1850.] * Conspectus of the Ornithology of India. 517 



so far as Chusan, and southward to the Tenasserim provinces.* Other 

 fine Owls peculiar to India (or nearly so), are Bubo bengalensis and 

 B. coromander, Ketupa ceylonensis, and Syrnium sinense, pretty- 

 generally diffused, and the Ketupa only appearing (so far as we 

 have seen) on the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal ; Glaux Candida is 

 found chiefly in Central India and parts of Upper Bengal. Not one of 

 these species appears to be known in the Malay countries, and we are 

 aware of only Bubo bengalensis having been met with in Afghanistan. 

 Of Syrnium indrani we have seen three examples from Malacca, whence 

 may be inferred that this Indian species is there not rare, and probably 

 also inhabits some of the islands. Of Diurn^e, the Himalayan Lam- 

 mergeyer, if not distinct, is certainly a well marked variety, found 

 also in Afghanistan. Among the Falconidce, so far as we at present 

 know, the following species are peculiar to India. Falco juggur, Baza 

 lophotes, Spizaetus Kieneri, Aquila hastata ; the long-crested race of 

 Spizaetus cirratus ; Accipiter virgatus (? besra) ; Circus melanoleucos, 

 which inhabits all India and Ceylon, with Arakan and the Tenasserim 

 provinces ; Hierax eutolmos, from Nepal and Asam to Tenasserim ; 

 H. melanoleucos, Asam ; Spizaetus nipalensis, Himalaya and mountains 

 of Ceylon, and perhaps identical with a Japanese species, as suggested 

 by Mr. G. R. Gray. The genus Hierax occurs only in the N. E. 

 extremity of India ; and the various large fishing Eagles, excepting 

 the Osprey, and perhaps Blagrus leucogaster, appear to be little known 

 in S. India. 



Several of the non-European Falconidce of India are distinguished 

 by an occipital crest, either rudimental or developed to a considerable 

 length, and which is commonly held erect or nearly so ; it is also 

 generally accompanied by a peculiar style of marking of the plumage, 

 exemplified especially by the three gular lines from which Astur tri- 

 virgatus takes its name.f These crested Falconidce are Pernis cristata, 

 Baza lophotes and B. Beinwardtii, Astur trivirgatus, the different 

 Spizaeti, and Hiera'etus pennatus rudimentally ; some of which birds, 

 as the first three and the rest respectively, exhibit little mutual 

 affinity in other particulars. 



(To be continued.) 



* The Tenasserim Ath. castanoptera apud Heifer is in need of further deter- 

 mination. 



f Accipiter virgatus (? besra) and nisoides exhibit the same gular lines unaccom- 

 panied by an occipital crest. 



3 X 



