188 Mr. ViGORs's and Dr. Horsfield's Description of the 



ticularly about the Flats, a few miles below Paramatta. The 

 natives tell me it feeds upon dead fish, and the bones (of fish I 

 apprehend) which they leave. The Flats is a noted fishing 

 place for the natives : the water there is shallow, and at ebb- 

 tide a great portion of sand is left bare, which, with some marshy 

 land adjoining, forms a convenient resort for several species of 



birds." 



Genus. Aquila. Ciiv. 



1. FucosA. Aq. fusco-brimnea, capite scapularibus ptilisque fer- 

 rugineo-hrunneia ,remigibus femoribus caudùque cimeatàfusco- 



nigris. 



Aquila fucosa. Cuv. Kègne Anim. pi. iii. f. 1. 

 Aigle à queue etagée. Temm. PL Col. 32. 



Fam. StrigidjT,. 



Genus. Noctua. Sav. 



1. BooBOOK. A^. supernt brunnea, maculis parcis albido-flaves- 

 centibiis ; siibtus albida, jnaculis ferrugineis variegata ; digi- 

 tis pilosis. 

 Strix Boobook. Laf/i. Ind. Orn. Supp. p. xv. Jio. 9- 

 Boobook Owl. Id. Gen. Hist. i. p. S62. no. 66. 



" The native name of this bird," as Mr. Caley informs us, 

 " is Bitck'buck. Tt may be heard nearly every night during 

 winter uttering a cry corresponding with that word. Although 

 this cry is known to every one, yet the bird itself is known but 

 to few ; and it cost me considerable time and trouble before 

 I could satisfy myself respecting its identity. The note of the 

 bird is somewhat similar to that of the European cuckoo, and 

 the colonists have hence given it that name. The lower order 

 of the settlers in New South Wales are led away by the idea 

 that every thing is the reverse in that country to what it is in 



England : 



