290 ROUGH LIST OF THE BIRDS OF WESTERN KHANDESH. 
59.—Elanus ceruleus,* Desf. The Black-winged 
Kite. 
This Kite, formerly rare in the Deccan, after the scarcity in 
1876-77-78, became very abundant there, and when I was 
first sent to Khandesh in October 1879, I found it common 
all around Dbkulia and through Virdeil, obtaining nests with 
small voung and hard-set eggs in the middle of November. 
After that it seemed to disappear, and I don’t think I saw half a 
dozen specimens during the last fifteen months I was in Khandesh. 
Now what became of all these birds? Did they go south and 
join the crowds of this species that had taken up their quarters 
in the Deccan; or were they like the Deccan birds merely 
new linmigrants? And have these latter also again left? It 
would be most interesting to find out if the bird is still as 
common in the Poona and Sholapur districts now as it was 
in 1879. 
60.—Strix javanica,* Gm. The Eastern Screech- 
Owl. 
I have repeatedly come across single specimens of this Owl 
in the jungles, along the base of the Satpuras, and also in 
the Akrani in the hot weather. Eleswhere I think it is more 
or less migratory. In April 1880 I found between 30 or 40 
in a small village grove in the Shada taluka, while there were 
certainly none there in December; and I have similarly come 
on little groups of say five or six on several occasions. ‘Two eges, 
said to belong to this Owl, were brought to me in the Akrani in 
April, and I saw an old well among some jungle where I was 
told they bred every year. 
65.—Syrnium ocellatum,* Less. The Mottled Wood- 
Owl. 
This Owl is a permanent resident, and very common in the 
mango groves everywhere. It breeds in December as a rule, 
but I obtained eggs at Bhadgaum as late as February. 
68.—Asio accipitrinus,* Pall. The Short-eared 
Owl. 
A winter visitant. Moderately common among the stubbles 
and grass fields. 
69.—Bubo bengalensis,* rankl. The Rock 
Horned-Owl. 
This bird is common along the clay cliffs through the 
Satpuras, and also among the Pimpalnir hills, and along the 
