121 



still hold, that the distinction of size is, to say the least, neither so constant nor 

 so material as has been asserted, and has by no means been so established as 

 to render ( if Dr. Jerdon's measurements of the Southern race are reliable), a 

 specific separation of the Northern and Southern birds, certainly requisite. Dr. 

 Jerdon gives the wing of Southern species at from 13 to 14 inches. 



The Burmese bird has them 14*8 ,, 



The two Simla specimens (Young) 15*2 ,, 



Theadult I5'5 



A Bussahir specimen l6'2 



A large Kumaon one 16-7 ,, 



While Dr. Stohckza wrote to say, that a specimen 2 1 inches in length had 

 wings a little over 18 inches, and a Himalayan specimen from Baron Hugel 

 was decidedly smaller, the wing measuring 15 inches. The species affects well- 

 wooded localities, but so far as Mr. Hume's experience goes, affects small pre- 

 cipices on the sides of wooded hills. It is like sinense, strictly nocturnal in its 

 habits, and feeds on large insects. 



I have not sufficient material to give an opinion either way ; Mr. Sharpe too 

 has not given his opinion, and has placed S. indranee as an inhabitant of the 

 Peniusula of India, Ceylon and the Malayan Peninsula. 



With Mr. A. O. Hume's large Museum at his elbows, it is hoped, the 

 question will soon be worked out. In the meantime it would be well to keep 

 Sykes' Indranee as a distinct species. 



117- Syrnium indranee, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 82; Horsf. and 



Moore, Cat. B. M. E. I. Co. i. p. 83 ; Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 121, No. 63; Holdsw* 

 P. Z. S. 1872, p. 415 ; Hume, Sir. F. 1873, P- 429 ; Legge, Sir. F. 1874, 

 p. 349 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. M. p. 282. Bulaca indranee, (Kaup,) Hume, 

 Rough Notes, ii. p. 347. THE SOUTHERN Wooo-OwL. 



Above hair brown darkest on the head and neck ; the greater coverts, 

 scapulars, and tertiaries banded with white, the outer scapulars being almost 

 white with brown bars ; rump and upper-tail coverts also faintly barred with 

 fulvous ; quills brown, barred with pale fulvous on both webs, and, with narrow 

 whitish bars and a white tip ; disc black round the eye, with a pale whitish 

 upper edge or supercilium, rufous externally ; ruff brown with some white 

 markings; beneath pale fulvous white, narrowly and closely barred with 

 brown ; quills and tail beneath dusky brown, with white bars ; bill pale 

 greenish; irides deep brown ; claws horny reddish. 



Length. 191021 inches ; wing 1310 14 ; tail 8 to 9 ; tarsus 2'5; midtoeand 

 claw 2-5 ; toes feathered three quarters of their length, with strong scuta 

 beyond ; wings reach nearly to the end of tail. The above is Dr. Jerdon's des- 

 cription. He gives the habitat as " throughout Southern India, in Ceylon and 

 the Malayan Peninsula, not yet in Burmah. Refer to notes for distribution 

 under S. neivarejise. 



