ATHENE. 303 



says, it is one of the birds that seem to think that telegraph-wires 

 were erected for their sole and especial benefit. Its flight is 

 undulating, but peculiar and easily recognized. This Owlet breeds 

 from February to April, and lays 3 to 5 white oval eggs in holes 

 in trees or a building, or in a cleft in a rock, scantily lined with 

 leaves, grass, or feathers. The average size of the eggs is 1-25 by 

 1-04. 



1181. Athene blewitti. The Forest Owlet. 



Heteroglaux blewitti, Hume, S. F. i, p. 468 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. ii, 

 p. 141 ; Sail, S. F. v, p. 412 ; Hume, Cat. no. 76 quint. ; David- 

 son, S. F. x, p. 292 ; Sharpe, Yark. Miss., Aves, p. 151, pi. xxii. 



Carine (Heteroglaux) blewitti, Sail, S. F. vii, p. 201. 



Coloration very like that of A. brama, but the brown spot in 

 front of the eye is faint or wanting ; there are no white spots, 

 or only traces of them, on the crown and nape, the nuchal semi- 

 collar is less distinct; the back and lesser and median wing-coverts 

 are uniform brown, the white spots being confined to the greater 

 coverts ; there are four broad distinct white bars across the tail- 

 feathers, one being terminal ; the brown band across the throat 

 is dark, unbroken, and much broader, and there is a second and 

 still broader band on the breast, partly broken by white edges ; 

 farther back on the breast and flanks the brown bars are wider 

 apart, and the middle of the abdomen, legs, and under tail-coverts 

 are pure white. Colours of soft parts not recorded. 



Length about 9 ; tail 2-9 ; wing 5'7-6 ; tarsus 1 ; bill from 

 gape -85. 



A heavier bird than A. brama, weighing 8*5 oz., or fully one- 

 third more. The 3rd and 4th quills are longest, the 3rd gene- 

 rally slightly exceeding the 4th, 1st quill about as long as 8th. 

 Tarsus feathered ; upper surface of toes with soft feathers, the 

 barbs of which wear away, leaving the shafts only in some 

 specimens. 



Distribution. Of this rare Owl the type was obtained by 

 Mr. Blewitt near Sambalpur, and a second specimen by Mr. Ball 

 on the Udet river in Karial, 150 miles farther south. Some 

 years later three specimens were collected by Mr. Davidson at 

 the foot of the Satpuras in North-western Khandesh, where 

 this species was not rare. All were found in thick forest. 



1182. Athene bactriana. Buttons Owlet. 



Athene bactriana, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 776 (1847) ; Scully, S. F. 



iv, p. 130. 



Athene persica, apud Hume, Rough Notes, p. 407 (nee Vieill.). 

 Athene plumipes, 11. Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 448. 

 Carine plumipes, Sharpe (subsp.), Cat. B. M. ii, p. 137. 

 Carine bactriana, Hume, S. F. v, p. ::".<) : vii, j>. :;itt ; id. Cat. no 76 



ter ; Barnes, S. F. ix, pp. 21/5, 452 ; C. Sivinhoe, Ibis, 1882, p. 100 ; 



Sharpe, Yark. Miss., Aves, p. 14, pi. iii. 



