DISTRIBUTION OF BARN-OWLS. 295 



Hume's dimensions, given above, we may regard the Indian Barn-Owl as 

 varying to the following extent in its measurements : — Total length 12'5 to 

 15"2 inches, wing from ITO to 12 5, tail from 5-0 to 6*12, tarsus from 22 to 

 2-85, middle toe from 1-3 to 1-45. 



Ceylon. Mr. Holdsworth (P. Z. S. 1872, p. 415) observes :—" The 

 Barn-Owl is very local in Ceylon, and is confined to the north of the island. 

 Layard gave the fort of Jaffna as the only locality for it ; but I have since 

 obtained it at Aripo, where a pair of these Owls were resident." Mr. Holds- 

 worth kindly lent me one of the Aripo birds, killed on the 28th of May, 1866. 

 It is rather more orange than the majority of Indian examples, with coarser 

 mottlings ; the under surface is strongly washed with orange-buff, with large 

 dusky spots and here and there remains of vermiculatory bars ; on both quills 

 and tail /oMf bars. Total length 11*5 inches, wing 11*6, tail 5'2, tarsus 2'5, 

 middle toe 1'4. 



Burmah. I am indebted to Lord Walden for the loan of a specimen from 

 Tonghoo. It seems to be of precisely the same form as the Indian bird, with 

 no remains of vermiculatioas on the under surface ; remains of bars on wing 

 three, on tsalfour. Total length 12 inches, wing 11"8, tail 5"0, tarsus 2'4. 



Mr. Blyth (B. Burm. p. 68) says it is a common bird in Burmah and 

 generally diffused. Mr. Oates (S. F. 1875, p. 37) states that it is very 

 common intheTliayetmyo cantonment, occupying the space between the ceiling 

 and roof of the wooden barracks ; as far as he knows, it is not found in the 

 thick jungles nor far away from the larger villages. Mr. Hume observes 

 that specimens from Upper Pegu, sent by Captain Feilden and Mr. Oates, 

 are precisely identical with Indian examples. A female measured — total 

 length 14*75 inches, tail from vent 4*8, wing 11*3, tarsus 27. 



Simn. It w^as collected in this country by Sir Robert Schomburgk {cf. 

 Gould, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 151). 



Y'. A male bird collected by Captain Conrad near Bangkok on the 28th 

 of March, 1872, is in the Museum. It is rather darker above than Indian 



