BOOBOOK OWL 
from me, in treating of this moot point, to say 
that the Podargus or Mopoke does not also emit the 
sound from which its name is taken. I do not know ; 
but I do know that the Boobook Owl, at any rate, 
makes a hooting which is said to be represented by 
the word mopoke." 
It is a very much commoner bird than one imagines ; 
but its habits are mainly nocturnal, and even in the 
day-time it keeps so quiet and harmonises so well 
with the gum tree upon which it perches that only 
a practised bird-observer will detect its presence. 
I remember once, in May, 1902, capturing a Boobook 
Owl in a curious way. It was about 5 p.m., a fine 
evening, and there was a great and, as it appeared to 
me, unusual twittering going on among a lot of 
small birds at the bottom of the garden. I went 
down and found the excitement centred in a dark, 
thick-leaved shrub, peering into which I espied an 
Owl with his back to me, and evidently seeking to 
avoid the embarrassing attentions of the small fry. 
I quietly moved my hand in, and when within reach 
grabbed him by the back and hauled him forth. 
After a careful examination I released him, at night- 
fall, from an upstairs window ; he sped instantly, 
without sound, into the dusk. 
The description of this bird I will append, as there 
is some doubt as to whether we have not a species 
formerly called the Spotted Owl, as well as the 
Boobook ; Mathews says no. General colour dark 
brown with hardly a trace of rufous. Forehead 
