PLATE 



GENUS STRIX (Linn.) 



A LTHOUGH the Raptores altogether are but feebly represented in Australia, the number of members of 

 -£Jl the genus Strix is quite extraordinary. As a general rule a country posseses but one species, whereas 

 Australia contains no less than five. 



STPJX CASTANOPS (Gould). 



CHESTNUT-FACED OWL. 



THIS large and powerful bird inhabits Tasmania, and the southern colonies of Australia, frequenting the 

 open forests of large trees. 



It spends the day sleeping in a hollow in the trunk of a large tree, but on the ap2)roach of evening 

 issues forth in search of food. It subsists on rats, bandicoots, and other small quadrupeds. 



There is no difference in the plumage of the sexes, but the female is much larger and stronger than 

 her mate. The facial disc is deep chestnut-brown ; upper surface, wings, and tail, rufous brown, each feather 

 irregularly marked with dark brown, and the head and shoulders having a few spots of white ; under surface 

 dark chestnut, with a few spots of black ; hides, blackish-brown ; space round the eye, black; bill, yellowish-buff; 

 feet, greyish-brown ; claws, black. 



Habitats : Tasmania, and the southern part of Australia. 



STPJX XOV^EHOLLAXDJ.E (Steph.) 



MASKED OWL. 



THE Masked Owl is found in every part of Australia except the north coast, but does not inhabit Tasmania. 

 In general habits it resembles the Strix Castanops, like it, being strictly nocturnal in habits and feeding on 

 small quadrupeds. It is, however, only about two-thirds the size of that bird. 



There is considerable difference in the colouring of the face and under surface of different specimens, in 

 some these parts being buff, and in others pure white. This at first caused them to be described as different 

 species, but it has been proved that they are really the same. 



As in the case of the Strix Castanops. the female greatly exceeds the male in size. 



The facial disc is light buff tinged with purple, and bounded by a line of reddish-brown ; the head, 

 upper surface, and wings, dark brown, spotted with buff; tail, buff, with irregular bars of brown ; under surface, 

 very pale buff, spotted irregularly with dark brown; space round the eye, black; irides, dark grey; bill, pale 

 horn-colour ; feet, yellow ; claws, black. 



Habitat : The whole of Australia, except the northern part. 



