THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
almost lead one to the belief that more than one species exists in Tasmania. 
This can, of course, be accounted for to a large extent by age and sex, but 
it is a strange coincidence that nearly all the specimens of the large bold- 
looking bird with the dark facial disc and plumage have been noticed in 
the Midland and Northern Districts, whilst the smaller and lighter-coloured 
birds, with the discs around the eyes almost white, have been obtained in 
the more southern parts. Mr. A. E. Brent was the first to draw attention 
to this. Of course this may be quite accidental, and the experience of others 
may not confirm it, whilst the number of specimens examined is hardly 
sufficient to enable one to assert positively that such a line of demarcation 
exists.” 
Dr. Holden’s observations are : “ What is the present accepted opinion 
about Strix castanops ? I can only say that Tasmania produces birds with 
deep chestnut discs and also snow-white discs, for I have handled both ; 
particulars of other parts of their plumage I cannot supply. Probably the 
albinity denotes age.” 
North added to the above: “The series of skins of Strix castanops in 
the Australian Museum is too small, and their sex uncertain, to satisfactorily 
answer this question. I can speak, however, with confidence as to Strix 
novcEhollandicB, knowing the species well and by seeing specimens dissected, 
and that is — the smaller bird with the white facial disc is the adult male, 
and the slightly larger one with the white facial disc more or less stained 
with chestnut is the adult female, and probably the same obtains with the 
Tasmanian form. Gould’s remarks that the Tasmanian bird is larger than 
the Continental one is not borne out by the examination of a series of 
skins in the Australian Museum.” 
This splendid Owl, the largest Barn Owl in the world, though not a 
“Barn” Owl in the strictest sense, has a v^ery complicated history. Recently, 
the acquisition of specimens has caused many complications, and some 
considerable space is necessary to deal thoroughly with the attempts to 
elucidate the existent forms and to give some criticism thereof. The early 
history of the species is unknown, but it may have been figured by Watling, as 
Sharpe {Hist. Coll. Nat. Hist. Brit. Mus., Vol. II., p. 112 (1906) notes : 
“ pi. 23, Barn Owl, in Latham’s MS. List, but no figure now in the 
book.” 
It is conjectured that this pi. 23 was the basis of Latham’s description 
of his “Mouse Owl” {Gen. Hist. Birds, Vol. I., p. 358, 1821), which reads: 
“ Length 17 in. or more. Bill white ; face reddish bufi ; from the chin a 
chocolate mark, surrounding the margin of both the face circles, and finishing 
at the hind head ; before the eye dusky -black ; plumage above dark ash- 
382 
