THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 417 
though nikolskii may also have to be accepted as a different form in the Karun 
area when specimens thence materialize. 
(We have no records of any Fish-owl (Ketwpa) occurring in Mesopotamia though 
it may do so in the Karun district, as Zarudny described a race semenowi from 
the Zagros, where it is common.) 
153. Striated ScopsOwl. Otus brucei. ‘ Boomer.” (All owls). 
Otus brucei (Hume) (Stray Feathers, i, p. 8, 1872—Rahuri near Ahmednagar), 
Cheesman found this owl in gardens with dense foliage of date and orange trees 
at Kazimain on March 29th where they were probably breeding, as a pair shot 
then had organs in an advanced state and the birds were still there on May 12th. 
Livesay found it common at Hilla and Museyib and obtained a specimen at the 
former place on July 13th, while eggs of a Scops of some species, very likely this, 
were brought in to him. 
Cheesman notes that it takes insects on the wing and flies as fast as a bat ; it 
feeds before dusk, but it is not seen in the day time. The call is a short mono- 
tonous ‘‘ boo-boo” resembling that of a Stock Dove. He says: “ The note is 
quite different to that of pulchellus which I found breeding at Gulanak near 
Teheran in June 1917 where it was plentiful; the note of this latter bird 
resembles the tinkling of a small brass bell and, as the birds seldom have 
exactly the same note, the combined effect of several is like an erratic peal of 
small bells; the ‘‘ boo-boo”’ of the Kazimain owl was not once heard there 
and vice versa. Bruce: has also another note, a sort of squeak ; the Arabs say it 
breeds in holes in mulberry trees.” 
The Striated Scops Owl is probably resident where it occurs; beyond the 
above records there is no certain information regarding its distribution in Meso- 
potamia ; it extends from India to Palestine. 
Three specimens examined: Kazimain, 30-3-19; Q 29-3-19 (P. Z. C. and 
R. E. C.) ; Hilla, 13-7-16 (Livesay). 
These match well a series from India, and the type specimen, in colour, size 
and wing formula. 
154. Scops Owl. Otus scops. 
Otus scops pulchellus, Pall. (Reiss. d. versch. Prov. Russ. Reiche 1, 
p. 456, 1801—Volga). 
A Scops of sorts is recorded from Basra by Magrath, and Aldworth took a 
clutch of 3 Scops owl’s eggs on May 8rd at Nasirijeh which Mr. Jourdain 
identifies as pulchellus (?). 
The only certain records are of a bird obtained at Amara on April 11th and 
those of Cumming who met with it at Fao twice in October and once on April 
22nd. The status of this owl requires further investigation and its breeding in 
Mesopotamia cannot be said to be proved. 
This eastern race is not a very marked one and I am in doubt if the Mesopota- 
mian birds belong to it or not. Further material is necessary to decide but for 
the time being I leave them under this race. According to Zarudny the typical 
race breeds in the Zagros. 
155. Long-eared Owl. Asio otus. 
Asio otus otus, L. (Syst. Nat. Ex., p. 92, 1758—Sweden). 
Buxton states that one was shot by Capt. Downie at Amara on November 
24th and that he examined it. Aldworth met with a party of 15 in palm groves 
at Nasarijeh on December 8th and secured one, and Livesay got one at Legait 
on April 21st. It must be a winter visitor. 
156. Short-eared Owl. Asio flammeus. 
Asio flammeus, (Pontopp.) (Danske Atias. i, p. 617, 1763—Denmark.) 
=(accipitrinus auct). 
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