426 Mr. J. Scully on the 



of wing (in four specimens I have measured the wings vary 

 from 14"75 to 15-5) ; the wing is differently shaped, the 

 fourth quill heing the longest, and the second half an inch 

 shorter than the fourth ; there is more black on the back and 

 minor wing-coverts ; and the toes are less feathered. 



My Gilgit birds are specifically distinct from the Yarkand 

 specimens which I refer to B. turcomanus, and are doubtless 

 the same as the specimen recorded as follows in P. Z. S. 1860, 

 p. 99 : — " Mr. Sclater exhibited a specimen of a large Horned 

 Owl shot by Major W. E. Hay, F.Z.S., upon the borders of 

 the Pangkoug Lake, in Thibet. He was disposed to consider 

 the bird as a pale variety of Bubo maximus." This form of 

 Eagle Owl, which appears to be confined to the interior of 

 the Himalayas, should perhaps be distinguished from B. ig- 

 navus, at least as a subspecies, and would then probably bear 

 the title Bubo hemachalanus , Hume. 



28. Scops pennatus, Hodgs. 



In addition to the specimen in my collection mentioned by 

 Major Biddulph, I obtained a female of this Owl in Gilgit 

 on the 4th October, which measured — length 7*9 inches, wing 

 6*4, tail 2'8, tarsus 1, bill from gape 0*8, closed wings beyond 

 the tip of tail 0*1. This example is in the dark grey phase 

 of plumage, with only some mottlings of rufous on the breast 

 and shoulders ; the male, the measurements of which are 

 given in Major Biddulph's paper, is about half rufous and 

 half grey. In both specimens the second and third primaries 

 are subequal and longest, and the first is intermediate in length 

 between the fifth and sixth. Some specimens of the variable 

 Scops giu are hardly separable from these Gilgit birds. 



29. Scops brucii, Hume. 



I obtained five specimens of this species in Gilgit, in March, 

 April, and September. Two males measured — length 8 inches, 

 wing 6*4 and 6*5, tail 3 and 3"3, tarsus 1*2, bill from gape 

 0*75 and 08. Three females measured — length 8 to 8-8 inches, 

 wing 6-45 to 6-7, tail 3-3 to 3*6, tarsus I'l to 1-15, bill from 

 gape 0-75 to 0-8 ; one of these examples weighed 3-3 oz. In 

 these five specimens the third quill is the longest, the second 



