MASKED OWL. 
faunal region as Victoria. Probably Mr. Mathews regards as ‘ typical ’ 
novcehollandicB a large form with brownish face and brownish underside, 
inhabiting New South Wales only. If that be so, his riordani would probably 
be the same, as one of his two specimens (a young bird) is brown underneath, 
the other almost pure white. If we take this view, and presume that the 
birds from Queensland, West Australia, and North-west, as well as those 
from South Australia, are always white or nearly white below, the latter 
could be separated under Mr. Mathews’ first name: perplexa.” 
The above criticism is the most interesting as it is the most accurate. 
When I separated the Victorian bird I suggested two species co-existed, one 
with brown face and one with white face. My diagnoses were drawn up 
under that impression, which was not fully expressed. Hence I made 
differential characters which were only applicable to one of the groups, 
which admittedly was incorrect, and thereupon I accept Rothschild and 
Hartert’s criticism. When, however, they write : “ New South Wades, 
which seems to belong to the same faunal region as Victoria,” they are once 
more displaying their want of knowledge of local conditions which is so necessary 
to correctly interpret the fauna of a vast continent like Australia. Victoria 
is zoologically composed of three faunal regions, each having well-defined 
subspecies characterizing them, and these are now becoming well known 
through the researches of local ornithologists, even as the Irish Dipper, Jay 
and Coal Tit were recognised. Thus, South Victoria is separated from 
North Victoria by the Grampians, and North Victoria belongs to New South 
Whales zoologically^ while South Victoria does not, and the bird-life is nearer 
to that of Tasmania. West Victoria is occupied by the Mallee country, which 
is inhabited by another faunula quite distinct from the other two Victorian 
faunulae. Nevertheless; there are three faunulse quite distinct included in 
the political division named Victoria. Why Rothschild and Hartert should 
write: “as well as those from South Australia, are always white or nearly 
white below” immediately after quoting Gould’s note that he had \ never 
met with a white example in South Australia, is beyond my comprehension. 
It serves to emphasize the lack of accuracy running through the whole of 
their criticism. 
Tyto novceJiollandicE melvillensis Mathews. To me the remarks given 
herewith are most amusing. 
“ Mr. Mathews possesses two specimens, both marked ‘ ; one is 
apparently adult, another, unfortunately marked as the type, is a young 
bird with remains of down. The adult ‘ $ ’ has a wing of 307 mm., which 
would be small for a female, but is it correctly sexed ? This bird is not 
darker buff below than perplexa. The other specimen is underneath darker 
389 
