ATHENE STEENUA. 



(Powerful Oivl.) 



Adult. — Facial disk, small, whitish in front, greyish behind ; a number of fine black bristles point forwards towards the bill and overlap its 

 base ; crown, upper surface, back of the neck, and back, sepia brown, barred with light buffy brown, which shows lighter and more 

 conspicuously on the lower portion of the back ; wings and tail, the same, but the bars are wider and better defined, particularly on the greater 

 coverts and tertiaries ; throat, wJiite, slightly streaked with brown ; chest and under surface, buify white, broadly banded with transverse 

 angular markings of dark brown ; thighs and tarsi, closely banded with brown and white ; bill, dark horn color; irides and feet, yellow; claws, 

 brownish horn color. The sexes are alike. 



Youjy^d. — Upper surface marked as in the adult, but the bars are whiter and more conspicuous ; the head and back of the 

 neck, white and downy, with transverse markings of greyish brown ; under surface, very downy and white, with a delicate streak of brown 

 down the centre of each feather ; facial disk white, streaked with hair like lines of black. 



Length, 24 inches ; wing. 15 ; tail, 10| ; bill, 2 ; tarsus, 2\. 



This is the largest and most robust species of owl yet discovered in Australia, being only surpassed in size by the two largest of 

 our eagles. Its appearance is fierce and defiant ; and its strength is such that animals of considerable size form no small portion of its food, 

 being easily overcome and killed by the powerful weapons with which it is furnished. Like others of the genus to which it belongs, it is in 

 the habit of hunting in the daytime as well as during the night. On one occasion a fine specimen was disturbed by a gentleman of my 

 acquaintance, in Rosenthal scrub, near Warwick, who says ; " I was attracted by a strange knocking. On getting within thirty yards of the 

 " place I saw a specimen of the large owl (Athene Strenua) on the branch of a tree devouring an opossum ; on becoming aware of my presence 

 " he raised himself to his full height and looked at me with an expression of haughty disdain, conveying at the same time the idea that if I 

 " did not quickly remove he would punish me. When at a distance of ten or twelve yards I threw a stick at him ; he took no notice of this ; 

 " but when I threw another, which struck him, he flew quietly away, taking his prey with him. I refrained from shooting him, being on the 

 " look out for wallabies at the time." The present species is found in the scrubs and brushes of the dividing range and the country 

 between it and the east coast, both in New South Wales and Queensland, but is more frequently obtained in the latter, though far from 

 plentiful anywhere. 



