i66 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
spotted with very small fulvous-white spots. Crown 
of head not spotted. Many feathers on occiput have 
small spots, like those on forehead. Interscapular 
region not spotted, but towards rump the spots appear 
again and are larger. Primary wing coverts not 
spotted, but secondary wing coverts spotted with 
one white spot each on the outer web near the tip, 
the spots being comparatively large on those of the 
secondary wing coverts which are nearest the primary 
coverts. Scapularies similarly spotted with white, 
so that, when wing closed, a sort of semi-circle of 
white spots is seen on it. Breast and abdomen dark 
brown, the feathers each margined with white, so 
that the breast seems longitudinally streaked with 
brown and white. A V-shaped patch of whitish 
feathers comes down from over each eye to a point 
at the base of the upper mandible. Ear coverts 
brown. Irides light yellow. Bill black, with horn- 
coloured culmen. Feet brownish. Length along 
back without distending neck, barely ii inches. 
Tarsus, if inches. Middle toe, i inch." 
In the dusk I have often seen the Boobook flitting 
silently along streets in the suburbs. Farther afield 
it is particularly plentiful where there is a growth of 
gum trees sufficiently large to have capacious hollows. 
It is numerous along Armstrong's Creek, Mount 
Duneed ; at the foot of the You Yangs ; and in 
w^hat still is left of the bush along the Queenscliff 
Road. At these places the Boobook may be heard 
on any still evening of spring or summer. There is 
