NESTS A.\'D EGGS Of AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



FAMILY— STRIGID^ ; BARN OWLS. 



39. — Strix NoViE HOLL.\NDi^, Stephens. ^(29) 



MASKED OWL. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of .'Vustralia, fol , vol. i., pi- 29. 

 Refereiue. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mup., vol. ii., p. 303. 



Genyraphical Distrihutioii. — Australia in general. 



Xest. — Judging by analogy, some hole within a giant eucalypt or 

 crevice in cUff or rock. 



Eflfjs. — Uudescribed. 



Ohservatiuns. — This fine large Owl ranges over the whole of Australia 

 in localities conducive to its liabits, such as forests of giant timber, or 

 wild rocky peaks of mountains. From these fastnesses it salHes forth 

 at night on noiseless pinions over the lowlands in search of its prey, wliich 

 consists chiefly of small animals (1 rodents). The somewhat larger and 

 darker variety peculiar to Tasmania and some parts of the mainland 

 opposite, which on account of the deep-chestnut facial discs has received 

 the name Chestnut-faced Owl (S. cu.sfanoiJ^ ), is regarded by modern 

 authorities as identical with Masked Owl. Gould has figured both. 

 However, the eggs of either form are still unknown to science. 

 Mr. Tom Carter nearly scored a notch on the tree of oological fame. 

 When twenty-five miles inland from Point Cloates (W.A.), on 1st October, 

 1892, he caught, in a hollow tree (Eucalypt ) a Masked Owl, bub failed to 

 secure the eggs, having no axe or tomahawk to cut them out. 



In general colour the Masked Owl is pale-buff, variegated on the upper 

 siu-face with dark-brown, and sparingly dotted with white ; the under 

 s\u-face is paler, with a few brown spots. Tlie large facial discs, which 

 impart to the bird such an odd appearance, are purphsh, margined with 

 dark-brown spots and centred with dark liquid eyes ; bill, pale horn-colour, 

 and feet yellowish. Total length, 14 inches; wing, 13| inches; 

 tail, 7^ inches. 



40. — Strix nov.s; holl.\ndi« (sub-species) c.\stanops, Gould. — (28) 

 CHESTNUT-FACED OWL. 



Figure.- Gould : Birds of Australia, fol,, vol, i., pi. 28, 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit, Mus., vol ii,. p, 304. 



Geographical Dhtrihution. — New South AVales, Victoria, South Aus- 

 tralia, and Tasmania. 



Xest and Egga — Undoscribed. 



