SOOTY OWL. 
somewhat paler than the back, especially at the tips of the secondaries and tips 
of the tail-feathers ; inner webs of the secondary-quiUs white towards the base ; 
facial disc pale dusky brown, blackish in front of the eye, the outer margin white 
with blackish tips to the feathers, the feathers surrounding the base of the bill 
disintegrated and bristly in texture and having extended hair-Kke tips ; the feathers 
on the lower cheeks somewhat paler than the upper part of the face ; the feathers 
of the chin white edged with blackish ; under-surface paler than the back and much 
more profusely mottled and spotted with white; the bases of the feathers incHning 
to whitish on the abdomen, flanks, thighs and imder tail-coverts ; under wing- 
coverts dark brown but no conspicuous white spots ; lower aspect of quiUs pale 
brown ; tail below ash-brown. Total length 510 mm. ; culmen 32, wing 343, 
tail 152, tarsus 73. Cbllected in Victoria in December, 1892, as is the type of Tyto 
tenebricosa magna Mathews. 
Male. Upper-surface blackish-brown freckled and spotted with white, and grey bases 
to the feathers ; lesser upper wing-coverts and primary-coverts almost uniform 
blackish with a spot of white at the tips of the feathers ; the pale and white markings 
on the flight quills and tail-feathers assume the form of irregular cross-bars, the white 
increasing on the inner webs and tips of the feathers ; facial disc white with the 
inner circle blackish at the base and smoky-brown at the tips, which are disintegrated 
and hair-like, the outer circle white, the feathers mottled and tipped with brown : 
the outer circle on the hinder-face appears to be followed by a Kne of brown feathers 
minutely spotted with white ; the feathers on the fore-neck and breast have white 
tips and greyish-white bases ; abdomen, sides of body, under wing-coverts, under 
tail-coverts, thighs and tarsi white marked with brown on the apical portion of the 
feathers. Bill whitish horn, sides of upper mandible slate ; eyes brown ; feet 
brown. Total length 410 mm. ; culmen 28, wing 267, tail 120, tarsus 63. 
Figured. Collected on the Johnstone River, North Queensland, on the 9th of 
July, 1900, and is the type of Tyto tenebricosa multi'punctata. 
Nest. A hollow in a tree. 
Eggs. Clutch, three, white and roundish, 45-46 mm. by 40-41. 
Breeding-season. October, November, December. 
Nothing whatever is known of the life-history of this bird. I have not 
found a singe record of its habits. Its systematic history is little better 
understood, as the following notes will show. 
In my “ Reference List ” I admitted three subspecies. Rothschild and 
Hartert criticised this separation as follows : 
“ Tyto tenebricosa tenebricosa 
has been restricted to New South Wales by Mr. Mathews. 
“ Tyto tenebricosa multipunctata Mathews 
Nov. Zool., XIX., p. 255 (January 1912 — North Queensland, type locality : 
Johnston River). 
(As a matter of fact this name appeared on p. 257 of Vol. XVIII.) 
“Diagnosis: ‘Differs from T. t. tenebricosa in its smaller size, and more 
spotting above and below. Wing 263 mm. : typ. w. 290 mm.’ 
“This is, judging from the material available — i.e. the type in Mr. 
Mathews’ collection and two males from Cedar Bay in North Queensland — 
collected by Mr. A. S. Meek, in the Tring Museum, an excellent new form. 
405 
