129 



[I had only one opportunity of securing this species. Whilst 

 collecting near the Fitzroy River, my blackboy noticed a pair 

 perched just overhead. They gazed at us whilst he climbed to 

 secure a Honey-eater's nest, and on his descending the tree, I 

 shot one, the other escaping before I could reload. I was much 

 struck with the manner in which these birds seemed to compress 

 their feathers so as to make themselves appear remarkably small. | 



No. 5. NiNOx occiDENTALis (Western Winking Owl). 



Ninojc coimii'ens-occidentaJis, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 

 vol. I., 2nd. series, p. 1,086 (1886) ; id., op. cit. vol. II., 2nd. series, 

 p. 166 (1887). 



A young male and a young female. Camp about five miles 

 from the junction of the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers. This 

 north-western form of iV. connivens may be distinguished by the 

 pale rufous-brown stripe down the centre of each feather of the 

 under surface. The young resemble the adults in plumage. 



[Although nocturnal in their habits, I found these birds were 

 capable of keeping a sharp lookout in the brightest sunshine. On 

 disturbing a pair near the Fitzroy River I shot the female. Her 

 mate flew off, pursued by several Friar birds, Grallinas, Red- 

 throated Honey-eaters, Kingfishers, and Wood Swallows, but, 

 although his attention was somewhat absorbed in repelling their 

 attacks, I had great difficulty in securing him after a chase of 

 nearly a mile. These Owls are also numerous along the course 

 of the Nerrima and Jilgelly Creeks, where they frequent the dense 

 bushes near the waterholes, and feed on the small animals, birds, 

 and reptiles which come to drink in the evenin^.] 



No. 6. Cacatua galerita (Sulphur-crested Cockatoo). 



Psittaciis galeritus, Lath., Ind. Orn., vol. I., p. 109 (1790). 



Cacntua galerita, Gould, Bds. Austr., foL, vol. V., pi. 1 (1848); 

 Sturt, Exped. Centr. Austr., vol. IL, App. p. 35 (1849); North, 

 Nests and Eggs, Austr. Bds., p. 250 (1889) ; Salvad., Cat. Bds. 

 Brit. Mus., vol. XX., p. 16 (1891). 



One freshly-moulted adult female, some of the quills and tail- 

 feathers being not full grown. This specimen is smaller than 

 examples from other parts of Australia. Total length, 17 inches ; 

 wing, 11-8 ; tail, 7. Camp about five miles from the junction of 

 the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers. 



[During February a few of these birds visited the Fitzroy 

 River, but they are regarded as rare in that locality. I shot one, 

 which proved to be a female, evidently on the lookout for a nest, 

 as the ovaries were well developed. This bird was much smaller 

 in size than any of the species I have seen.] 



