142 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Can— Paint gante, Tel. i. e., gold eye— Audi, Tam.-^Khukhusat 

 in the North-west. 



The Spotted Owlet. 



Descr. — Above, earthy grey brown, each feather with two white 

 spots ; beneath white, broadly barred, or with cordate brown bars ; 

 tarsal feathers not spotted ; wing with five or six white interrupted 

 bars, and tail with five ; disk white, edged externally with brown ; 

 a dusky brown patch outside the eye, and a small dark spot at the 

 inner canthus ; ear coverts barred. 



Bill greenish homy; irides pale golden yellow; feet dirty 

 greenish yellow. 



Length, 8 to 9 inches ; wing, 6 ; extent, 20 ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 1^ : 

 weight, 4 oz. The wings are considerably shorter than the tail. 



This spotted Owlet is one of the most common and universally 

 spread birds in India, from the Punjab to Burmah and Ceylon. 

 It also extends to Persia and other parts of Asia. It is found 

 everywhere, except in the dense forests ; and it does not ascend 

 the hills to any great height. Every clump of trees, and often a 

 large single tree, especially near a village, is sure to be tenanted 

 by a pair, or a small colony of these noisy birds. It often takes 

 up its abode and roosts during the day in the eaves of houses, 

 or under the roof ; and if anything disturbs its rest, comes forth 

 with its noisy, chattering, and disagreeable chorus. About sunset 

 it is always on the alert, and soon after sunset it sallies forth to 

 feed. It takes short flights, frequently seating itself on the ground 

 or a paling, or low branch, or outhouse ; and thence captures beetles 

 and other insects on the wing, or snatches one off the branch of 

 a tree ; now and then taking a low and undulating flight over the 

 plain or garden, and dropping on any small mice, shrew, lizard, or 

 insect it may spy on the ground. I have seen it capturing white- 

 ants on the wing, along with bats, &c. Its usual call is a double 

 note, which is frequently heard at all hours ; and when there are 

 several together they all take it up, appearing to be squabbling 

 among themselves. It is a very familiar bird, not easily driven away 

 from the quarters it has taken up. It breeds in holes of trees, or 

 holes in walls, or old buildings, or in the eaves of houses occasionally. 



