BOOBOOK OWL. 
there are two or three almost entirely white feathers ; lower flanks and under 
tail-coverts for the most part smoky-buff, the under wing-coverts tinged with the 
same colour, the greater series and quill-lining brown marked with white. Bill 
and cere dark blue ; culmen and sides of lower mandible horn ; eyes grey ; feet 
flesh. Total length 340 mm. ; culmen 17, wing 221, tail 127, tarsus 43. Figured. 
Collected at Peterson’s Pocket, near Cairns, North Queensland, on the 19th of 
December, 1884, and is the type of Spiloglaux howeri. 
Adult male. Genera] colour above dusky -brown, obscurely spotted with white or buffy-white, 
the spots small and dull in colour on the head, sides of face, hind-neck and sides 
of neck, larger and whiter on the scapulars, median and greater upper wing-coverts 
and inner webs of secondary-quills ; tail brown, with smoke-grey bars or spots 
which are paler on the inner webs tow*ards the base and on the outer webs of the 
lateral pair of feathers ; bastard -wing almost uniform with buff edges to the outer 
webs ; primary-coverts uniform dark brown ; base of fore-head, fore part of cheeks 
and throat buffy-white with black hair-like tips to the feathers ; breast and remainder 
of the under-surface dark chestnut-brown with a buffy tinge, including the under 
wing-coverts, the feathers broadly margined with white or twin spots of the same 
colour ; greater under wing-coverts and quill-lining pale brown marked with white, 
the white fading off and becoming obsolete towards the tips of the primaries. Bill 
dark blue and horn ; eyes bright yellow ; feet grey. Total length 300 mm. ; 
culmen 15, wing 206, tail 125, tarsus 138. Figured. Collected on Flinders Island, 
off Tasmania, on the 23rd of November, 1912, and is the type of Spiloglaux hoobook 
clelandi. 
Immature take on the adult plumage almost at once. 
Nest. A hole in a tree. 
Eggs. Laid on the decaying bottom, and are white. Three or four form the clutch : they 
are roundish in shape and measure 41 to 43 mm. by 33 to 37. 
Breeding-season. September to December or January. 
The long synonymy above given will indicate that variation is existent 
(otherwise the many names would scarcely have been tolerated, even if 
introduced) and that this form of Owl was fiirst described from New Zealand ; 
further, that I do not consider the Australian Boobook Owls other than 
races of the New Zealand species. 
As recent authorities have recognised many distinct species of “ Boobook ” 
as occurring in Australia and Tasmania, my views will need explanation. I 
therefore give full details, but as these are of more consequence to the 
technical reader, I first give the notes concerning the life-history of the 
bird. As will be recognised, the life-history of a nocturnal bird is a very 
uncertain quantity, and it will not be surprising to find that little is known 
of many members of this Order. In the present case there are quite a 
number of observations available, but when these are considered we wiU 
better understand how little is known. It may be as well to briefly 
explain the facts in connection with the supposed species “ Ninox ” boobook, 
ocellata, {maculata) clelandi and lurida. The first has been recorded for the 
great part of Australia ; the second for North Australia only ; the third for 
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