18/2. j MR. J. BRAZIER ON NEW-SOUTH-WALES CYPR^ID^E. 81 



68. Otus brachyotus, Gmel. (The Short-eared Owl.) 



Abundant in cold-weather months, arriving in October, and leaving 

 again by the end of March. Confines itself almost entirely to grass 

 lauds ; in a day's shooting dozens are put up. 



It flies remarkably well during the day ; and it is by no means 

 uncommon to see them soar almost out of sight, especially if attacked 

 by Crows and King Crows. 



69. Ascalapha bengalensis, Franklin. (The Rock Horned 

 Owl.) 



Common . 



70. Ascalapha coromanda. (The Dusky Horned Owl.) 



Abundant. Lays generally two eggs in December and January. I 

 have taken their eggs from the old nest of a Kite, as also from' the 

 bare fork of a tree. 



I was once riding along the banks of the Cawnpore Branch Canal 

 late in the evening, quite dusk, at low-water mark, when I was sud- 

 denly startled by the cry of a Heron in distress, which flew past me, 

 under the level of the bank, close to the surface of the water, hotly pur- 

 sued by one of these Owls. I immediately galloped after the birds, 

 and by dint of shouting and screaming made the Owl give up the 

 chase. Judging from the numbers of feathers of Herons and Egrets 

 which one meets with along the canals, there is reason to conclude 

 that these birds are commonly preyed upon by this powerful Owl. 



72. Ketupa ceylonensis. (The Brown Fish-Owl.) 

 Pretty generally distributed, in suitable localities. 



76. Athene brama, Temm. (The Spotted Owlet.) 



Abundant. The roof of my present bungalow, as well as that of 

 the Club-house at Futtehgurh, is infested by them ; they are a 

 dreadful nuisance at times ; and there is no getting rid of them. 

 _ Breeds from January to March, laying usually four eggs, exactly 

 similar to those of Scops aldrovandi. I have found this species 

 breeding alike in holes of trees and eaves of houses. 



They are excessively fond of flying about during the middle of the 

 day, and sally forth long before dusk. 



3. A List of the Cyprmdce found on the Coast * of New South 

 Wales. By John Brazier, C.M.Z.S., M.R.S.N.S.W. 



[Received January 2, 1872.] 



During a tour of five months through the northern parts of New 

 South "Wales in 1870, I travelled over 300 miles of coast-line, and 



* The extent of coast-line of New South Wales commences at Point Danger, 

 in latitude 28° 8' S., and terminates at Cape Howe, in latitude 37° 30' S. 

 Proc. Zool. Soc— 1872, No. VI. 



