48 



NESTS AXD EGGS OI- AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Nest and Eggs. — Undesci'ibed. 



Ohxervations. — Tlie Western Winking Owl may be considered the 

 north-western and closely-allied representative of the ordinary Winking 

 Owl. Mr. Tom Carter shot a pair of Winking Owls near Point Cloates, 

 which had flarJ;-hrnwn eyes, instead of hright-yelloiv, as in the eastern 

 birds. These birds may have been the sub-species, occidentalis. Mr. North 

 remarks that (iccidentnli.-i may be distinguished from the tiiie conniveiu 

 by the pale iiLfous-brown stripe down the centre of each feather of the 

 under siu-face. 



Although nocturnal in their habits, in the north-west, Mr. Kcartland 

 formd these birds were capable of keeping a sharp lookout in the brightest 

 sunshine. On disturbing a pair near the Fitzroy River he shot the 

 female. Her mate flew off, pursued by several Friar Birds, Magpie Larks. 

 Red-throated Honey Eaters, Kingfishers and Wood Swallows : but 

 although its attention was somewhat absorbed in repelling their attacks, 

 Mr. Keartland had gi-eat difficulty in securing the bird after a chase of 

 nearly a mile. These Owls were nrmierous along the course of the 

 Nerrima and Jilgelly Creeks, where they frequent the dense bushes near 

 the water-holes, and feed on the small animals, birds, and reptiles which 

 come to dmik in the evenins'. 



37. — NiNox STRENUA, Gould. — ( 32 and 33) 

 N . rufa, Gould. 



POWERFUL OWL. 



f/gurc— Gould : Birds cf Australia, fol., vol. i,, pis. 35 and 36. 

 Reference.— Cau Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ii., p. 178. 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern Temtory. Queensland, New 

 South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia (?). 



Nest. — The usual hollow of a tree or spouted limb, in heavy forest. 



Eggs. — Clutch, three probably; an example in the Adelaide Museum, 

 reputed to be of the northern variety (N. rufa), has the usual Owl 

 characteristics, and measiu-es in inches 2'06 x 1'75. 



Observations. — The description above given is taken from an egg in 

 the Adelaide Museum; there were no data with it, except the name, 

 " Spiloglaux rufus" which species I think is now accepted as identical 

 with N. strenua, notwithstanding that Gould figured both birds sepa- 

 rately. From the size and appearance of the egg in question, I judged 

 its parentage to be correct. However, we shall welcome any information 

 giving a description of a complete set. 



The Powerful Owl is, with the exception of the Wedge-tailed Eagle 

 and the Sea Eagle, the most powerful bird of prey in Australia. It is 

 said to be able to cany a so-called native bear, or koala. The plumage is 

 of dark-grey, mottled, and it has large yellow-irised eyes ; feet also yellow. 

 Total length, 24 inches; wing, 15 inches; tail, 10^ inches. 



