PLATE XXYI. 



GENUS SCELOGLAUX (Kaup.) 



fJ^HE only member of this peculiar genus inhabits New Zealand. 



SCELOGLAUX ALB IF AC I LS (G. R. Gray), 



WEKAU. 



ALTHOUGH an inhabitant of New Zealand, this is such a singular species, and so characteristically 

 distinct from any other yet discovered, that it may fairly be included in a work such as this. 



It is certainly an owl, but differs from all the others in several points, particularly in its 

 small head, prominent bill, and inconsiderable powers of flight, which latter peculiarity at once shows 

 it to be terrestrial rather than arboreal in habits. 



It is not known on what it feeds, but most probably, from its structure, insects form the 

 principal article of diet. 



it is very rare, only a few specimens having been obtained. 



The forehead is white, above it a band of rufous spotted with black ; head and upper surface, 

 blackish-brown ; facial disc and throat, greyish-white, the latter spotted with brown ; wing-coverts and 

 wings, blackish-grey, the former spotted with white ; under surface, dark rufous, each feather with a 

 mark of brown in the centre; irides, dark brown; bill and feet, grey; tarsi, brown. 



Habitat : New Zealand. 



I [IERAC( MIL AUX COX X I VLXS. 



WINKING OWL. 



rpHIS species, described by Latham under the title of Fofco Connivens, is found in all the southern 

 -L colonies of Australasia, from New South Wales to Western Australia. It is found in much 

 greater abundance than either of the other two members of the genus. 



During the daytime it remains hidden in the branches of some tree, very often a Casuarina, 

 and sallies forth at night after the manner of its cono-eners. 



During the breeding season it lays a single white egg, two inches long and one and five-eighth 

 inches in breadth. 



The head, ear-coverts, back, and wings, are dark brown ; the scapularies, greater wing-coverts, 

 and secondaries, spotted with white : tail, dark brown, barred and tipped with white ; under surface, 

 mottled brown and grey ; irides and feet, yellow ; bill, grey. 



Habitats: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. 



