DELICATE OWL. 
“ Inhabits New Holland, and called Boobook, but as more than one in 
that country goes by the same name, it is probably what Owls are generally 
known by.” 
This description was apparently based on No. 25 of the Watling 
Drawings, but for some reason Latham did not give a Latin name to this. 
Consequently, Gould in 1836 described the bird as Strix delicatulus, and 
this is the name by which this bird is now known. 
Its life-history is not completely known, but there are some notes about it. 
Gould wrote : “ This is the least of the Australian Owls belonging to 
that section of the group to which the generic term of Strix has been retained ; 
it is also the one most generally distributed. I observed it in almost every 
part of New South Wales that I visited ; it is a common bird in South 
Australia, and I have also seen specimens from Port Essington. It has not 
yet been found in the colony of Swan River, nor can it be included in the 
fauna of Tasmania. Although good specific differences are found to exist, 
it is very nearly allied to the Barn Owl {Strix flammea) of our own island, 
and the 8. javanica of India, and, as might be naturally expected, the habits, 
actions and general economy of the three species are as similar as their outward 
appearance ; mice and other small mammals, which are very numerous in 
Australia, are preyed upon as its natural food. To attempt a description 
of its noiseless flight, its mode of capturing its prey, or of its general habits, 
would be merely to repeat what has been so often and so ably written relative 
to the Barn Owl of Europe. Although the plumage of youth and that of 
maturity do not differ so widely in this species as in the other Australian 
members of the genus, the fully adult bird may always be distinguished by 
the spotless and snowy whiteness of the breast, and by the lighter colouring 
of the upper-surface.” 
Mr. T. P. Austin, of Cobbora, New South Wales, has written me : 
“ Delicate Owl. No better vernacular name could have been given to this 
Owl. Owing to the great mortality amongst these birds of late years, ^ think 
it is only a matter of a very short time when they will become extinct. 
During the last few years I have seen six dead ones about my house, and I 
have not seen a live bird of this species for three years. Only once have 
I found it nesting. I flushed the sitting bird from a very large hollow in an 
enormous red gum-tree growing on the bank of the Talbragar River, and 
from which I took three eggs.” 
Mr. Tom Carter has given me the following item : “ The Lesser Masked 
Owl {Strix delicatula) is not uncommon in the Mid-west, being found in the 
hoUow gum-trees of the inland rivers and creeks and recesses of the great 
ranges of the North-west Cape. Three incubated eggs were taken from a 
367 
