STRIGIN^. 117 



large, well-curved, middle one pectinated ; outer toe shorter than the 

 inner, united to the middle one by a membrane, and reversible. 



60. Btrix Javanica, De Wurmb. 



Sykes, Cat. 19 — Jerdon, Cat. 37 — Horsfield, Cat, 98 — S. 



flammea, apud Blyth, Cat. 171 — S. delicatula, Gould, (fid. 



Kaup,) Karaya Q.ndi Karail, H., also Buri churi, i. e., the bad bird. 



— Chaao pitta, Tel., and Chaao huravi. Tarn; both meaning death 



bird. 



The Indian Screech-Owl. 



Descr. — Above, pale yellow buff, beautifully mottled with light 

 grey, each feather tipped with a white spot, edged darker ; quills 

 and tail darker, and somewhat fulvous, with distinct mottled bands, 

 and specks between them ; disk white, with a patch of rufous at 

 the inner corner of the eye ; ruff yellow and brown ; all beneath, 

 including the under wing coverts, white in some, pale yellowish 

 buff in others (query in the female ?) ; the feathers of the breast 

 and abdomen with small black specks or spots. 



Length 13 to 14 inches ; wing 1 1 ; tail 2^ ; tarsus 2^ to 2f, half 

 plumed, the bare portion and toes covered Avith hair ; mid-toe and 

 claw 2^ ; the wings reach 1-^ inches beyond the tail. 



The Indian Screech-owl is found throughout India and Ceylon,* 

 extending through Burmah to Malayana. This species was for 

 some time conside'red the same as the European Barn Owl, but 

 differs somewhat by being larger, with more robust feet and toes, 

 and in being more spotted beneath. If Gould's Owl from Austra- 

 lia be identical with it, as Kaup asserts, and, as a comparison with 

 Gould's figure, Birds Aust. 1 PI. 31, appears to confirm, its range is 

 then much extended. Sometimes it takes up its quarters in a grove 

 of old trees, in the holes of which it roosts during the day ; at other 

 times it lives in deserted buidings, tombs, pagodas, mosques, &c., 

 and I have often found them in the solitary cells and powder 

 magazines, which are generally situate at a little distance from the 

 busy part of a Cantonment. 



* In my account of the diurnal Raptnres I omitted stating specially which 

 species extended to Ceylon. This I shall in future always do, and at the end of 

 the work will supply the omission as regards the previously noticed birds. 



