. Birds. Birds. 302 ASIOSIDJE. scapulars ; the spots are often wanting on the upper back, and are largest on the wing-coverts ; an indistinct half-collar on the hind neck formed by white feathers with brown edges quills with pale cross-bars, becoming white spots on the outer web and, except near the tips of the primaries, white indentations on the inner border; tail with from 4 to 6 white cross-bars varying in breadth and continuity; chin, throat, and sides of neck behind ear-coverts white; a broad brown band, narrower or interrupted in the middle, across the throat; remainder of lower parts w
. Birds. Birds. 302 ASIOSIDJE. scapulars ; the spots are often wanting on the upper back, and are largest on the wing-coverts ; an indistinct half-collar on the hind neck formed by white feathers with brown edges quills with pale cross-bars, becoming white spots on the outer web and, except near the tips of the primaries, white indentations on the inner border; tail with from 4 to 6 white cross-bars varying in breadth and continuity; chin, throat, and sides of neck behind ear-coverts white; a broad brown band, narrower or interrupted in the middle, across the throat; remainder of lower parts white, with broken brown cross-bars formed by subterminal bands and ispots on the feathers ; these spots generally diminish in size or disappear on the lower abdomen, legs, and under tail-coverts. Bill greenish homy; irides pale golden yellow; feet dirty greenish yellow (Jerdon). Cere dusky (Hvme). Tarsi feathered; toes clad with long bristles above. Length 8 inches; tail 2-9; wing 6; tarsus 1-1; bill from gape Fig. 77.—Head of A. brama, |. Distribution. Throughout the Peninsula of India, from the Punjab, Baluchistan, and Sind to Assam and Caohar, and from the base of the Himalayas to the extreme South, but not in Ceylon, though this Owl was obtained by Hume on the island of Eames- waram. It is also common in the Irrawaddy valley from Prome upwards, and probably throughout the drier parts of Burma. The Burmese form was separated by Hume as A. pulchra on account of' smaller size, darker colour, and some supposed dif- ferences in the markings; but specimens from the west coast of India are equally small and dark, and the differences in markings are neither important nor constant. Habits, Sfc. Owing to its semi-diurnal habits, its noisiness, and its fondness for human habitations, this is the best-known Owl in India. It does not as a rule ascend the hills, and it avoids forests; it keeps to trees in cultivated tracts,especially in gardens, and is commonly found roosting and
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