OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 155 



Pardalote, but in Tasmania there is one having as many 

 as forty spots upon it. 



Nest. — A loosely constructed sphere of grass placed at the 

 end of a short tunnel in the much-sloping bank of a creek or 

 hillside, near the water. The position varies considerably. 



Eggs. — Four in number, and pearly white. Length, 0.75 

 inch ; breadth, 0.55 inch. 



TAWNY FROGMOUTH 



(More-poek), 



Poclargus strigoides, Latb. 



Pd-ddr'gus strig-oi'des. 

 Pous (podos), foot ; Argus, himdred-eyed : strix, a screech-owl; 



like. 



PoDARGUS HUMERALis, Gonld, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. ii., pi. 3. 



Geographical Distribution. — All over Australia and Tasmania. 



Key to the Species. — General plumage tawny, streaked and blotched, 

 the male being smaller and much more lightly marked than the 

 female ; gape very wide ; mouth very much split ; nostrils a 

 narrow split near the base of the bill, protected by a membrane 

 and hidden by plumes of feathers ; tarsus shorter than middle toe ; 

 rectrices pointed. Tail distinctly less than 10 inches; wing more 

 than 9 inches. 



Being nocturnal, this bird has a delicate plumage, assuring 

 for it, as it does for the Owl, noiseless flight. In popular 

 opinion it holds, what is really due to the Roobook Owl, the 

 power of saying " more-pork " or " boo-book," but it has 

 been proved beyond a doubt that the Owd, and not the 

 Frogmouth, says " more-pork." A friend of mine caught one 

 of the former, and, being released one evening, it flew to a 



