.VESTS ,IXD LCGS Of AVSTKALIAN BINDS. 33 



Whilst camped on the Tiilly River, Nortliem Queensland, he received :> 

 fine specimen of this Owl that was caught in a rat-trap. 



The egg of this species, which I have described, was taken at Pimpaua, 

 South Queensland, by Mr. W. T. Bailey, who sent one of the parent 

 birds to Mr. A. Coles, our skilful taxidermist. 



43. — Strix CANDIDA, Tickell. 

 GRASS OWL. 



Figure.. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., supp. vi , pi. i. 



Re/trence.— Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ii . p. 308. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay ; Proc. Linn. Soc, N S. Wales, 

 2nd ser., vol. i.. p. 1142 (1886) ; Hume; Nests and Eggs Indian 

 Birds (Gates' ed ), vol. iii., p 95 (iSgo) ; North: .A.ustn. Mus. 

 Cat. pi. 6, fig. 5 (i88g). Records .\ustn. Mus , vol. ii., p. 13(1892). 



Geographical Disfribiilioii. — Queensland, New South Wales, and 

 Victoria ; also Philippine Islands, Formosa, India and Indo-China. 



Nest. — A bare hollow upon the ground, usually under tussock-grass. 



Ef/yn. — Clutch, four ; thick oval in form ; colour, white ; the shell, 

 with the exception of a few calcareous excrescences at the larger end, being 

 perfectly smooth and lustreless. Dimensions in inches (1) 1-69 x 1-27, 

 (2) 1-73 X 1-26. 



Observatiuns. — This is a remarkable Owl, abiding under tussock-grass 

 by day, where specimens are frequently speaji-ed by aborigines. At first 

 sight it is not unlike the Delicate Owl in colour and markings, but possesses 

 much longer legs, wliich are an indication of its ground habits. 



The Gras.s Owl enjoys an extensive habitat, ranging from Australia 

 right through suitable parts to South-eastern Asia. In times of drought 

 it has been known to \-isit Victoria. The first specimen brought under 

 my notice was by Mr. A. Coles, taxidermist, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. 

 The rai'e specimen was promptly secured by the National Museum. 

 Another example is in the Geelong Museum, taken at Point Heniy, 1884. 



Dr. Ramsay, who first described the eggs of the Grass Owl from the 

 Australian region, was indebted to his friend, Mr. J. A. Boyd, for a set 

 taken in the Herljert District, Queensland. Mr. North, in re-describing 

 eggs from the same gentleman, gives the following valuable notes by 

 Mr. Bovd relative to the nidification of the species: — "This Owl nests on 

 the ground, choosing a high thick tussock of grass, forming a bower in it, 

 and laying its eggs on the few grass blades that have been trampled 

 down. On the 1st June, 1884, I found two nests of this bird, each of 

 which contained three young ones and one egg. It is a curious fact that, 

 though this bird always lays four eggs, I never found more than three' 

 yoimg ones, one egg being always addled. When first I came here these 

 birds were comparatively common, bvit latterly have almost disappeared 

 from this immediate neighbourhood, owing, I think, to the largeh' increased 

 quantity of cattle running over the plain." 



