AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 
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180 Masked Owl, ti, novae-hollandiae, A. 
Stat. r. forests, rocky 14 
Pale buff; head, back wings marked dark-brown, few 
white spots; under paler, few brown spots; disc pur- 
plish-white, edged with deep-brown spots; f., larger. 
Mice, rats. 
181 Chestnut-faced Owl, S. castanops, N.S.W., V., S.A., 
T. Stat. c. brushes, swamps; f., 17; m., 14.5 
Disc deep-che«tnut edged black; upper rufous-brown 
marked dark-brown; few small spots on head, shoul- 
ders; under deep sandy-brown with blackish spots; f., 
larger. Mice, rats. 
182 Sooty OavI, Dusky Barn Owl, 8. tenebricosa, N.G., E.A. 
Stat. v.r. dense brushes; f., 16; m., 13.5 
Disc sooty-gray deeper round eyes; upper brownish-black 
finely spotted white; under brownish-black washed 
buff, fainter spots; legs mottled brown, white; f., 
larger. Mice, rats. 
183 Grass Owl, 8. Candida, India, Formosa, China, Philip- 
pines to E.A. Stat. v.r. grass 14 
Disc white or tinged pale-pink; brownish spot before eye; 
. edge disc dark-brown above, buff below; upper dark- 
brown finely spotted white; under white tinged orange- 
buff with scattered brown spots; tail whitish barred 
brown; legs long; f., sim. 
since they are not capable of much movement, the bird turns its 
head from side to side. Though mainly nocturnal. Owls are 
sometimes seen hunting for their prey by day. As they feed 
mostly on mice, rats, and insects, they are very valuable birds. 
The feathers are very soft, with a weak central axis, so that no 
sound is made when flying. They are thus able to approach 
their prey without giving warning. The Powerful Owl well 
deserves its name, as it possesses great strength, and is a for- 
midable enemy if wounded. However, Owls are, fortunately, 
seldom shot at. 
Like Hawks, Owls catch their prey with and carry it in their 
feet, unless the feet are required for climbing. One peculiarity 
of the feet is that the bird can reverse one toe, so that it can have 
three toes in front and one behind, like most birds, or two in 
front and two behind, like Parrots and Cuckoos. 
Although not so strong of flight as the Diurnal Birds of Prey 
{e.g,. Hawks), Owls have managed to spread throughout the 
world, so that they are found even in New Zealand. The dif- 
ferent kinds are not easily separated, so most people are satis- 
fied when they have classed a bird as an Owl, though you will 
probably want to divide them into two groups — the Owls 
Proper and the Barn Owls. 
While Australia possesses representatives of nearly all the 
important widely-spread families of birds this favored land also 
