450 



The discordant cries of this bird were heard during most 

 of the day, and up to very late in the evening. This light 

 ruddy phase I have found to be most consistent throughout the 

 interior, and the dark form seems to be confined to the 

 coastal areas. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



September 18 rf 355 mm. 912 mm. 



Cerchneis cenchroides, Vigors and Horsfield 

 (Nankeen Kestrel). 

 These birds were occasionally seen, but were not numerous. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



September 12 £ 330 mm. 742 mm. 



Order STRIGIFORMES. 



Family STRIGIDAE. 



Spiloglaux boobook, Latham (Boobook Owl). 



The unmistakable call of this bird was heard upon many 

 occasions during the night-time. No specimens were secured. 



Hieracoglaux connivens, Latham (Winking Owl). 



A pair of these birds was observed in the vicinity of 

 'Burke's Tree," at Innamincka, where one was secured. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



October 2 j 432 mm. 1,042 mm. 



They were very wary, and it was not till after many 

 attempts that they could be approached within gun-shot, keep- 

 ing to the large gum timber along the creek. 



Family TYTONLDAE. 

 Tyto alba delicatula, Gould (Masked Owl). 



These useful birds were found to be fairly plentiful all 

 over the country visited, and showed a great liking for 

 deserted wells : in one case a bird was sitting upon eggs on 

 the sand at the bottom of a dry well. Upon many occasions 

 birds were flushed from hollow trees, the hollows often 

 containing great numbers of pellets or rejects, one hollow 

 stump having over a bushel of pellets in it. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



October 5 ... g 330 mm. 964 mm. 



October 13 ... 9 330 mm. 958 mm. 



October 4 ... ^ 317 mm. 977 mm. 



