BOOBOOK OWL. 
This last I now conclude to be De Vis’s lurida, 
I have, in consequence of the recognition of the Neozelanic forms, to 
note the names given to these and the Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island 
birds. 
In the United States Expl. Exped., Vol. VIII., 1848, p. 75, Peale 
described Noctua venatica from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. This 
name comes into use when the birds from the North Island are separated 
from those of the South Island. 
When Eamsay published his Tabular List of Australian Birds in 1888, 
he added a List of species found on Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands and 
there described, p. 36 : “ Ninox alharia sp. nov. Specimens of a small Ninox 
from Lord Howe Island differ considerably from either of the Continental 
forms, N. maculata or N. hoobooh, and also from N. novoe-zealandioe, to 
which latter it is most closely allied ; this species, which I propose to 
distinguish under the name of Ninox albaria, may be briefly described. 
The face, lores, fore-head, chin and upper part of the throat in some 
specimens, snow-white ; the general colour of the plumage rich fawn or 
rusty-brown, deeper in tint on the sides of the chest and under-surface and 
upper tail-coverts ; each feather of the chest has two distinct roundish 
spots of white, which elongate transversely and form two detached bars on 
the breast, but become confluent on the flanks ; the feathers of the under 
tail-coverts are white, with a terminal bar and centre shaft-spot of rufous 
brown ; abdomen, legs and thighs rufous brown, paler on the inner parts ; 
no spots on the head or hind neck ; the mantle and interscapular region 
without spots in some, but sparingly spotted with white on the concealed 
parts of the feathers in other individuals. Scapulars with two broken bands 
of white, which sometimes take the form of oval spots on either side of the 
shafts of the feathers. Wings with seven to eight duU ashy bands. Centre 
two tail feathers without any bands, the others with about ten oblique 
narrow ashy bands on the inner webs only, except the outer feathers on either 
side, where they are just distinguishable ; a few spots of white on the 
concealed portions of the rump and upper tail-coverts. Bill black, feet dull 
yellowish brown ; bristles brown. Length, 12 inches ; wing, 8 inches ; 
tail 6 inches ; tarsus, 1.7 inch ; bill from fore-head, 1 inch. Some of the 
New Zealand specimens come very close to the Lord Howe Island birds, but 
lack the white face, lores and chin. Should they eventually prove to be 
identical, this will form an interesting Hnk, connecting the avifauna of the 
two Islands. The Norfolk Island bird is said to be Ninox boobook, but it is 
more likely to prove to be Ninox novoezealandice, or perhaps the present 
species.’^ 
327 
