1859.] Itinerary in the district of Amherst, Tenasserim. 419 



The aberration from Ketupa proper in this bird is an important 

 one, as it argues difference of habits. The Ketttpa, with its length- 

 ened and nude tarsi, is known to plunge down upon shallow marshy 

 bottoms, or into liquid mud up to its knees, and stand or take a 

 few steps about such localities, in search of small Snakes, water Efts, # 

 or fish. Whereas the true horned Owls, Bubo, Asio and Ephialtes, 

 with their long femora and short tarsi, snatch their prey from its 

 perch, or from the surface of water, without wetting or soiling the 

 plumose covering of their legs. The Ptiloskelos is therefore probably 

 a partly terrestrial bird, as its blunt Ketupine claws indicate : but 

 restricts itself to dry spots and is consequently not piscivorous. 



The nestling here described was brought from the island of Be- 

 loogewn and died shortly after. I have hitherto failed in procuring 

 the old birds, from whom of course more satisfactory deductions 

 could be drawn. But in answer to any argument ascribing the 

 mixed nature of this bird to immaturity, I must bring forward the 

 fact that both feathered and naked legged Owls show their several 

 conditions in that respect, as soon as hatched. T have picked a 

 young Ephialtes out of the egg, and found its legs and toes covered 

 with well developed setse. On the other hand, I have reared two 

 nestlings of Ketupa Jayanica, and their legs were perfectly bare 

 from the first. The dark iris may not perhaps be so good a distinctive 

 generic trait : for I have observed the color of this organ to vary 

 in Ephialtes from pale yellow, to orange, and sepia also. 



2. Splienuridce — Mixoenis (Hodgson) olivacetts (mihi).f Spec, 

 male. Woods of Teewap'hado, 1100 to 1500 feet. February 24th,1859. 



Dimensions. Length 5V'. Wing 2£." Tail 2 T V" Bill \." Tarsus 1.'' 

 M. toe \\". 



Details. Typical. But it carries a straighter and better raised tail 

 than the type m. chloeis. Which gives it a more Sylvian than Tima- 

 lian look. 



Color, M. and F. Iris blood red-brown. Bill horny with dusky 

 culmen. Legs and claws fleshy horn. All upper parte reddish olive 

 brown. Wing and tail quills burnt umbre-brown, edge reddish. Frou- 



* I know of no Salamandridce in these regions. Cur. As. Soc. 

 || f Pelloenium Tickelli, 331., ante, p. 414. 



