SCOPS BAKKAMTTNA. 137 



But that which clearly defines the Plate to be a representation of a Ceylonese bird is the faithful drawing of the well- 

 known plant, the Gloriosa swperba, which is depicted (not in conformity, however, with its nature) as entwining 

 the dead tree on which the Owl is perched. In a footnote at p. 13 is contained a lengthy dissertation on the 

 poisonous properties of the Gloriosa superba root, proving that Forster was dealing, both as regards bird and botany, 

 with that which pertained to Ceylon. 



Mr. Hume considers the Ceylon bird identical with the Indian species entitled S. griseus by Jerdon, and which is 

 united with S. malabarieus of the same author by Mr. Sharpe. 



Distribution. — This Scops Owl, which, next to the Fish-Owl, is the commonest of its family in Ceylon, is 

 widely diffused throughout the island. It is, however, located more numerously in the western and southern 

 portions than elsewhere, and wherever it is found is commoner near the sea-coast than in the interior. At 

 Negorubo, Colombo, and G-alle, and the districts adjacent to these localities, it is, for an Owl, decidedly 

 numerous. About the capital it is so common that it may be heard nightly, by those acquainted with its note, 

 about the cocoanut-plantations in Colpetty and Slave Island, and even frequents the Fort. A little colony, 

 which divided their quarters between the large trees in Queen's House Gardens and the old Suriah's which 

 formerly stood in front of the new buildings in Chatham Street, several times came under my notice while I 

 was stationed at Colombo. In the Fort of Galle it likewise frequented the most public places, being often seen 

 in the rows of trees near the Master Attendant's house. Throughout the Galle district, as far inland as the 

 Hinedun Pattu, it is common. In the South-east and Eastern Province it is less frequent, and further north, 

 at Trincomalie, it is not at all common. Layard records it from the Jaffna peninsula, whence I have myself 

 seen skins. Mr. Holdsworth found it at Aripu, in the Manaar district. In the lower hills about Kandy, 

 and localities from there to about 3000 feet elevation, it occurs ; but I do not think it has been noticed much 

 above that height. 



On the continent this species of Scops Owl inhabits various parts of the peninsula of India, being common 

 in the south. It does not appear to extend eastward into Burmah and Malayana, where it is represented by 

 the allied species S. lempiyi of Horsfield. It is included by Captain Butler in his list of birds from the 

 Mount Aboo district ; but it does not appear to be found further south in the Khandala and Western Deccan 

 region. In the northern parts of India it is abundant, according to Mr. Hume, who remarks, in ' Nests and 

 Eggs/ "that it is widely distributed throughout the Punjaub, the North-western Provinces, Rajpootana, the 

 Central Provinces, and Oudh." I observe, however, that Mr. Ball does not record it from Chota Nagpur, 

 which province bounds the Central Provinces on the north-east. 



Habits. — Forster's Scops Owl frequents cultivated country and the neighbourhood of towns and villages. 

 It is found in the plantations of the natives, in their cocoanut-gardens, in low jungle, bamboo-thickets, and 

 even in old buildings. About Colombo it is well known, being frequently heard from the verandahs of the 

 Colpetty and Slave-Island bungalows uttering its monosyllabic note in the surrounding cocoanut-trees. In 

 the country it takes refuge in thickets and low jungle, and is partial to the deep shade afforded by " bamboo 

 cheena." In this latter it roosts on the horizontal branches of the " bataliya," beneath a thick canopy of tangled 

 branches ; while in the vicinity of human habitations it hides in holes of trees or in old buildings. It sleeps 

 heavily, and has but limited powers of vision by day, for it may be approached within a few yards before 

 perceiving that it is observed ; when thus roused it flies off swiftly, quickly realighting, and turning round its 

 head in the direction of its disturber, erects its ears and regards him with a fixed stare. It is by no means 

 shy at nights, allowing itself to be shouted at when seated in a shady tree, uttering its monotonous ivJiok note 

 before taking flight. It usually frequents thickly-foliaged trees at night, about which it captures moths and 

 beetles, taking them, according to Layard, on the wing. I have found its stomach to contain lizards as well 

 as Coleoptera. It is strictly nocturnal in its habits, not issuing forth from its hiding-place before dusk, and it 

 then resorts to the shade of thick trees and utters its monosyllabic note for some time. Layard says that 

 this is changed " when flying to wah-ha wah-ha, quickly uttered and mingled with a tremulous cry." A pair 

 of nestlings, referred to above, which I had for some little time displayed several interesting habits. They 

 huddled together in one corner of their box, and when awakened during the day made a rapid stamping with 

 their feet, consisting of some half a dozen blows delivered with such rapidity that there was no appreciable 



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