30 



Steiges. 



on the concealed parts of the feathers in other individuals. 

 Scapulars with two broken bands o£ white which sometimes take 

 the form of oval spots on either side of the shafts of the feathers. 

 "Wings with seven or eight dull ashy bands. Centre two tail 

 feathers without any bands, the others with about ten oblique 

 narrow ashy bands on the inner webs only, except the outer 

 feathers on either side, where they are just distinguishable ; a 

 few spots of white on the concealed portions of the rnmp and 

 npper tail-coverts. Bill black, feet dull yellowish-brown ; bristles 

 brown. Length 12 inches, wing 8 inches, tail 6 inches, tarsus 

 1"7 inch, bill from forehead 1 inch. Some of the New Zealand 

 specimens come very close to the Lord Howe Island birds, but 

 lack the white face, lores, and chin. Should they eventually 

 prove to be identical, this will form an interesting link, connect- 

 ing the avifauna of the two islands. The Norfolk Island bird 

 is said to be Ninox boohooJc, but it is more likely to prove to be 

 J^inoxnovce-zealandics, ovi:>erha-ps the present species. 



Hahitat. Lord Howe Island. 



