NiNOx. 23 



on the lower series of under wing-coverts, which resemble the 

 lower surface of the quills in appearance. Total length 15 

 inches, culmen 0-85, wing 10'2, tail 6"5, tarsus 1'45. Bill yellow 

 with black tip ; feet and iris yellow." 



Hah. Peninsula of Cape York, N.A., Thursday Island, 

 Torres Straits." 



7. Ninox occidentalis. 



The Wtftern Winking Owl. 



Ninox connivens-occidentalis, Bamsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. W., vol. i, 

 2nd series, p. 1086 (1886) ; id. Tab. List Au.'^fr. Bds., p. 2 (1888). 



Hieraglaux occidentalis, Gurneij, Jan., Cat. Bds. Prey, p. 42 (1894), 



A variety ? from North -western Australia, distinguished under 

 the name ofiV. occidentalis {F.L.S., jV.S.W., vol. i, second series, 

 p. lOSG, 1886), has the upper surface lighter and somewhat 

 of an ashy-brown, tinged with rufous on the wings, thighs and 

 legs of some specimens, more white on the face, forehead, and 

 chin, and the feathers of the under surface whiter from the 

 narrowness of the shaft lines, which are more defined and of 

 a rufous-brown tint ; the under tail-coverts white with a narrow 

 lanceolate shaft line or spot near the end of the feathers, the 

 white spots on the wing-coverts and scapulars are larger, but 

 the bars on the wings and tail similar to the New South Wales 

 specimens. 



In one of the Western Australian specimens the shaft lines of 

 the feathers of the under surface are broader, swollen on the 

 mesial portion and expanding again at the end of the feather. 



Adult male. Length 1-.V5 inches, wing 12, tail 7, tarsus 1"8, mid 

 toe I'-lo, bill from forehead 1"3, from nostril 0'65, culmen 1'5. 



Adult female. Length 15*5 inches, wing 11, tail G'S, tarsus 

 1-65, mid toe 1-4, bill from forehead 1"2. from nostril 0-8. 



" Two specimens alike in plumage show a large amount of 

 white on the upper wing-coverts, scapulars and hind-neck, than 

 in the New South Wales or Cape York specimens ; the whitish 

 bands on the tail do not reach the shaft of the feathers ; all the 

 under surface of the body white, with a distinct well-defined baud 

 of rufous-brown down the centre of each feather ; the outer webs 

 of the primaries near the adjacent tips of the secondaries have 

 also a faint reddish tint ; the face is almost white ; length 

 15 inches, wing 12 inches, tail 6'8 inches, tarsus about 1-4 inch ; 

 the feet small, claws comparatively weak. I believe this will 

 prove to be a distinct species, but must be compared with some 



