8S 



Catalogue of the Birds 



[July 



ral may often be seen seated even for some hours after sunrise. 

 In the Deccan it frequents rocky ravines, banks of rivers, and 

 holes in the steep sides of the precipitous trap hills — also often 

 found about old buildings, forts and walls. On the Neilgherries it is 

 however generally found in the dense woody glens there. Though 

 partially diurnal, it chiefly preys during the night ; its chief food is rats 

 and lizards, occasionally birds, crabs, and frequently large locusts and 

 mantides. I have at present a pair, male and female, of this species 

 alive in my possession. Their usual cry is a single, loud, clear and 

 prolonged hoot. I occasionally at night heard them utter a low indis- 

 tinct strangling sort of cry. They vomit, bones and feathers in the form 

 of a pellet. When alarmed they hiss, and make a loud snapping noise 

 with their bills. If a dog or other animal approaches, they lower the 

 head almost to the ground, erecting the whole of the feathers of the 

 body, and spreading out their wings to their full extent ; these from the 

 stooping position of the bird are nearly vertical, almost touching the 

 ground with their upper edge ; and from their extent the bird presents 

 a formidable front to an intruder. Their egrets certainly seem con- 

 nected with their exalted sense of hearing, being generally raised 

 whilst in the act of listening. They are also erect during sleep, at 

 which time the wings are also occasionally brought forward. I may 

 here remark that the egrets of this bird are drawn too large in Gould's 

 Century, and besides they are never permanently raised in the position 

 there indicated, being kept much more erect, nearly vertical indeed. 



Genus BULACA, Hodgson, loc. cit.— SCOTIAPTEX, Sw. ? 



42.— B. Sin°ns>s— S. Shi'nsis, Gray, Gray and Hardw. 111. I. Z.—S. 

 pagodarum, Temm. P. C. — S. sdo-puto, Horsf. — £. Indranee, 

 Sykes ? — Young bird ? 

 I have only once observed this very elegantly marked species, which 

 I have referred provisionally to Mr. Hodgson's lately proposed genus. 

 I met it in a tope, and some large single trees, near Verdupettah to the 

 S. of Madura on the Palamcottah road. If, as I suspect, S. pagodarum 

 and S. selo-puto are identical with this bird, Mr. Gray's specific name 

 must be abandoned. It is an owl of pre-eminent beauty, both as re- 

 gards the shade of the plumage and the softness and delicacy of the 

 markings. 



Length (from top of bill) 21 inches; of wing 15; tail 7| ; tarsus 2£; 

 middle toe 2- T \ths ; irides, deep brow n. Has aharsh and dissonant 

 cry at night. 



