292 ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL 



ever, brought him two live birds, which he caught in the hills close to 

 Mata Pahar (S. R 1873, p. 369). Colonel Irby states that it is very 

 common in Oudh (Ibis, 1861, p. 226); and Mr. Hodgson's collections 

 contained examples from Nepal. In the Calcutta Museum is an example 

 from the neighbourhood of that town (Blyth, Cat. p. 41) ; and according 

 to Mr. Ball (S. F. 1874, p. 381) it is occasionally obtained in Chota 

 Nao;pur, but is not very common. Mr. Blanford did not observe it in 

 the Wardha valley, but considers that it may possibly occur there (J. A. 

 S. B. 1871, p. 269). Sykes procured it in the Deccan, whence also a 

 specimen is preserved in the British Museum. 



" The Indian representative of the European Barn-Owl," Avrites Mr. 

 Hume (Rough Notes, ii. p. 342, and Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 59), 

 " lays (apparently) in Upper India from the middle of February to the 

 middle of June. Mr. R. M. Adam obtained the eggs on the 10th of June, 

 near Agra; Mr. Brooks procured them near Etawah on the 17th of 

 February ; and I have obtained them on three occasions in March — in 

 Allygurh, near Jeypoor, and near Lucknow. In the Central Provinces 

 they lay from November to January." 



Some interesting notes are then given by Mr. Blewitt on the breeding 

 of the species near Toomgaon, in the Raepore district ; and this gentleman 

 states that they are common in the districts of Raepore and Sumbulpore. 



Mr. Blyth long ago separated the Indian Barn-Owl as a distinct species 

 from the European ; and in ' The Ibis ' for 1866, p. 250, he gives his views 

 at full length. " It differs," he says, confirming Jerdon's opinion, " by 

 being larger, with more robust feet and toes, and in being more spotted 

 beneath. The last character, however, is by no means of constant occurrence. 

 .... The distinction I have ever since found to be constant ; and the 

 difference of the two races is so very conspicuously apparent, upon comparison 

 of specimens, that I cannot understand Prof. Schlegel's identifj^ing a Nepalese 

 example with his Javan race." Subsequently, however, after a visit to Leiden, 

 where the Museum contains a good series of Javan specimens, Mr. Blyth 



