44 



.VESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



common Owl in Aiistralia, having been recorded from every district, and 

 go where you will amongst timber you are almost sure to hear its 

 familiar " mo-poke," or, as the aboriginals more correctly imitate the bud's 

 call, " boo-book, " or " buck-buck. " I have heard it in the Dandenongs 

 commeuco to call usually about three-quarters of an hour after sunset. 



Great has been the controversy whether this Owl or the Tawny- 

 shouldered Frogmouth ( Fodin-gus) is in reality called the "Mo-poke." As 

 far as I am concerned, it was settled long ago. One night we heard the 

 unmistakable call repeatedly from a tall tree. Stealing up quietly, and 

 having located the exact spot of the soiuid, a shot from one of oiu- gims 

 brought down a Boobook Owl. Moreover, in later years, diuing some 

 of the pleasant camp-ovits of a few enthusiastic field natui'alists, we had 

 additional proof as to the Owl calhng " mo-poke. One of our members, 

 who seemed possessed of a phenomenal throat, could imitate to the vei'y 

 soimd the Boobook Owl, and when he could catch the bird's ear in the 

 forest, by imitating it could always bring a bird into the tree ovei'head. 

 I remember on one occasion we had a new member out with us who was 

 anxious to procure a skin of the Owl. During the evening, our friend with 

 the phenomenal throat got beliind a tree at the rear of oui- tent and 

 cleverly produced the Owl's call. " Great Scot ! " said our new member, 

 " a Boobook !" and seizing his gim iiished out of the tent. He continued 

 to gaze up the tree where the supposed Owl was, till shouts of derisive 

 laughter caused him to return. 



On the morning of the 11th of October, 1890, three of us were 

 hastening over the she-oak (CasuarinaJ clad hills near Myrniong, on the 

 Upper Werribee, Victoria, when one of us casually threw a stone against 

 a gaunt, dead gimi-tree. Out flew a Boobook Owl from a hollow-spouted 

 limb. Then followed expeditiously the natural sequence — a climb, the 

 chopping of a hole in the tough weather-beaten limb, and a clutch of three 

 eggs is added to oiu- collection. The situation of the eggs was about 

 fifteen feet from the gi-oimd. 



The original eggs Govild described were taken on the 8th November, by 

 his useful aboriginal companion, " Natty." The specimens were in a 

 foi^ward state of incubation. Mr. Wm. Wliite (Adelaide), on two 

 occasions on Kangaroo Island took fom- eggs of the Boobook Owl from 

 deserted Ravens' nests. A curious place indeed for an Owl to deposit 

 her eggs. 



The Boobook Owl can fly by day as well as by night ; but it is not 

 generally known that it sometimes takes its prey by day — at all events, 

 in the subdued daylight of a tliick forest. On one occasion 

 Mr. G. A. Keartland, about two o'clock in the afternoon, in the Dan- 

 denongs, shot a Boobook in the act of devouring something which proved 

 to be a freslily -captured Pilot Bird ( Pycnopfihis). 



The usual breeding months are October, November, and December. 



The illustration, " Robbing a Boobook Owl's Nest," depicts 

 Mr. Tom Brittlebank " riding " liis favomite hobby. 



