Vol. IV. 

 1905 



J D'Ombrain, Some Birds of the Caster ton District. 12 J 



to umber at the tip of each feather. The umber is most marked 

 in the lower half of the circle in the upright position, the upper 

 showing more fawn colour. I have gone into some detail with 

 regard to this, as it shows a decided difference from the face of 

 the Chestnut-faced Owl, as will be seen later. Of the breast and 

 side feathers, those that have the black spots on them have 

 also a black streak down the shaft, uniting with the spot. The 

 third primary is the longest feather in the wing. 



These Owls, in conjunction with some other species of their 

 kind, have a marked peculiarity — i.e., the outer barbs of the 

 first true primary and of the first false primary feathers have 

 no barbules, and are turned the wrong way, like the feathers 

 of a French " frizzy " fowl. As I have watched Owls entering 

 the holes in the trees, I remarked that they always fly to the 

 hole, then settle on the edge of it, and at once turn round and 

 go tail first into the interior of the hollow branch or hole of the 

 tree. In performing this movement, it is very likely that the 

 outer barbs acquire the turned appearance from being rubbed 

 the wrong way. This is, of course, only a theory, and I intend 

 to ascertain if the young possess the peculiarity of turned feathers 

 or not. The talons, toes, and legs are very powerful, the toes 

 having a covering of stiff bristles, and the lower legs soft silky 

 ones. These Owls hunt in pairs, one keeping close to the ground, 

 evidently beating, whilst the other flies overhead ready to swoop. 

 They frequently follow one for quite a long distance, evidently 

 on the look-out for any prey that one may start. These birds 

 are best seen at full moon, but are very shy during the early 

 quarter, seeming to gradually grow accustomed to the increasing 

 light, when they are easily seen. 



The bird that flies close to the ground keeps up a sort of hissing 

 noise, and is answered by the higher-flying bird in a chattering 

 voice. When pairing is over the birds do not frequent their 

 usual hunting grounds, but retire to the vicinity of their nesting- 

 hole. 



Much of the above information of their habits has been gathered 

 from the Messrs. Dancocks, who are very keen observers, and 

 whose home is in the midst of the haunts of these birds. 



Lesser Masked Owl {Strix delicatula). — This beautiful bird is 

 commonly called a " White " Owl, merely because of its much 

 lighter coloured plumage, which contrasts with that of the 

 darker Boobook, the comparison being made the easier because 

 in many localities it is almost as plentiful as the Boobook. In 

 this district it is quite as common as the Boobook, and in the year 

 1902, when the stock were starving in northern parts of Victoria 

 and the great drought was still raging in the other States, these 

 birds were exceptionally plentiful here. Yet, despite the fact that 

 all this Western District was bountifully supplied with feed for 

 stock, the Delicate Owls were found dying and dead in numbers, 

 and this fact I mentioned in my monthly health report to the 

 Shire Council of Glenelg. I take the following from the report : 



