208 THE AVIFAUNA OF MOUNT 



40.— Pandion halisetus, Lin. 



I was not sure of the identity of this species when my first 

 paper was published (vide ante Vol. III., p. 439) but siuce then 

 I have observed the bird on several occasions on the Burnath 

 river, near Deesa. I only secured one specimen and that 

 being in bad plumage and much mutilated, I did not preserve 

 the skin. It is by no means common and usually appears at 

 the close of the monsoon when there is plenty of water in 

 the river. 



65.— Syrnium ocellatum, Less. 



The Mottled Wood Owl is not uncommon between Deesa and 

 Ahmedabad, occurring in exactly the same localities as U. 

 coromanda. It is a very noisy bird and commences to call 

 usually as soon as it begins to get dusk. It has two very dis- 

 tinct calls, one resembling the words "Kook, kook, kook/' repeat- 

 ed sometimes, only once or twice, at other times, several times, 

 consecutively with a short interval between each. This note 

 is loud and clear, and can be heard at least half a mile off. 

 The other call resembles the words " Oo-war-r-r, oo-war-r-r, 

 oo-war-r-r," repeated also several times consecutively. This 

 call can also be heard at a long distance. In the breeding 

 season they utter the most hideous cries all night. 



134 ter.— Alcedo ispida, Linn. 



On comparing my Aboo King-fisher skins with specimens 

 shot in the plains, I believe that some of the Aboo birds belong 

 to the present species. A. bengalensis occurs at Aboo as well, 

 but as many of the skins I collected were referable I believe 

 to ispida, I think we may admit the species into our list. The 

 bird I refer to differs from A. bengalensis in being a larger bird, 

 with the white cheek patch more conspicuous, the rufous of the 

 breast much more ferruginous and the blue of the back, brighter 

 and less mixed with green. 



The measurements of both forms taken in the flesh are sub- 

 joined for comparison : — 



Length. Wing. Tail. Bill at F. Bill at G. Expanse. Sex. Locality. 



T 275 1-62 1-5 2 <J Aboo,22-6-75. 



6 75 2-75 1'75 156 2 ? Aboo,22-6-75. 



681 2-75 162 1-56 193 ? Aboo,22-6-75. 



Irides, blackish brown ; legs and feet, dusky red. In the $ 

 both mandibles black. In the ? lower mandible reddish, orange. 



A bengalensis Gmel. 



Length. Wing. Tail. Bill at F. Bill at G-. Expanse. Sex. Locality. 

 662 275 15 125 168 9 5 $ Deesa,27-4-76. 



656 2 75 15 134 178 987 <J Deesa,29-4-76. 



