THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
in not fully adult plumage. As they did not understand the sexual plumages 
they were unable to discuss the species at all. This form shows a very pale 
upper-surface with pale orange-buff on the upper baekj varying in extent 
but always small, and sometimes negligible, and pure white underneath with 
few and disappearing spots. In addition to my own specimens, Rothschild 
and Hartert had the above two, and there are two from Port Essington in the 
British Museum. These all show the same characteristics, and further they 
are confirmed by North’s record of a Port Essington bird, of which he wrote 
“ there is scarcely a tinge of buff to be found,” and he records it as a female. 
It wiU be observed that G. F. Hill, when he procured some of this race, 
recorded it as Strix delicatula, though he was familiar with the southern 
form of the present species. It is possible that a larger series would admit 
the determination of several subspecies. 
Tyto novcehollandicB machayi Mathews. 
Mid- Queensland. 
Rothschild and Hartert conclude : “ In fact mackayi is perfectly 
similar to kimherli and wJiiteiJ’'’ They do not mention their own specimen 
from Coomooboolaroo, one of their four original specimens, the basis on which 
their article is written. These birds are certauily nearest the preceding, but 
are slightly darker and show more spotting below, and should for the present, 
considering the locality, be kept distinct. They are obviously paler than 
the New South Wales and South Queensland form. 
Tyto novceliollandicB galei Mathews. 
North Queensland. 
This form I received since Rothschild and Hartert’s essay. It is very 
like some specimens from the North-west, but there is absolutely no buff at 
all present and no spotting either above or below. I here fully describe it. 
Adult male. General colour of the upper-parts brown, mottled and 
spotted with white, darker on the top of the head, hind neck, upper back, 
scapulars and upper wing-coverts and paler on the primary- and secondary- 
quills ; the dark pattern sometimes assumes the form of bars or shaft-blotches 
which is exemplified more especially on the scapulars, bastard- wing, primary- 
coverts, primary- and secondary-quills and tail, the outer tail-feathers for 
the most part white with the dark pattern restricted to the shafts ; facial 
disc white with pale buff and minute dark triangular markings to the feathers 
on the outer margin ; eyelids and a spot in front of the eye pale rust-colour, 
the feathers surrounding the base of the bill disintegrated and bristly in 
texture ; entire under-surface silky-white, with dark minute subapical spots 
to the feathers on the sides of the breast, sides of the abdomen, under wing- 
coverts and under tail-coverts ; lower aspect of quiUs white, marked and 
396 
