OF VICTORIA. 



191 



haystacks are a safeguard against night-flying insects and 

 the depositing of their ova. The Powerful Owl {N. strenua) 

 is possibly the only species that regularly kills small birds. 

 The others have a varied diet — small insects and small 

 quadrupeds. Ninox boobook eats insects of various orders, 

 principally locusts and other neuroptera, as noted by Mr. 



Fig. 43. Boobook Owl. One-fifth natural size. 



Gould. Occasionally a small bird is captured. The Owls 

 of this continent are divided into two families. Two 

 noticeable features keep them quite separate. The first, 

 that the *' wishing-bone," or furcula, is not attached to the 

 breast bone (sternum), and the middle toe is not serrated 



