The TRUE DWARF OWL SWALLOW (_Ægotheles Novæ Hollandiæ_) is about nine
inches and a quarter long, and above twelve in breadth. The upper part of
the body is dark brown, streaked with white; the entire under surface,
a spot near the eye, and two sickle-shaped lines, the one on the neck
and the other at the back of the head, are grey, dotted with black and
reddish yellow; the anterior quills are brown, spotted with light brown
and grey on the inner web; the tail is dark brown, regularly striped with
grey, and dotted with black; the iris is nut-brown; the feet of a pink
flesh-colour. The sexes are alike in size, and similarly tinted, but
the plumage of the young is darker than that of the adult bird. Gould
tells us that this species lives and breeds in all woodland districts
throughout Southern Australia and Tasmania, and that it also frequents
the shrubs and bushes upon the coast. Its flight is direct and slow, and,
when perched, its attitudes resemble those of an Owl; like that bird,
if disturbed, it turns its head rapidly in all directions, and emits
a low, hissing sound. The Dwarf Owl Swallow breeds twice in the year,
and deposits its four or five round pure white eggs in the hollows of
trees. One strange habit possessed by this bird renders the discovery of
its retreat very easy; for no sooner is any unusual sound made in the
vicinity of its hole than the active little occupant at once scrambles up
to the entrance, and putting out its head, peers around to discover the
cause of the disturbance. Should danger seem imminent it at once takes
flight, and seeks safety elsewhere; but should nothing alarming be in
view, it quietly returns to the bottom of its abode, until again roused
by some voice from the outer world.
[Illustration: THE TRUE DWARF OWL SWALLOW (_Ægotheles Novæ Hollandiæ_).]
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The GIANT OWL SWALLOWS (_Podargus_) are birds of considerable size,
with large flat heads, moderately large wings, in which the first
quill exceeds the rest in length, long rounded tails, and short tarsi,
furnished with a foot of moderate size, the two innermost toes connected
by a fold of skin. The beak is hard, powerful, much broader than it
is high, slightly curved at the roof of the upper mandible, and very
decidedly hooked at its tip, which fits into a corresponding groove in
the lower portion of the beak; the gape extends as far as the hindermost
corner of the eye. The plumage is soft, and resembles that of the Owl.
The beak has but a sparse growth of bristles.