.^GOTHELES NOV.E HOLLANDI^. 



(Owlet Night Jar.) 



♦" 



Forehead, grey, minutely freckled with dark grey ; lores, dark brown ; a series of stiff bristles proceed from the front of the eye, those 

 pointing upwards being branched ; general color of the upper surface, dark brownish grey, freckled with blackish ; collar behind the neck, 

 whitish or rusty brown, each feather bordered and freckled with dark brown ; the remainder of the upper surface and wings, brownish grey, 

 banded and freckled with darker ; chin, whitish ; throat and chest, dark grey, freckled with whitish ; abdomen, white in some, buff in others ; 

 in some each feather barred near the tip with dark grey ; the bases of the feathers are nearly black, and the shafts white ; under tail coverts, 

 white ; primaries, edged with whitish or reddish buff, and obscurely banded and freckled on the outer webs with dark brown, the remaining 

 parts of those feathers being dark brown ; irides, vinous brown ; feet, yellow ; bill, dark brown. 



Lejigth, 9 inches; wing, 5 ; tail, 4| ; tarsus, f ; bill, |; width of ditto at the gape, 1. 



The range of this pretty little Groatsucker is of large extent, being found in all the coast country, from Queensland round 

 southward to Western Australia. It is very variable in color, some specimens being much tinged with rufous ; in others the grey pre- 

 dominates. Its range over the northern portions of the continent is not strictly determined, but it is probably represented in the tropical 

 portions by the following species. It is known to exist in Queensland and New South Wales, in all the country between the coast and the 

 dividing range, and in almost every variety of situation. In habit it is quite nocturnal, sleeping in the day time in the holes or spouts of the 

 gum trees, or perched on the branch of a casuarina, and not coming forth until the shades of evening have gathered. Its food consists of 

 insects of all kinds. One that I kept in an open-roofed building for about a fortnight was particularly fond of cockroaches, and hunted 

 about for them with great assiduity. When disturbed it utters a kind of hiss, but its ordinary note when flying about is something like the 

 mew of a kitten. The eggs are four or five in number, very white, and much rounded : size, 1 inch by | ; they are deposited in the hole of 

 a tree, no nest being formed. 



iEGOTHELES LEUCOGASTER. 



(White-hellied Owlet Night Jar) 



t 



— ♦- 



Head, black ; crown, crescent-shaped mark at the back of the head, and collar surrounding the back of the neck, freckled with grey; back, 

 freckled black and white ; wings, brown, crossed by numerous bands of lighter brown, freckled with dark brown ; primaries, margined 

 externally with buff, interrupted with blotching of dark brown; tail, dark brown, crossed by numerous broad irregular bands of reddish buff, 

 freckled with dark brown ; ear coverts, straw white; chin, abdomen, and under tail coverts, white; breast and sides of the neck, white, 

 crossed by numerous freckled bars of black ; irides, dark brown ; upper mandible, dark olive brown ; lower mandible, white, tipped with 

 black ; legs, pale yellow ; claws, black. 



. Length, 9i inches ; wing, 5f ; tail, 5 ; bill, 1 ; tarsus, 1. 



The above description of Mr. Gould's proves the great similarity which exists between the two species ; this is, however, a 

 little larger in size. In its habits it altogether resembles the common species. It is plentiful at Poi-t Essington, and will probably be found 

 to range all over the north coast. 



