DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS IN THE SOCIETY^ MUSEUM. 19 



13. Ephialtes Bakkamuna, Forstei\ — The little-eared Owl. 

 Ephialtes Lempigii, Horsf. — Layard, Annals Natural History, 

 1853, page 106; Kelaart, Prodromus Faunas Zeylanica, page 116. 



Numerous throughout all the low country, abundant in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Galle ; common round Colombo, also in the north ; 

 extends to considerable elevation in the hills. Frequents rows 

 of trees in towns, church steeples, also bamboo thickets and low 

 jungle, native gardens, &c. 



14. Syrnium Xndranee, Sykes.— The brown Wood Owl. 

 Bacha Muna, Sink, 



Affects forest fMukalana) in the low country and in the hills; ranges 

 up to 5,000 feet in Central Province ; found in the forests near 

 Hanwella in the Western Province, also in all forests of the 

 south-west of the Island; frequents the low jungle of the Mannar 

 district. ( Holds worth's Catalogue Ceylon Birds, 1872, No. 27.) 



Note. — It is as difficult to define accurately the range of 

 Strigidse and to note the particular districts they affect most, 

 as it is to acquire a thorough knowledge of their economy. Their 

 nocturnal habits lead to their being passed over in some instances 

 by all but the most diligent observers, particularly if their notes are 

 not well known. Untd the past few years the Forest Eagle Owl 

 of the South of India (Huhua Pectoralis, Jerdon) which has, of 

 course, always been resident in this island, was not known to 

 inhabit it, but since Mr. Bligh procured his specimens in the 

 Central Province, a good many of the species have been either 

 shot or seen. I met with it in the great forests of the north- 

 east last J anuary, and find that it inhabits the higher " Mukalana" 

 all throughout the south-west. 



15. Caprimulgus Asiaticus, Latham.— The Indian Night- 

 jar. 



Abundant in the scrubby country along the sea border at Trinco- 

 malee, also in all similar localities on the north and west coast, 

 for instance, in the Cinnamon Gardens near Colombo; not so 

 plentiful as the next species in the south; very plentiful in the 

 jungles of Hambantota and in the Magam Pattu. 



16. Caprimulgus Atripennis, Jerdon.— The black-winged 

 Night-jar. Bassa, Sinhalese, for this family as well as for small 

 Owls. Caprimulgus mahrattensis, Si/kes < erroneously) — Layard, 

 Annals Natural History, 1«53, page 166; Kelaart, Prodromus 

 Faunas- Zeylanica, page 117. Vide Holds worth, Catalogue 

 Ceylon Birds, No. 46, 



Numerous in the low country and subsidiary hill districts of the 

 south west (notably round Wakwella and Baddegama), in the 



