OF VICTORIA. 157 



the Spotted Nightjar is beneficial to man, coming upon the 

 scene just as the feeding time of other birds is drawing 

 to a close. Grasshoppers^ beetles, and soft-bodied insects 

 are generally found in the stomachs of dissected birds. 



Eurostopus is probably intended to convey to us the idea 

 that the genus is an eastern one. 



Nest. — Simply the ground, and in close relation to a 

 stone, &c., to serve as a partial breakwind. 



Egg. — One only for a sitting ; of a uniform light olive- 

 stone colour, with here and there a roundish purple blotch 

 or spot (A. J. Campbell). Length, 1 inch 5|- lines ; 

 breadth, 1 inch 1| lines. 



OWLET NIGHTJAR 



(Little Morepork), 



J^gotheles iiovae-hollaiidiie, Latli, 



Eg'6-tJiel-es 7id-v e-h o I'an-di-e. 

 Aigos, a goat ; thaein, to suckle ; novce-hoU'indice, of New Holland. 



Akgotheles nov^-hollandi^, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., 

 vol. ii., pi. 1. 



Geographical Distribution. — The whole of Australia and Tas- 

 mania. 



Key to the Species. — Mouth very much split ; gape very wide ; 

 two stripes on brown head and two crescents on hinder part 

 white ; back, rump, upper wing coverts and upper tail coverts 

 deeply vermiculated with pale grey ; tail barred ; wing quills 

 grey marbled and spotted ; lower parts whitish, with dusky 

 vermiculations. Total length, 8*5 inches. Some specimens 

 show a rufous tinge over the body. 



The "Owlet" belongs to the weak-footed order of birds, 

 and although nocturnal it is quite opposed to the Owls, 

 which are a portion of the strong- footed order. While 



