86 



AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK 



F. 71. STRIGIDAE (5), BARN OWLS, 26 sp.— 13 (11) A 



3(1)0., 1(0)P., 4(3)B., l(l)Nc, 7(7)N1. 

 5 179 Australian Barn OavI (Lesser Masked, Delicate, 

 26 Screech), Strix delicatula, N.G., A. Stat. c. timber 14 



Upper beautiful soft light grayish-brown tinged yellow 

 finely spotted blackish-brown and white; under white, 

 few small brownish spots; disc white edged, buff; f., 

 sim. Mice, rats. 



grew vertically, instead of horizontally, and so gave no shade — 

 was it not natural that the Cuckoo, a day bird in England, should 

 become a night bird in this land of paradoxes and contradictions? 

 Thus Australia's reputation was added to even by the Boobook 

 Owl. 



Confusion was caused, for, when daylight came, and the Frog- 

 mouth was seen sitting in the tree, the Frogmouth was supposed 

 to be responsible for the frequent calls of the previous night. 

 However, some reliable observers, notably Mr. C. H. McLennan, 

 "Mallee Bird," and Mr. T. H. Tregellas, claim that the Frog- 

 mouth does call "Mopoke" occasionally, but the Boobook Owl is 

 the bird that is responsible for the frequent "Mopoke" on calm 

 evenings. 



The Owls are divided into two families. The members of the 

 first family — the Owls Proper, or Hawk-Owls — have the facial 

 disc almost absent, while in the second family the facial disc is 

 complete. In each, the eyes are directly obliquely forward, and, 



