STRIX. 265 



Strix javanica, Gm. Syst. Nat, i, p. 295 (1788); Blyth, J. A. & /;. 

 xix. p. 613 ; Horsf. $ M. i, Cat. p. 81 ; Jerdon, B. /. i, p. 1 17 ; Myth 



id. Jaunt. Bom. N. H. Soc. iii, p. 220; Hume, S. F. xi, p. 18 ; 



Gates, in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. iii, p. 93. 

 Strix indica, JM/th, ll,i*, 1866, p. 250 ; 1870, p. 160; Hume, Rough 



Notes, p. 342 ; id. S. F. i, p. 163 ; iii, p. 37 ; Rainey, S. F. iii. 



p. 332 ; nee Omel. 

 Strix dercepstorffi, Hume, S. F. iii, p. 390 ; iv, p. 283 ; id. Cat. no. 60 



bis. 



The Indian Screech-Owl, Jerdon ; Kuraya, Karail, Biiri churi, II. ; 

 Bhutumpecha, B.; Ghubdd, Mahr. ; Chaao pitta, Tel. ; Chaaokuravi, Tarn. 



Fig. 72. Hend of S. flummea, .4. 



Coloration. Facial disk white (occasionally, but rarely, tinged 

 with ferruginous), orbital feathers and a broader spot in front of 

 the eye dark ferruginous ; ruff milky white, the ends of the outer 

 feathers generally buff and the tips dark brown ; back and upper 

 parts pale grey, tinted or mixed with ochreous, the feathers 

 yellowish buff except at the ends, which are finely verraiculated 

 with black and white, each feather tipped with a small elongate 

 black and white spot or ocellus ; quills mottled buff and dark 

 brown, with irregular dark cross-bands ; inner webs mostly white; 

 tail buff, mottled, especially at the end, with dark brown and 

 crossed by dark bands, the feathers white beneath ; lower parts 

 white or buff, with scattered small dark spots on the breast, abdo- 

 men, and wing-lining. 



Bill fleshy white, cere flesh-colour ; iris black ; bare portions of 

 tarsi and feet fleshy brown, claws brown (Legge). 



Length about 14 inches ; tail 5 ; wing 11-5 ; tarsus 2' 5-2-8 ; bill 

 from gape 1/5. 



I think Sharpe right in uniting tin- various races of Barn- 

 Owls under one specific heading. At the same time the Indian 

 form, S. javanica, is distinguished from that of Western Europe 

 by having much more robust legs and ffit, and by beini; always 

 spotted beneath. But specimens from intermediate localities tend 

 to unite the two forms. 



S. dercepstorffii is founded on a very small tawny ^M-rimen from 



