1839] of the Peninsula of India. 87 



two specimens I possess, one is nearly white below, whilst the other is 

 of a deep ochreous tint throughout. 



40.— S. ? lugubris, Tickell*— -Jour. As Soc. Ben. No. 23—Choghud 



Besruh, H. 



As I have never seen this species of owl I merely place it here pro- 

 visionally. It probably does not belong even to this sub-family, for Mr. 

 Elliot (to whom I am indebted for my knowledge of it as a peninsular 

 species) says, " It seems to belong to the falconine owls, with a short 

 tail, of Cuvier." 



Description. — Above of a uniform dusky brown, beneath whitish, 

 barred with rusty brown like the Besrah — this barring decreases in 

 quantity every year. A white line on the forehead, wings and tail, with 

 dark transverse spots ; bars of the tail five in number, and the latter tipt 

 with white. Irides, large, yellow; cere greyish, fringed with black hairs ; 

 legs greyish, covered with hairs to the toes ; length about 12 inches, 

 breadth 2G. • This owl inhabits hills, rocky and jungly places. Mr. 

 Tickell says, " inhabits the retired parts of the thickest jungle, coming 

 towards the edges and open parts at night. It. is completely nocturnal, 

 and in a calm moonlight night its cries may be heard fo a great distance, 

 resembling strongly those of a strangling cat." Mr. Elliot says, " when 

 seized cries like a child." 



Sub Family ? Sub-tyjricel Group, Sw. 



Genus URRUA, Hodgson.t 



41. — U. Bengalensis. — Ofus Bengalensis, Frankl. and Vig. — Gould. 

 Cent. pi. 3 — Googoo, H. — Common Indian homed Owl. 



This large and handsome owl is the most abundant and most 

 universally spread of the large owls of India. In the Carna- 

 tic the googoo frequents rocky barren hills chiefly, where seve- 



* I have adopted the name given to this species apparently by Lieut. Tickell, of the 

 Bengal army, in an excellent account of a few birds collected by him in the jungles of 

 Borahhum and Dholbhum. It would not I hope be too much to expect from him a full 

 catalogue of the birds of the vast plains of Bengal, and neighbouring countries, arranged 

 according to the modern nomenclature, in which his former list is rather deficient. 

 From this list (published in 1833) he appears highly qualified for the task, and as it is 

 undoubtedly a desideratum, I trust he will be induced to undertake it. 

 1- Journal Asiatic Society Bengal— No, 65. 



