BUBO NIPALENSIS. 133 



the transverse markings of the head to marginal indentations are precisely similar to the like conditions in the 

 Himalayan bird. Should further investigation, aided by the examination of a larger number of fully adult birds 

 than I have been able to get together, lead to the discrimination of the insular race as altogether a smaller one 

 than the North-Indian, I would propose the specific name of blighi for the former, as Mr. Bligh was, I believe, 

 the first to procure, or, at any rate, to bring to the notice of ornithologists, the species in Ceylon. An inspection 

 of Jerdon's figure of H. pectoralis in the ' Madras Journal,' 1839, vol. x., and a perusal of the description in the 

 text of the lower plumage, does not strengthen the conviction of its identity with the Ceylon bird. The drawing 

 shows a band across the chest, formed by a brownish ground-colour, and not by a coalescing of the bars, such as 

 is never seen in the youngest of Ceylonese specimens. The description (p. 89) is in part as follows : — " Beneath 

 white, feathers barred with brown, numerously on the throat, less so on the belly and vent, and the bars are larger 

 and take an arrow-headed form; a narrow pectoral band of brown with a golden tinge, and edged buff as abort-." 

 The latter characteristic is not represented in Ceylon specimens, and reads as if it had been an abnormal one 

 in Jerdon's bird. With regard to the superior size of Himalayan nipalensis, 3 adult examples in the British 

 and Norwich Museums, irrespective of sex (which is not recorded on the labels), measure in the wing 17-5, 18-0. 

 aud 18-2 inches. In the Norwich example there is an extra bar on the feathers of the lower surface, which 

 peculiarity likewise exists in Mr. Laurie's bird, described above. 



Distribution. — This splendid Owl, the largest and most powerful of its tribe in Ceylon, is a pi'etty general 

 inhabitant of the mountain-region of the island from about the level of the Dumbara valley to the upper 

 ranges. I have never met with any examples of it from the southern coffee-districts, but have no doubt that 

 it occurs there, and that it may have not unfrequently been killed on the estates in that part of the island. 

 In the Kandyan Province it has been procured in the districts of Matale, Kalebokka, Dumbara, Pusselaw-a, 

 Maskeliya, and Haputale. It is, however, a comparatively recent addition to the avifauna of Ceylon, having 

 been added to the list of birds by Mr. Holdsworth in his catalogue dated 1872. The specimens brought under 

 his notice were procured by Mr. S. Bligh in 1867 in the Kandyan district; and this gentleman has therefore 

 the credit of discovering this fine addition to the Ceylon Strigidae. Among the several fine examples which 

 have been procured since Mr. Bligh's first specimens are a female in magnificent plumage shot by Mr. Forbes 

 Laurie in Kalebokka, an equally fine bird killed by Mr. C. Cobbold in Maskeliya, an adult female 

 procured by Mr. Bligh at Lemastota, and a male killed by coolies on his estate at Catton, in addition to all 

 which not a few specimens have found their way to the establishment of Messrs. Whyte and Co. in Kandy. 

 An immature example from this source is now in the Colombo Museum, and another in the British Museum. 

 I have no information of this species having ever been shot in the low country ; but doubtless on more extended 

 research it will be found tolerably low down in the Peak forests, and I should not be at all surprised to see it 

 occur in the ranges just above Gillymally. Elsewhere the Eagle-Owl is found in the Himalayas and the 

 Nilghiris (if Jerdon's pectoralis should prove not to be a good species) . Eastward of India proper it ranges 

 into Tenasserim. 



Habits. — This fine bird, as its English name implies, is a denizen of woods and forests; in Ceylon, 

 however, it is, on the whole, more partial to isolated patna-woods than to the gloomy interior of the large 

 jungles, and is doubtless attracted thither by the abundance of bird-life in these cool and retired ravines. It 

 is usually found roosting in shady trees in the most confined portions of patna-dells, down which sparkling 

 streams tumble, shut in by steep wooded banks. Should its retreat, as is often the case, border a coffee-estate, 

 the Eagle-Owl levies contributions on the pigeons and poultry of the neighbouring bungalow, and falls a 

 victim to the gun of the Bore. In such manner one of the above-mentioned examples was killed from the roof 

 of his house by Mr. Cobbold in Maskeliya, after it had, as I am informed, decreased the population of the 

 adjoining dove-cot. It is said to feed principally on birds, and very likely also preys on the large squirrels 

 (Sciurus tennantii) common in the hill-jungles, occasionally perhaps killing hares, which are plentiful on most 

 of the patnas in the Central Province. 



In the Himalayas Hodgson asserts that it kills pheasants, and sometimes fawns of the smaller species of 

 deer. Its exceedingly powerful talons and massive legs would certainly enable it to capture as large animals as 

 most Eagles. I believe it to be strictly nocturnal in its habits ; anC Doctor L. Holden, formerly of Deltota, 

 who observed something of its habits, informed me that it was very shy, quickly taking flight in the day when 



