5 
GLAUCIDIUM CASTANOTUM 
(THE CHESTNUT,BACKED OWLET) 
ADULT MALE AND FEMALE 
V a 
Length to front of oere 7. to 7.4 inches; culmen from oere .6 to .62; 
wing 4.9 to 5.55; tail 2.3 to 2.6; middle or outer anterior toe .8; its claw 
(straight) .55; height of bill at cere .3; expanse 18.7; weight 4 ounces. 
DISTRIBUTION 
This pretty little owlet, one of our peculiar Ceylonese forms, was consi¬ 
dered by Kelaart to be confined to the hill zone. It was discovered by Dr 
Templeton, and described by Mr Blyth of Calcutta, from specimens forwarded 
to him by the doctor in 1846. It is found chiefly in the mountains of the 
inland, and the low country of the Western and Southern Provinces. It is 
tolerably common in Saffragam and in the Hewagam, Pasdun, and Raygam Korale$ 
and is not unfrequent near Colombo. I have obtained it at Galkisse, and 
Layard speaks of it as being very caramon near Colombo in 1852, but ranarks t 
that for nine years previously no specimens had been procured in that neigh¬ 
bourhood. This was perhaps from want of search for it breeds not far dis¬ 
tant from thence. It occurs In the Kurunegala district, and also in the 
South-western zone at the foot of the Matale ranges, but how far uortn it 
extends I am unable to say. I have never met with it in the Northern fo¬ 
rest tracts, nor on the coast from Batticaloa Northwards; it has been procu¬ 
red on the west coast as high as Madampe, beyond which I am not aware that 
it has been traced. In the Kandyan Province it is a common bird, widely 
distributed, being well known in all the coffee districts, among which may 
be mentioned more particularly Dumbara, Kalebokka, Haputale, and Maskelia. 
It is not uncommon in the main range, in which I have net with it as high 
as Kandapolla, 6300 feet, and Dr Kelaart has it in his list of birds from 
New era Ellia. 
HABITS 
The Chestnut Winged Owl inhabits by choice forests and thickly wooded 
country, but it by no means confines itself to jungle, for in the western 
and Southern Provinces it Is fond of the areca palm and Jack tree groves, 
among which the Sinhalese build theip habitations, close to the doors of 
which I have sometimes heard it, and on one occasion killed it. It percnes 
on the top branches of tall trees, and is very shy. It is crepuscular as 
well as nocturnal in its habits. Issuing from the umbrageous retreatin which 
