PARROTS AND COCKATOOS 195 



The Masked Owl. 



Strix castanops. 



Tasmania. 



A sub-speeies of the Chestnut-faced Owl. Above chocolate brown 

 varied with golden buff; tail dark brown, crossed with six bars of golden 

 buff; under surface golden buff with blackish spots; facial disc deep 

 chestnut becoming deeper at the margin, and encircled with black. 

 Length 15 to 20 inches, wing 14.8 inches. 



The Sooty Owl. 



Strix tenehricosa. 



Eastern Australia. 



Above sooty brown with white spots; tail same colour but paler; under 

 surface sooty -brown with white bars and diamonds; facial disc sooty grey, 

 with dark brown plumes around the eyes. Length 13 to 16 inches, wing 

 10 to 12 inches. The rarest species. 



The Grass Owl. 



Strix Candida. 



India and Burmah, Celebes, Philippines, North Australia, Fiji. 



Above dark brown with minute white spote; tail buffy whitish, with 

 four brown crossbars; under surface pure white, the breast spotted with 

 brown; facial disc entirely white. Length 14.5, wing 13.3 inches. 



This Owl nests on the ground, choosing a high tussock of 

 grass, forming a bower in it, and laying its eggs on the few grass 

 blades that have been trampled down. Eggs four, thick ovals, 

 white, lustreless, 1.7 x 1.26 inch. The nest and eggs were 

 discovered by Mr. J. A. Boyd of the Herbert River, Queensland. 

 (North). 



Order Psittacipormes. 

 Parrots and Cockatoos. 



Feet adapted for climbing, two toes in front two behind 

 (zygodactyl), covered with plates. Bill short and very stout, 

 strongly hooked, and furnished with a fleshy cere. 



The Parrots and Cockatoos are renowned for their brilliant 

 and variegated plumage, always conspicuous in the bush by their 

 striking colours and calling attention by their shrill screams. 

 Australia has a long list of varieties, varying in size from the 

 large Black Cockatoo down to the little affectionate Love-birds. 

 All colours are in evidence, black, white, red, yellow, blue and 



