THE OWLET NIGHTJAR. 163 



CHAPTER XCVL 



OWLET NIGHTJAR. 

 (/Egotheles novce-hollandice, Vigors and H or s fie Id.} 



The following description of this interesting bird is 

 taken from Mr. R. Hairs useful book on the u Insect- 

 ivorous Birds of Victoria" page 157: " 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." 



I well remember my first experience amongst these 

 little Owlets. In company with the Messrs. Brittlebank, 

 of Myrniong, we visited the Werribee Gorge and came 

 across several pairs of this peculiar bird. On tapping 

 the trees with a tomahawk, the birds would fly out of 

 the hollow limbs of the trees ; and, on looking into the 

 hollow from whence they came, one could see, a couple 

 of feet down, the roundish white eggs (which usually 

 measure^ according to Mr. A. J. Campbell, 1.08 x .84). 

 Mr. Campbell also states that these eggs, when rubbed 

 together, produce a porcelain or china sound. 



The nest, if it can be called one, is simply a few 

 eucalyptus leaves placed in the bottom of the hollow 

 bough or spout of the tree; and the clutch of eggs 

 varies from three to four, occasionally five. It has been 

 proved that at least two broods are reared by each 

 pair of birds during the season. Breeding season 

 commences in October and lasts till December. 



