen skins) 
seem identical with those of Brahma, (the one I first saw, 
however, was much smaller) but in the general tone of colour, 
the size and character of the markings, and the distance to 
which the true feathers extend on to the feet, there are clearly 
appreciable differences. First, the colour appears to be more 
rufous, in some specimens almost a dingy chestnut brown, far 
more rufous, in every case, than are 99 out of every 100 
individuals of A. Brama, although I have seen somewhat rufous 
specimens of these latter from Barrackpore. 
Secondly, the markings of the head are larger, longer and 
breast, upper abdomen, sides and flanks, and tarsal plumes a more rufous 
white, with numerous, irregular, central streaks and blotches of a rufous 
brown brighter than the upper parts, and some of the breast feathers with 
imperfect sub-terminal bands.” 
Mr, Blyth described this species under the name of Bactrianus in the J. 
A. S. for 1847, from one of Capt. Hutton’s Candahar specimens, as follows, 
his dimensions, it will be observed, are much greater than those of the bird 
I first saw. 
* Tength about nine inches, of wing, 6°25, and tail, 3°5 inehes. Tarsi, 
1:25 inch. Plumage of the upper parts somewhat rufescent clay brown, 
with large, round, white spots on the feathers, more or less concealed, and 
wholly so on those of the middle of the back: coronal feathers with medial 
whitish streaks: face white; some of the radiating feathers on the sides of 
the beak, terminating in the black vibrisse ; chin, throat, lower tail coverts, 
and the tibial and tarsal plumes, white, also the fore-part of the under-surface 
of the wing; a longitudinal broad streak on each feather of the breast and 
abdomen; on the hind neck, the white so predominates upon the feathers 
as to give the appearance of a half collar. The great wing feathers have 
broad incomplete pale bands, disposed alternately on their two webs; and 
the middle tail feathers have a double row of some alternating pale spots, 
passing into dull bands on the outer tail feathers: beak (in the dry speci- 
men) whitish ; and claws pale horn colour, 
