DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS. 



SHELLEY'S PROPHECY. 



' No longer now the wing'd inhabitants, 

 That in the woods their sweet lives sing away, 

 Flee from the form of man ; but gather round. 

 And preen their sunny feathers on the hands 

 Which little children stretch in friendly sport 

 Towards these dreadless partners of their play." — SheUeij. 



BOOBOOK OWL (MOPOKE). 



(Athene boobook)— r/ow/f/'.^ Hand Bonk. 



(NinOX boobook) — Mathewti' Hand List. 



OTHER SPECIES "j JINKING Owl {Ninox connvem). 



IN ^ ' 



SOUTH AUSTRALIA. ) D.ELIOATE OwL [Strix delicalula). 



Size. — The boobook owl, so named from its cry — which has been variously 

 interpreted as boobook, moopook, mopoke, and more pork — is slightly 

 smaller than a white cockatoo, measuring about 16in. from the beak to 

 the extremity of the tail. 



Plumage. — The general effect is mottled brown. The head, back, and upper sides 

 of the wings and tail are brown. The wing feathers are spotted with 

 light markings, and the tail feathers are irregularly barred with brown. 

 The breast is colored light brown, which shades off into the dvdl white 

 on the abdomen. The whole under surface is striped from chin to tail 

 with dark markings that give it an irregularly striped appearance. 



Habitat. — The boobook owl prefers well-timbered country and frequents the 

 neighborhood of farm houses. 



Food. — The food of this valuable bird consists chiefly of large nocturnal insects 

 and such small animals as mice and lizards. 



Nest. — The nest is always in the hollow of a bough or tree trunk. Nidification 

 takes place during November and December. 



Eggs. — The eggs, which are white, are laid upon rotten wood within the hollow. 

 The number is usually three. In shape the eggs are rounded, and 

 measure about l-,Vin. x \\\n. 



