Genus— B EBNEYOBNIS. 
Berneyornis Mathews, ante, p. 305 . . . . . . Type B. strenuus. 
Largest Strigine birds, with very powerful bills, long wings, long tails, very 
short powerful legs, and very strong long toes. 
This overlooked generic form is as distinct as any yet characterized 
in the Australian Avifauna. The bill is quite distinctive, recalling that of 
a Kite in appearance, being long, and the culmen more straight than in 
other forms. I classed it, as others had done, with Hieracoglaux, so 
comparisons may be made with that genus. Generally speaking, the measure- 
ments are half as long again, which means that the bird looks about 
three times the bulk. The bill is of a different shape and the nostrils are 
scarcely seen at all from the frontal view, nor are they much obscured at 
a side view. 
The wing is long and has a distinct formula : the first is more than 
half the length of the third but shorter than the eighth, while the second 
is shorter than the third and seventh ; the third, fourth, fifth and sixth are 
longest and subequal. The outer web of first primary is more strongly 
serrated (or stiff) than in any other Australian form. 
The tail is long and straight, being proportionately longer than in the 
preceding genus. 
The tarsus is fully feathered and is very stout and short, being propor- 
tionately much shorter than in Hieracoglaux ; the toes are very powerful, 
and the middle toe is as long as the tarsus, while the claws are very strong 
and long. 
The large size of this Owl, combined with its distinct coloration, its 
different wing-formula and its very short but powerful legs and\ very 
stout feet, make it the most striking member of the Australian Strigiformes. 
The other large Owl, Rhabdoglaux, is inferior in many respects, but both 
agree in lacking a very noticeable facial disc. 
It is remarkable that this form has not been characterized before, and 
an examination of the internal features is much desired, when it is probable 
many surprising features will be observed. 
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