BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 79 



fairly common, but not so in others. It is animated only during 

 the night, at which time it sallies forth on noiseless wings and 

 feeds on moths and other nocturnal insects. During the day it 

 sits in an upright attitude on the dead limb of a tree. The bird is 

 a wonderful example of protective mimicry. The reason that a 

 dead, weather-beaten limb is selected is on account of the colour 

 of the bough, as imitating very closely the prevailing colour of the 

 bird. It matches so exactly that in broad daylight Hawks and 

 other enemies, including man, pass the bird by as being only part 

 of the tree. As a rule it sits close in to where the limb springs 

 from the main stem. Occasionally, however, I have seen it sitting 

 fully exposed on a bough. The whole day is passed in a state of 

 apparent slumber. When disturbed it will fly a short distance, 

 then perch and go to sleep, as though nothing had happened. But 

 as soon as the shades of night fall the bird arouses itself and 

 becomes keen-eyed and alert, sallying forth from its resting-place 

 in search of prey. 



Sub-Family ./Egothelinae. 



*OWLET-NIGHTJAR (LITTLE NIGHTJAR) 

 (JEgotheles novee-hollandice , Lath.) 



Male. Head deep brown, with two longitudinal stripes and 

 two crescents on the hinder part light grey; rest of upper surface, 

 including wing coverts, dusky, finely marked with pale grey; tail 

 dusky, barred on the inner webs with whitish-grey; quills dusky, 

 outer webs paler; sides of head pale grey, tinged with rufous; under 

 surface grey to pale grey, vermiculated with blackish-brown; bill 

 blackish; legs and feet yellowish. Dimensions in mm. : Length, 

 225; bill, 8.5; wing, 130; tail, 115; tarsus, 23. 



Female. Similar in plumage. 



Nest. A hole in the side of a tree or in the hollow spout of a 

 broken limb, which is usually lined with eucalypt leaves. 



Eggs. Clutch three to four; roundish in shape; texture fine; 

 surface glossy; colour white. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch: 

 (1) 25.5 x 21, (2) 25 x 21.5, (3) 25 x 22, (4) 25.5 x 21. 



Breeding Season. September to the end of the year. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania and Australia in general. 



Observations. Owing to its small size and nocturnal habits the 

 Owlet-Nightjar is a bird about whose habits but little is known. I 

 have records of it from over a large area, showing that it is to be 

 found in every suitable stretch of forest country where it can find 

 favourable nesting-places and where it can procure an abundance 

 of food. It is a very timid species, for, should there be any dis- 

 turbance close to the tree in which it is resting during the day 

 it will immediately fly out. Its call at night consists of a fairly loud 

 double note, which Mr. A. J. Campbell vocalizes as " Chirk-chirk." 



