4. 
M I N U T U S 
SCOPS 
(THE LITTLE SCOPS OWL) 
ADULT 
Length to front 
4*77 to 4.85; tail 
(straight); height 
of oere from skin 6. inches; oulmen 
2.1 to 2.3; tarsus .7 to .8; middle 
of bill at oere .26; weight two and 
DISTRIBUTION 
rrom cere .56; wing 
toe .76; olaw .3 
a quarter ounces. 
This small owl, which is peculiar to the island, appears to be widely din 
fused throughout the hills of the Central Province, while it occurs rarely 
in various parts of the low country. It is a rare bird, very few examples 
having as yet been procured* It is not possible to say whether Kelaart 
ever met with it or not; he spea>ks, at page 96 of his "Prodomus®, of *the 
allied species. Scops Pennata, being a low country bird®, which seems to im¬ 
ply that he was acquainted with a second small scops owl, none of which ge¬ 
nus inhabit the island, with the exception of the present one. 
To Mr Bligh must be given the credit of obtaining the first authenticated 
example, which is the type of the species now in the National Collection. 
It was caught in the chimney of his bungalow at Kotmalie, at an elevation of 
nearly 4000 feet. He writes me to say that he has met with four examples 
in all, the most of which I know are referable to the Haputale district. 
In May 1874 another specimen, referred to by Mr White under the name of 
Glaucidium Malabaricum (the Malabar Wood Owlet), was shot by Mr J.R.Hughes 
on the Kitlamoola estate; another individual was killed by Mr Macefield on 
the Del totte estate in April last year; and some time previous to this ano¬ 
ther in the rufous stage was shot near Colombo, and preserved in the new mu¬ 
seum. The natives who brought me my young specimen at Trincomalie stated 
that it was a w£ll known bird to them; but I am of course unable to say that! 
their remarks may not have referred to this last species. 
In the early part of 1876 I once or twice observed a very small owl fre¬ 
quenting ‘he trees in the Queen’s -House gardens, which may probably, nave 
been this species. It will be seen therefore, that though this species in¬ 
habits the low country, it Is evidently more partial to the hill district. 
affecting the higher ranges as well as the upland valleys round Kandy. 
HABITS 
This species appears to be an inhabitant of the outskirts of woods, gar¬ 
dens, isolated jungle thickets, &c, in the vicinity of forests. Mr Bligh, 
who has had more experience of it than any one else, has generally o bser ved 
