LARGE OWL 245 



falling with the shock, was captured, permitting me to 

 examine it closely. It proved to be of the same species as 

 a well-known kind which is common in all the islands of 

 the Indian Seas to the north of Australia — Vesperugo 

 abraj)ms. Here, at my camp, they were flying about 

 until a very late hour. I do not think the last of them 

 disappeared until the first streaks of dawn were showing 

 in the east. They were attracted by my light, many 

 hovering about the lanthorn, but only one actually 

 touched it. 



A large owl, almost the size of an eagle (undoubtedly 

 Ninox stremma\ also had its home in the wood, and 

 disturbed me much during the early part of the night by 

 its abominable screaming cry. It looked like a great 

 spectre flitting to and fro often quite close to me, so that I 

 could actually feel the wind of its wings. It was evidently 

 annoyed at my presence so near its home, or perhaps the 

 light disturbed it. 



This owl is not common in any part of Australia 

 known to me. I have seen it more frequently in the 

 north than elsewhere. I remember a specimen being 

 shot on the Clarence River, New South Wales, but I am 

 inclined to think that this was a stray bird. About the 

 24th parallel seems to be its southernmost range of 

 distribution. At any rate, I have never found it in any 

 part of South Australia. 



It is not a strictly nocturnal owl, for though it certainly 

 hawks during the earlier portions of the evening and 

 night, it is quite as often seen in the early afternoon and 

 in the morning. The time of hiding, or rest, seems to be 

 between eight in the morning and two in the after- 

 noon. It is a bird that seems to be particularly fond of 

 large-sized animals for its prey. The smaller wallabies 

 are its favourite quarry, and I have never seen it attack 

 the small rats and birds. It is a bird of rapid and 

 audible flight — two characteristics that are very uncommon 

 amongst the owls. 



The night was close and hot, and the sky obscured 

 with heavy banks of clouds, with almost incessant 



