=178 Powerful Owl= (Eagle), _N. strenua_, N. Ter., E.A., S.A. Stat. r. _dense gullies_ 24 Crown, upper brown marked whitish; face, throat, chest whitish streaked brown; rest of under whitish barred brown; f., sim. Birds, quadrupeds. [Page 86] [Illustration: [179] [180] [181] [182] [183]] F. 71. STRIGIDAE (5), BARN OWLS, 26 sp.--13(11)A., 3(1)O., 1(0)P., 4(3)E., 1(1)Nc., 7(7)Nl. 5 26 =179 Australian Barn Owl= (Lesser Masked, Delicate, Screech), _Strix delicatula_, N.G., A. [~179-183 _Genus, Tyto._] Stat. c. _timber_ 14 Upper beautiful soft light grayish-brown tinged yellow, finely spotted blackish-brown and white; under white, few small brownish spots; disc white edged buff; f., sim. Mice, rats. [Page 87] =180 Masked Owl=, _S. novae-hollandiae_, A. [~179-183 _Genus, Tyto._] Stat. r. _forests_, _rocky_ 14 Pale buff; head, back wings marked dark-brown, few white spots; under paler, few brown spots; disc purplish-white, edged with deep-brown spots; f., larger. Mice, rats. =181 Chestnut-faced Owl=, _S. castanops_, N.S.W., V., S.A., T. [~179-183 _Genus, Tyto._] Stat. c. _brushes_, _swamps_; f., 17; m., 14.5 Disc deep-chestnut edged black; upper rufous-brown marked dark-brown; few small spots on head, shoulders; under deep sandy-brown with blackish spots; f., larger. Mice, rats. =182 Sooty Owl=, Dusky Barn Owl, _S. tenebricosa_, N.G., E.A. [~179-183 _Genus, Tyto._] Stat. v.r. _dense brushes_; f., 16; m., 13.5 Disc sooty-gray deeper round eyes; upper brownish-black finely spotted white; under brownish-black washed buff, fainter spots; legs mottled brown, white; f., larger. Mice, rats. =183 Grass Owl=, _S. candida_, India, Formosa, China, Philippines to E.A. [~179-183 _Genus, Tyto._] Stat. v.r. _grass_ 14 Disc white or tinged pale-pink; brownish spot before eye; edge disc dark-brown above, buff below; upper dark-brown finely spotted white; under white tinged orange-buff with scattered brown spots; tail whitish barred brown; legs long; f., sim. ==== While Australia possesses representatives of nearly all the important widely-spread families of birds this favored land also contains many birds that are unknown elsewhere. In addition, there are some groups which are found in other continents, but which reach their highest development here. Conspicuous amongst these are Parrots and Cockatoos. Australians are so accustomed to see these beautiful birds on every country road, and in cages outside their houses, that they do not appreciate their beauty or their interest, for "familiarity breeds contempt," even with bird life.