31 
feeds, nibbling its food after the manner of a rabbit or 
wombat. 
Sir George Grey has published some interesting notes on 
its habits. 
No. 6 in this collection is an abnormally small example, 
and is specially mentioned at page 177 (2nd ed.) of ‘The 
Birds of New Zealand.’ 
Order STRI GES. 
Fam. STRIGIDiE. 
Genus SPILOGLAUX. (Peculiar to New Zealand.) 
Spiloglaux novte Zealand ite, Gmelin. New-Zealand Owl. 
“Ruru.” (Case IX. Nos. 15, 16, 23, and 24: adult 
male, female, and young birds in two stages of growth.) 
Every colonist is familiar with this little Owl under the 
name of “ Morepork,” so called on account of its peculiar 
cry. 
It subsists on rats, mice, and small birds, and when these 
fail it does not despise the large nocturnal moths and beetles. 
It nests in hollow trees, and lays two white eggs, almost 
spherical in form. ^ 
Genus SCELOGLAUX. (Peculiar to New Zealand.) 
Sceloglaux albifacies, Gray. Laughing Owl. “ Whe- 
kau.” (Case IX. No. 22.) 
This is one of the rarest species now existing in New Zea¬ 
land. Half a century ago it was on the verge of extinction, 
and some years have elapsed since the capture of the last 
recorded example, although it is still occasionally heard of 
in the mountainous districts of the South Island. Xeiy few 
European collections contain specimens of this interesting 
bird. 
