176 Bibliographical Notice. - 
The example sent home by Messrs. Whyte and Co., of 
Kandy, differs in the bolder nature of the transverse white 
spottings on the upper surface, and in the blackish markings 
taking the form of distinct shaft-lines ; the ruff is more con- 
spicuously edged, and is of a deeper buff than in the Museum 
specimen ; the under surface is not so closely stippled, and 
does not present the same ‘ pepper-and-salt ” appearance, the 
markings taking the form of vermiculations and the centre 
stripes being very bold. 
This little owl comes nearer to Scops malayanus than any 
other Indian member of the genus, but differs from it in its 
smaller size and in the darker upper parts and closely stippled 
under surface. 
In its young plumage, it is rufous on the entire upper sur- 
face, and the breast is whiter than in the adult. 
Habitat. Northern, western, and central provinces of Cey- 
lon, probably the whole island. 
Type in British Museum. 
Locality. _Kotmalie, Central Province. 

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. 
Whites Natural History of Selborne. Edited by Tuomas Bet, 
F.R.S. Two vols. S8vo. Van Voorst: London, 1877. 
A prriop of well nigh a century has now elapsed since the first 
publication of Gilbert White’s ‘ Natural History and Antiquities of 
Selborne,’ in 1789; and since then, as we all know, many reprints 
of this popular work have been from time to time issued, enriched 
or otherwise, as the case may be, by the notes and commentaries of 
various editors. With this, all might be supposed to have been done 
that could be done, and that nothing more was left for us to look 
forward to than a repetition of the same kind of editorial labour. 
It is with pleasure, however, that we find such a surmise dissipated 
entirely by the appearance of the two goodly volumes now before 
us, which, containing as they do so much new matter regarding our 
author, may be fairly enough regarded as constituting the one final 
and exhaustive record to which all must refer who would know 
something more of White, not only as a naturalist, but in his more 
intimate social relations with his family and friends. Hitherto we 
have had to be content with the meagre though kindly notice pre- 
fixed to the edition of White’s work published after his death by 
his friend Dr. Aiken, and consisting of little more than the dates 
of his birth and educational career at school and college. Now, 
here was plainly a deficiency to be supplied ; and upon whom, we 
may well ask, could such a task have better devolved than upon the 
