Steix. 



have six Avell defined bars, the whole of the under surface white, 

 only the faintest trace of spots on the outer series of the under 

 wing-coverts and along tlie ilanks where there are a few minute 

 dots, facial disc white with a small dark chocolate eye-spot. 



Dark Variety. 



The dark varieties of this species may be described as differing 

 only in the general colour of the plumage ; the black and white 

 markings being the same, the apical half of the feathers being 

 more or less strongly tinged with tints varying from orange-buff 

 to almost a chocolate colour, conspicuously on the interspaces 

 between the cross-bars and on the under margin of the wings, 

 upper and under coverts and flanks ; the chest is also washed with 

 orange-buff and the ends of the gular portion of the frill more 

 broadly margined with black. The facial disc is often as deeply 

 tinted with rich dark oriinge-baff as that variety known as Strix 

 castanops from Tasmania. In fact one specimen from New South 

 Wales is, with the exception of the under tail-coverts and flanks, 

 quite as dark as any examined from Tasmania. 



Habitat. Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf of C'arpen- 

 teria, Eockingbam Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, 

 Richmond and Clarence Eiver District, New South AVales, 

 Interior, Victoria and South Australia, West and South- West 

 Australia. 



A 1 9 ad. sk. (light phase) Port Essington, Queensland, Jan., 1879. Col. 



A 2 9 y-'l- sk. (dark phase) Illawarra, N.S. VV Col. 



A 3 (? ad. mntd. (light phase) New South Wales. O.C. 



A 4 ad. mntd. (light phase) North Aiistialia. Col. 



Bl 9 nearly ad. sk.,— bones laid l»are for measurement — (light phase) 



Concord, New South Wale;*. Pres. 



B 2 9 nearly ad. sk. (medium var.) King Ceorge's Sound, W. Aust. Col. 



B 3 nearly ad. mntd. (dark phase) New South Wales. O.C. 



B 4 nearly a^l. mntd. (light phase) Parramatta, N.S.W. I'res. 



