RAPTORES. 75 



months of November and December, and lays its eggs on 

 the rotten surface of the wood, without any kind of nest. 

 Three eggs procured on the 8th of November, by my useful 

 native companion Natty, were in a forward state of incubation ; 

 their contour was unusually round, the medium length of the 

 three being one inch and seven lines, and the breadth one 

 inch and four lines. They were perfectly white, as is ever 

 the case with the eggs of owls. 



"The native name of this bird," says Mr. Caley, "is 

 Buck-buck, and it may be heard nearly every night during 

 winter uttering a cry corresponding with the sound of that 

 word. Although this cry is known to every one, yet the 

 bird itself is known but to few ; and it cost me considerable 

 time and trouble before I could satisfy myself of its identity. 

 The note of the bird is somewhat similar to that of the 

 European Cuckoo, and the colonists have hence given it that 

 name. The settlers in New South Wales are led away by 

 the idea that everything is the reverse in that country to 

 what it is in England ; and the Cuckoo, as they call this 

 bird, singing by night is one of the instances they point 

 out." I believe that its note is never uttered during the 

 daytime. 



The sexes offer but little difference in the colouring of 

 their plumage, but the female is the largest in size. A 

 great diversity is found to exist in the colouring of the 

 irides, some being yellowish white, others greenish yellow, 

 and others brown. 



Its food is very varied, but consists principally of small 

 birds and insects of various orders, particularly locusts and 

 other Neuroptera. 



Fore part of the facial disk greyish white, each feather 

 tipped with black ; hinder part dark brown ; head, all the 

 upper surface, wings, and tail reddish brown ; the wing- 

 coverts, scapulai'ies, and inner webs of the secondaries 

 spotted with white ; primaries and tail-feathers irregularly 



