THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 2 



feet from the ground. The tree grew in a deep, rocky ravine, gloomy 

 on the brightest day and where the sun could never penetrate. The 

 egg measures 2"21" by 1-87" and is of the usual shape and character. 

 It was taken on the 20th of June. 



(492) Nyctea scandiaca. — The Snowy Owl. 

 Hume, No. 68 Bis. Blanford, No. 1172. 



In the station of Silchar two owls built a nest in the roof of the 

 office of the Forest Officer and laid three eggs which were duly 

 hatched. Unfortunately I could not pay a visit t-o Silchar at this 

 time, and before I could do so the Forest Officer, unable to endure the 

 noise and inconvenience of the birds, had the young ones destroyed ; lie 

 however, noted the description of the birds and told me about them 

 very shortly afterwards, and incredible though it seems, I can come 

 to no other conclusion than that they were a pair of Snowy Owls. 

 The description of the birds and their size, both young and old 

 would apply to no other owl but N. scandiaca^ and I feel sure I am 

 correct in recording this species as one of the birds of Oachar. I owe 

 Mr. Barrett, the Forest Officer, thanks for much trouble he has taken 

 in collecting owls, eggs, and skins for me, and had he known the value 

 of the birds he was destroying they would have been suffered to 

 remain until I could personally inspect them ; at the same time I 

 think his description of them was sufficiently close to warrant my 

 taking it as that of the Snowy Owl to the exclusion of all other 

 species. 



(493) Scops giu.— The Scops Owl. 

 Hume, Nos. 74 to 74 sex. {not 74 quint). Blanford, No. 1173. 



The only specimen I have of this species is a fine female caught 

 on its nest on the 14th June, 1895, The wing of this bird is of the 

 largest size ; measuring no less than 5'95", far longer than the 

 average of Himalayan birds ; in coloration, however, the bird most 

 nearly approaches the Malayan form, to which Hume gave the name 

 of Scops malayanus. A careful examination of the collection of Scops 

 in the British Museum shows no example of a bird so brightly coloured 

 until one examines the most southern specimens, and even then I could 

 find none with quite such brilliant tints as are displayed in my bird 

 from North Cachar. The white markings on the scapulars, wings, and 

 lower surface of the body are very clearly defined, as, indeed, are all 



