82 
The Emu. 
Notes on Various Birds Found in Tasmania^ 
By Col. W. V. Legge, F.Z.S., &c. 
1. Strix castanops (Gould), Chestnut-faced Owl. 
This species, whose eggs are stated in Campbell's " Nests and 
Eggs of Australian Birds " to be undescribed, breeds in Tasmania 
in the early part of November. Mr. Eric Kermode, of Mona 
Vale, one of our best-known egg-collectors, informs me that 
some years ago he and some brother collectors were 
taking a Goshawk's nest, and hard by stood a smooth, dead 
bole of a gum tree, from which all the upper part had fallen 
away, leaving an open funnel top. The noise alarmed one of 
these owls, which flew out of the " funnel," and was evidently 
breeding. So smooth and slippery, without any outstanding 
" points," was the bole that all attempts to get a rope over it 
failed, and the eggs remained undiscovered. It is not an 
abundant species in the island, but widely distributed, inhabit- 
ing, no doubt, as nocturnal birds do, many parts where it 
continues to be unobserved. I have seen it in the ranges above 
Falmouth, and it is met with in the north-east, while in the 
comparatively open country in the midlands Mr. Kermode tells 
me it used to be not uncommon. 
2. Cracticus CINEREUS (Gould), Grey Butcher Bird. 
This is a familiar bird in Tasmania about homesteads 
where there are many trees. The name " Derwent Jackass," 
referred to in Campbell's " Nests and Eggs," is not a well- 
known appellation in the island, the common name for the bird 
being the " Jackass " simply. It is a favourite bird with the 
farmers for caging, on account of its whistling propensities and 
grotesque manners in confinement. In the breeding season it is 
a most noisy denizen of one's plantations, choosing the tall 
Pinus insignis for nesting in, building in its upper branches, 
and taking charge of the surrounding grove by keeping off the 
Parrots and " Miners " from the proximity of its brood. A nest 
some years ago was blown out of a high pine at my house, and 
its contents, two young birds, tumbled out into the surrounding 
herbage ; they were found and deposited in the nest, which was 
placed in the fork of a willow, where the old birds continued 
their care of them until the nest was again blown out of its rest- 
ing-place, and the young fell victims to the cats. Three is the 
usual clutch of eggs, occasionally two only are laid. They 
are "regular" ovals in shape, and usually pale olivaceous, the mark- 
ings of pale brown being much washed out and, in some, clouded 
into confluent patches at the larger end. The breeding season 
is October, during which, and the following months, the 
" Jackass's " loud and melodious call-notes are the most familiar 
sounds about Tasmanian homesteads, and last into late evening 
after all birds but the Magpies have retired to roost. 
