ATHENE BOOBOOK.
Boobook Owl.
Strix Boobook, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl., p. xv. no. 9.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. vii. p. 262.
Boobook Owl, Lath. Gen. H is t, vol. i. p. 362. no. 66.—Id. Gen. 8yn. Suppl., vol. ii. p. 64.
Noctua Boobook, Yig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 188.
Athene Boobook, Gould in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part I.
Buck-buck, Aborigines of New South Wales.
Goor-goor-da, Aborigines of Western Australia.
Mel-in-de-ye, Aborigines of Port Essington.
Koor-koo, Aborigines of South Australia.
Brown or Cuckoo- Owl of the Colonists.
I h a v e seen individuals of this Owl from every one o f the Australian colonies, all presenting similar
characters, with the exception o f those from P o rt Essington, which differ from the others in being a trifle
smaller in size and paler in colour.
In Van Diemen’s Land this species is seldom seen, while it is very common throughout the whole length
of the southern coast of the continent. I t appears to inhabit alike the brushes and the plains, th at is, those
plains which are studded with belts o f trees. It is no unusual occurrence to observe it on the wing in the
day-time in search of insects and small birds, upon which it mainly subsists. It may be readily distinguished
from Athene maculuta by its larger size, and by the spotted markings of its plumage ; features which will be
a t once perceived by a reference to the figures o f the two species.
The flight o f this bird is tolerably rapid, and as it passed through the shrubby trees th at cover the vast
area of the belts o f the Murray, it strongly reminded me o f a woodcock. In such places as those I have last
mentioned, travellers frequently flush it from off the ground, to which, after a flight o f one or two hundred
yards, it either descends again or takes shelter in any thickly-foliaged trees that may be a t hand, when it can
neither be easily seen nor forced from its retreat.
I t breeds in the holes o f the large gum-trees, during the months o f November and December, and lays
three eggs on the rotten surface of the wood, without any kind o f nest. Three eggs procured on the 8th
o f November, by my useful compauion Natty, were in a forward state o f incubation; their contour was unusually
round, the medium length of the three being one inch and seven lines, and the breadth one inch and
four lines. They were perfectly white, as is ever the case with the eggs o f owls.
“ T he native name o f this bird,” says Mr. Caley, “ is Buck-buck, and it may be heard nearly every night
during winter uttering a cry corresponding with the sound of th at word. Although this cry is known to
every one, yet the bird itself is known but to few; and it cost me considerable time and trouble before I
could satisfy myself of its identity. The note of the bird is somewhat similar to that of the European
Cuckoo, and the colonists have hence given it that name. The lower order o f settlers in New South Wales
are led away by the idea that everything is the reverse in that country to what it is in England; and the
Cuckoo, as they call this bird, singing by night is one o f the instances they point out.” I believe th at its
note is never uttered during the day-time.
The sexes offer but little difference in the colouring o f their plumage, but the female is the largest in size.
A great diversity is found to exist in the colouring o f the irid e s ; some being yellowish white, others
greenish yellow, and others brown.
Its food is very much varied, but consists principally o f small birds and insects of various orders,
particularly locusts and other Neuroptera.
Fore p art of the facial disc greyish white, each feather tipped with b lack ; hinder p art dark brown ;
head, all the upper surface, wings and tail reddish brown; the wing-eoverts, scapularies, and inner webs
of the secondaries spotted with wh ite ; primaries and tail-feathers irregularly barred with light reddish
brown, the spaces between the bars becoming buffy white on the under surface; breast and all the under
surface rufous, irregularly blotched with white, which predominates on the abdomen; thighs deep tawny
buff; irides light brown in some, greenish brown inclining to yellow in others ; cere bluish g r e y ; feet lead-
colour.
The figures are male and female o f the natural size.