BUBO. 99 



branches of a large nyoungbin (Ficu.t, sp. ?), hanging over the 

 bank of a small choung or stream. Thinking there might be eggs, 

 I sent a peon up, and soon heard from him that at the place where 

 a large branch forked off, a natural depression existed, where a 

 single large round white egg lay on a few withered twigs and 

 feathers. The egg was quite fresh, dull chalky white in colour, 

 and measures 2-21 inches by 1'87." 



The egg is very similar to that of K. ceylonensis, but is some- 

 what smaller. The ground white, becoming during incubation 

 soiled and smeared with brownish stains. The shell is fairly 

 compact and hard, showing, however, here and there a great 

 number of pit-like pores. It has little or no gloss. 



In shape the egg is, of course, an excessively broad or round 

 oval, much the same at both ends. 



Bubo bengalensis (Frankl.). The Bock Horned Owl. 



Urrua bengalensis {Frankl.), Jerd. B, Ind. i, p. 128. 

 Ascalaphia bengalensis {Frankl.), Hume, Rough Draft N. ^ E. 

 no. 69. 



The Eock Horned Owl breeds, as a rule, in February, March, 

 and April, but eggs are occasionally met with both in December 

 and January, and in the lower valleys of Grurhwal, according to 

 Mr. E. Thompson, may be met with as late as the end of May. 



The birds make no nest, but merely scoop a small hollow in the 

 earth, in which to deposit the eggs. Occasionally they will lay 

 on the level ground under some overhanging bush or tuft of grass, 

 but almost without exception they choose some little cave or recess 

 in, or projecting ledge or shelf of, some rocky or earthy cliff in 

 the neighbourhood of water. The precipitous banks of canals and 

 rivers are perhaps their favourite breeding-places, and, as my 

 friend Colonel Q-. F. L. Marshall first pointed out to me, they (in 

 Northern India) almost invariably select a cliff-face looking 

 westward. 



The normal number of the eggs is perhaps four ; but I have 

 often found three and, more than once, only two eggs much 

 incubated. 



This species is very common in the Saharunpore District, 

 especially towards the north, and from thence Colonel Q-. Marshall 

 sent me the following account of its nidification : — 



" The Eock Horned Owl breeds from December to April, the 

 middle of March being the best time for searching for its eggs. 

 On one occasion only t found the eggs on the level ground, on a 

 plain, at the foot of a tuft of grass ; on every other occasion I 

 have found them on a ledge, in the perpendicular bank of a ravine, 

 generally by the canal, and, without exception, on the left bank, 

 facing the west. It lays four very round, pure white eggs, slightly 

 hoUowing the ground to receive them, bu.t making no attempt at 

 a neat or even a lining to the hole. I have always found the nest 

 close to water. 



7* 



