156 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



Although this bird may be regarded as quite nocturnal 

 in its habits, it can fly by day, and I have seen them when, 

 accidentally or otherwise, disturbed fly of! to a considerable 

 distance, usually making for some dense foliage in which 

 to hide. Mr. Keartland, well known as a bird observer, 

 mentions having seen one of these owls in the act of 

 devouring a small bird. The Owls will nearly all take 

 birds, and, as is well known, the giant of the family in 

 Australia, namely, the Powerful Owl, has the instinct of 

 a bird of prey, and lives largely upon the common Brush- 

 tailed Opossum, which it tears out of its hole in the trees, 

 and soon makes a meal of it. 



Mr. Hall rightly says — " When we consider that there 

 are some 765 — [There are a few over this number. — C.F.] — 

 birds in Australia, and only, say, two dozen able to do the 

 night work of checking the ravages of insects or other 

 animals, we should see that a careful preservation of all 

 be strictly enforced." The great ornithologist, Gould, 

 writing of Australian birds, says, "In no other country 

 is there a greater proportion of insectivorous birds than in 

 ours, and certainly none in which nocturnal species as 

 Podargi (Frogmouths) are more numerous. 



This valuable bird, which is found in Australia and 

 Tasmania, and also, according to Mr. Campbell, on Lord 

 Howe Island, should be carefully protected against all 

 comers. 



