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AN AUSTRALIAN
BIRD BOOK

A Pocket Book for Field Use

BY

J) Ay LEACH, D.Sc.

Colonial Member British Ornithologists’ Union
Organizing Inspector of Nature Study, Education Department, Victoria
Vice-President of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Union
Sometime President of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria; &c.

With Introduction by
FRANK TATE, M.A., 1.8.0.

Director of Education, Victoria.

Published by arrangement with the Education Department
of Victoria,

FOURTH EDITION

MELBOURNE
Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, N.Z., and London.

WHITCOMBE & TOMBS LIMITED

1918

Pay. TD:

2% -BVONY. AS

Illustrations from Specimens (318) in the National Museum,
Melbourne; the balance mostly from Specimens in the Entomo-
logical Museum, C. French (59), and in the collections of A. Coles,
Taxidermist (36), C. F. Cole and D. Le Souéf. Twenty-two birds
were photographed from Gould's ‘Birds of Australia.” five from
drawings shectally prepared by C.C. Brittlebank, the well-known
naturalist-artist, and one from the Report of the Horn Expedition.

Photos by Ralph L. Miller.

Engravings by Patterson Shugg &Co., from Paintings
by Miss Ethel M. Paterson.

INTRODUCTION

Nature-study in our schools is fast producing a generation of
Australians trained to look upon the characteristic beauties
of our Australian skies, our trees, our flowers, our birds with
a passionate appreciation almost unknown to our pioneering
fathers and mothers. It was natural that newcomers from
the Old World should have been impressed, and often unfav-
orably impressed, by the oddness of things here. Rural
sights to them had hitherto been sights of trim meadows
bordered by neat hedgerows, of well-cultivated fields and com-
fortable farmsteads, or of stately homes set in fair gardens
and far-reaching parks of magnificently-spreading trees. What
wonder, then, that they were at first almost repelled by the
strangeness and unfamiliarity of their new surroundings!
How could eyes accustomed to the decided greens and to the
somewhat monotonous shapeliness of the trees in an English
summer landscape find beauty all at once in the delicate,
elusive tints of the gum trees, or in the wonderfully decorative
lines of their scanty boughs and light foliage shown clear
against a bright sky? And so a land which is eminently a
land of color, where the ever-present eucalypts give in their
leaves every shade from blue-grays to darkest greens; where
the tender shoots show brilliantly in bright crimson, or duller
russets, or bright coppery-gold; and where tall, slender stems
change slowly through a harmony of salmon-pinks and pearl-
grays, has been called a drab-colored land. Even now, the
beauty of the gum tree is not sufficiently appreciated by Aus-
tralians, and we see all too few specimens in our suburban
gardens. For an appreciation of the decorative effect of our
young blue gums, we must go to the Riviera or to English
conservatories.

Australia has suffered greatly from phrase-makers. There
is still much popular belief that our trees are shadeless, our
rivers are waterless, our flowers are scentless, our birds are
sonzless. Oddities in our flora and fauna have attracted the
notice of superficial observers, and a preference for epigram-
matic perfection, rather than for truthful generalization, has
produced an abundance of neatly-expressed half-truths, which
have been copied into popular literature, and even into school
books. Our English-bred poet, Gordon, writes of iands—

‘“‘Where bright blossoms are scentless,
And songless, bright birds.”
and these lines are remembered better than his description in
the same poem of Spring—
‘When the wattle gold trembles
*Twixt shadow and shine,

When each dew-laden air draught resembles
A long draught of wine.”

2 INTRODUCTION,

It is true that we have scentless, bright blossoms; but Aus-
tralia is the home of the richly-perfumed watile, and _ the
boronia, with its never-cloying fragrance; while there is, per-
haps, no forest more odorous than a forest of eucalypts. It
is true, too, that we have bright birds that have no excellence
in song; but it is also true that, in this favored land, there isa
far greater proportion than usual of fine song-birds.

The first generations of Australians were not taught to love
Australian things. We “learned from our wistful mothers to
call Old England home.” Our school books and our story
books were made in Great Britain for British boys and girls,
and naturally they stressed what was of interest to these boys
and girls. We read much about the beauty of the songs of
the Lark, and the Thrush, and the Nightingale, but we found
no printed authority for the belief that our Magpie is one of
the great song-birds of the world; we read of the wonderful
powers of the American Mocking-Bird, and did not know that
our beautiful Lyrebird is a finer mimic; we learned by heart
Barry Cornwall’s well-known poem on ‘‘The Storm Petrel,”’
and did not know that one of the most interesting of Petrel
rookeries is near the harbor gate of Melbourne; and I remem-
ber well a lesson I heard as a boy on the migration of birds, in
which the teacher took all of his illustrations from his boyish
experiences in the South of England, and gave us no idea that
the annual migration of our familiar Australian birds to far-off
Siberia is a much more wonderful thing.

But all this is being rapidly changed. In the elementary
schools Nature-study is steadily improving, and children
are being given an eye for, and an interest in, the
world of Nature around them. Our school books are
now written from the Australian standpoint, and more
use can, therefore, be made of the child’s everyday experi-
ence. Field Naturalists’ clubs are doing much to extend
the area of specialized Nature-study, and their members are
giving valuable assistance to the schools by taking part in the
programs for Arbor Day, Bird Day, and the like. The
growing interest in the Australian fauna and flora is further
evidenced by the frequent reservations by Government of desirable
areas as national parks and sanctuaries for the preservation of
Australian types. Last, but not least, is the production by cap-
able Nature students of special books on some form of Nature-
study, such as this Bird Book by Dr. Leach.

To our parents, Australia was a stranger land, and they were
sojourners here. Though they lived here, they did not get close
enough to it to appreciate fully its natural beauty and its charm.
To us, and especially to our children, children of Australian-born
parents, children whose bones were made in Australia, the place is
home. To them Nature makes a direct appeal, strengthened by
those most powerful of all associations, those gathered in child-
hood, when the foundations of their minds were laid. The
English boy, out on a breezy down, may fee! an exaltation of soul

INTRODUCTION, 3

on hearing a Skylark raining down a flood of delicious melody
from far up at heaven’s gate, but his joy is no whit greater than
his who hears, in the dewy freshness of the early morning, the
carol of the Magpie ringing out over an Australian plain. To
those who live in countries where the winter is long and bitter,
any sign that the genial time of flowers is at hand is very wel-
come. All over the countryside the first call of the Cuckoo,
_spring’s harbinger, arouses the keenest delight in expectant lis-
teners. This delight is, however, more than mere delight in the
bird’s song. And to those brought up with it year by year there
comes a time when the call of the Cuckoo stirs something deep
down below the surface of ordinary emotion. It is the resultant
of multitudes of childhood experiences and of associations with
song and story. I first heard the Cuckoo in Epping Forest one
delicious May evening four years ago. It charmed me, but my
delight was almost wholly that of association. All the English
poetry I knew was at the back of the bird’s song. Here in
Australia we have no sharply-defined seasons, yet I find myself
every spring listening eagerly for the first plaintive, insistent call
of the Pallid Cuckoo. For me his song marks another milestone
passed.

Marcus Clarke wrote of the Laughing Jackasses as bursting
into ‘“‘horrible peals of semi-human laughter.”’ But then
Marcus Clarke was English-bred, and did not come to Aus-
tralia till he was eighteen years old. It makes all the difference
in our appreciation of bird or tree or flower to have known
it as a boy. I venture to think no latter-day Australian who
has grown up with our Kookaburra can have any but the
kindliest of feelings for this feathered comedian. For myself,
I confess that I find his laughter infectious, and innumerable
times he has provoked me into an outburst as hearty and as
mirthful as his own. More than half of our pleasure is due
to the fact that the bird is

“The same that in my schoolboy days I listened to.”

and to such a one we can say—

“T can listen to thee yet,
Can lie upon the plain \
And listen, till I do beget
That golden time again.”

It is time that we Australians fought against the generally
received opinion that the dominant note of our scenery is weird
melancholy. This is the note sounded mainly by those who
were bred elsewhere, who came to us with other associations
and other traditions, and sojourned among us. It will not be
the opinion of the native-born when they find appropriate
speech.

‘Whence doth the mournful keynote start?
From the pure depths of Nature’s heart?
Or, from the heart of him who sings,

And deems his hand upon the strings,
Is Nature’s own?”

4 INTRODUCTION,

This little book should do much to popularize bird-study and
to spread a knowledge of our common birds among our people.
I hope devoutly that an effort will be made to give them suit-
able names. We should give them names a poet or a child
can use. A Chaucer poring lovingly over his favorite flower,
the daisy, could call it by a name which is itself full of poetry.
Even the unimaginative clown, Nick Bottom, could sing of

“The Ouzel Cock, so black of hue,
With orange-tawny bill,
The Throstle with his note so true,
The Wren with little quill.
The Finch, the Sparrow, and the Lark,
The plain-song Cuckoo gray.”’
And a Burns can invoke the Throstle in lines as musical as the
song of the bird itself—‘And thou mellow mavis, that hails
the night-fa’.”’

But how shall an Australian bard sing of ‘‘The Red-rumped
Acanthiza,’’ or of that delightful songster, ‘‘The Rufous-
breasted Thickhead’’? Australian Nature-poetry will be han-
dicapped until our children give names like ‘‘Bobolink,”’ and
“Chickadee,” and ‘‘Whip-poor-will,’ and “Jacky Winter,’’ to our
birds.

“Oriel,’’ in the Argus, some time ago, showed how hard it is
to write of love’s young dream in Australian verse.

“Sweetheart, we watched the evening sky grow pale
And drowsy sweetness stole away our senses,

While ran adown the swamp the Pectoral Rail,
The shy Hypotaenidia philippinensis.

“How sweet a thing is love! Sweet as the rose,
Fragrant as flowers, fair as the sunlight beaming!

Only the Sooty Oyster-Catcher knows :
How sweet to us, as there we lingered dreaming

“Dear, all the secret’s ours. The Sharp-tailed Stint
Spied, but he will not tell—though you and I

Paid Cupid’s debts from Love’s own golden mint,
While Yellow-Bellied Shrike-Tits fluttered nigh.

“The Honey-eaters heard; the Fuscous—yea,
The Warty-faced, the Lunulated, too;
But this kind feathered tribe will never say
What words you said to me, or I to you.

“The golden bloom was glorious in the furze,

And gentle twittering came from out the copses;
It was the Carinated Flycatchers,

Or else the black Morarcha melanopsis.

“That day our troth we plighted—blissful hour,
Beginning of a joy a whole life long!
And while the wide world seemed to be in flower.
The Chestnut-rumped Ground-Wren burst forth in song.”

It surely would not be amiss if the Bird Observers’ Clubs
throughout Australia, and the Royal Australasian Ornitholo-
gists’ Union, enlisted the aid of the State Education Depart-
ments, and endeavored to find out what names the children use
for the birds of their district. Executive committees upon
bird names are good; but a good name is not evoked by argu-
ments in committee. Tt ofttimes comes from the happy
inspiration of some child who loves the bird. At present the
names given by classifiers are often an offence. A few even-

INTRODUCTION, 5

ings ago I was charmed with an unaccustomed song coming
from out a big pittosporum tree in my garden at Kew. I took
careful note of the little warbler, and then consulted Dr. Leach’s
Descriptive List. Judge of my satisfaction when I found that
my little friend was ‘“‘The Striated Field Wren or Stink Bird’’!

The Australian boy is responding splendidly to the Nature-
study movement. Bird observers tell me that shy native birds,
formerly unknown near the haunts of men, are making their
appearance, feeling safer now from molestation. Nest hunt-
ing for the sake of egg spoliation is happily becoming rarer,
although children are developing keener eves for nests. To-
day every country school has its nests under loving observa-
tion for the purposes of bird-study and of bird-protection.
Walt. Whitman might have been describing many a Victorian
school boy when he wrote—

“And every day the he-bird, to and fro, near at hand.

And every day the she-bird, crouched on her nest, silent, with bright eyes,
And every day, I, a curious boy, never too close, never disturbing them,
Cautiously peering, absorbing, translating.”

This loving study must bear good fruit. If we helieve the
scientific men, Australia is, par excellence, the land of birds,
song-birds, plumage-birds. and birds of wonderful interest,
such as the Satin Bower Bird. The collection of Australian
birds in our National Museum at Melbourne is certainly one of
the finest sights of the city, and it should be studied by all who
wish to know how favored this continent is in bird distribution.
But we must get to know and to love our feathered friends.
Dr. Leach in his lecture has dwelt sufficiently on the economic
and scientific value of bird-study. Let me enter a plea for
bird-study as a source of esthetic pleasure. Before our Aus-
tralian birds can be to us what the Thrush and the Blackbird and
the Linnet and the Lark and the Nightingale are to the British
boy, we must have a wealth of association around them from song
and story. And this association must grow up with us from
childhood if it is to make the strongest appeal to us. It can
rarely be acquired in later life. British birds owe much to the
poets for the charm that surrounds them. When I heard the
Nightingale in England, although I had no association with it
gathered from my boyhood’s days, I heard more than the bird’s
song. I was listening to Keats and Wordsworth and Shakes-
peare as well. There is something very fine in the thought
that such bird songs go on for ever, that these immortal birds
are ‘‘not made for death,” that

“The voice I hear this passing night was heard

Tn ancient days by emperor and clown:

Perhaps the self-same song that found a path
Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home,
She stood in tears amid the alien corn.”

The Nightingale’s song, as a bird song, I thought disappoint-
ing. I remember having the same feeling with regard to the
Thrush and Blackbird. The charm of their songs is largely
in the associations they evoke. Our city children are now grow-
ing up in familiarity with these two birds, which are becoming as

6 INTRODUCTION,

common in our gardens as in England. And wherever they go
they carry so much that is fine in literature with them. But
there has not yet been time for our native birds to endear them-
selves to us. And so we hear only their song. Wise Shake-
speare sayS—

“How many things by season seasoned are
To their right praise and true perfection.”

* * * * * * *
“The Nightingale, if she should sing by day,

When every goose is cackling, would be thought
No better a musician than the Wren.’

He knows that to the song of the bird must be its appropriate
setting, and that when Nature has done her part there is still
much to be supplied by ourselves.

The outlook is, however, a hopeful one. Nature-study is
bringing our boys and girls into kindlier' relationships
with our birds; suitable popular names. will be _ forth-
coming for them; our poets will sing of them; our nursery
rhymes and our children’s tales will tell of them; and the time
will come when even the birds now trying so hard to sing their
way into our hearts, while cursed with the names of “‘Rufous-
breasted Thickhead’’ and ‘“‘Striated Field Wren or Stink Bird,”
will mean to an Australian what “‘the Throstle with his note so
true’? and ‘‘the Wren with little quill” do to an Englishman.

Dr. Leach’s valuable little book is a powerful contribution
to this much-to-be-desired result.

FRANK TATE.

HINTS FOR IDENTIFICATION

A Yellow-tailed Tit-Warbler is about 4 in. long; a White-eye,
4.5in.; a Sparrow, 5in.; a House-Swallow, 6.5in.; a Sordid Wood-
Swallow, 7in.; a Black and White Fantail, 7.5 in.; a Starling,
8.5in.; a Harmonious Shrike-Thrush, 9.5in.; a Noisy Miner, 10in.;
a Magpie-Lark, 10.5in.; « Butcher-Bird, 1lin.; a Pallid Cuckoo,
12in.; a Rosella, 12.5in.; a Galah, 14in.; a WattleBird, 14.5in.;
a Laughing Kingfisher, 17.5in.; a White-backed Magpie, 18in.; and
a Crow, 20in. (measured from the tip of tail to the tip of bill).

Don’t try to judge a bird’s length in inches.

Note one or two prominent markings, and the size of a bird;
say, larger than a Starling, but smaller than a Magpie-Lark.
Then get the length of these birds from the table above
(84in. and 104in. respectively), and compare the _ descrip-
tion of each bird that comes between these lengths with
the illustrations and the bird before you. The birds are approxi-
mately relative size on each block.

Use the index to find the page of a bird, then use the number,
if asterisked, to find the bird in the colored plate index.

PREFACE

This little volume is intended as a pocket book for field use,
so that the many teachers, nature-students, nature-lovers,
schoolboys, schoolgirls, and boy scouts, who like to “see what
they look at,’ may be able to name the birds they meet.

The first step towards knowing the birds is a desire to know
them; this will grow if a person is interested; so our first busi-
ness, aS in all nature-study work, is to arouse interest. Interest
follows at once, as we have often found, if a person realizes
that what is about him or her is worthy of study.

To arouse this necessary interest, a lecture on Australian birds
is given in such a form that it may be repeated, if desired.

The second requisite is a handy descriptive list of the birds
that are likely to be seen. This has been written in simple lan-
guage, so that the schoolboy and non-expert can use it.

Thus, our aims are two:—

1. To show that Australian birds are of interest.

2. To supply, in a convenient form, a list of the birds which
are likely to be seen, and the marks by means of which
they may be identified.

This little book contains illustrations and descriptions of—

100 @ of the birds found in Victoria.

OF ano -. South Australia.

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78.16 ee OL Ghee otic hes oe. We Australia (Ss. andee.)-
Mel Da Gre ones Sots . Queensland.

The balance se those eee in lah of the other States is made
up mainly of birds closely related to those of which illustrations
are given, or of very rare birds restricted to a small area.

The families of the birds of the world have been included, so
that the observer can see where the bird he is observing is
placed amongst the world’s birds. He will also be enabled to
place near its Australian relatives birds he reads about. The
Australian birds only are grouped in orders.

Mr. H. Wilson, Nature-study Lecturer, Training College, super-
intended the painting of the birds, and saw the book through the
press. ;

A Hand-List of Birds: Dr. Sharpe; and A Hand-List of the
Birds of Australasia: Gregory M. Mathews, have been followed
for classification and distribution.

But for the interest of the Minister of Education, the Hon. A.
A. Billson, and the Director, Mr. F. Tate, M.A., I. S08 this little
book would not have been possible. Further, Mr. Billson sug-
gested the colored illustrations, while Mr. Tate has written the
introduction, read the proof-sheets and assisted at all stages.

(7)

8 PREFACE,
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

In respouse to requests from beginners, a table has been added
on page 190. This table shows the page on which a bird of a
certain size may be found.

Pending the completion by the Royal Australasian Ornitholo-
gists’ Union of its official Check-list of the Birds of Australia,
the scientific hames have been left as in the first edition.

PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

The position as regards the scientific names of Australian
birds is still uncertain, and even chaotic. Mr. Gregory M.
Mathews, F.R.S.E., author of The Birds of Australia, continues
to make numerous changes and emendations. The Check-list
Committee of the R.A.O.U. is working on the Second Edition
of the Official Check-list. Therefore, it has been decided to
leave the scientific names in this edition as they were in the
first and second editions.

September, 1916.

NOTES.

Where one number is placed over another at the left side of the
page, the lower number denotes the number of species of that
genus found in the world; the upper denotes the number of species
found in Australia and Tasmania.

The number at the right side of the page is the length of the
bird in inches (from the tip of bill to the tip of tail).

The families of birds Known are numbered consecutively, thus,
F. 11, F. 12, andsoon. The number after a family name denotes
the number of species recorded from Australia and Tasmania.
The distribution of the species of each family amongst the six
zoogeographical regions is shown thus:

F. 17. COLUMBIDAE (2), WOOD PIGEONS, Passenger-
Pigeon, Rock-Dove, 119 sp.—41(40)A., 25(17)0O.,
18(10)P., 19(17)E., 4(0)Ne., 24(20)N1.

This should read: Family number 17 of the world’s birds,
COLUMBIDAE (two of which are found in Australia and Tas-
mania) contains the Wood Pigeons, including the Passenger-
Pigeon (of North America) and the Rock-Dove (of Europe). It
comprises 119 species, of which 41 are found in the Australian
Region, 40 of them being confined to this region; 25 are found in
the Oriental Region, 17 being confined to it; 18 are found in the
Palaearctic Region, 10 of which are not found outside the region;
19 have been recorded from the Ethiopian Region, 17 being pecu-
liar to that region; 4 have been recorded trom the Nearctic
Region, none of which is restricted to the region; 24 have been
recorded from the Neotropical Region, 20 being peculiar to it.

The name in black type is the name accepted by the Austral-
asian Association for the Advancement of Science in 1898, and

, PREFACE, 8)
amended by the ‘“‘names” sub-committee of the Royal Australasian
Ornithologists’ Union, 1911.° This name should be used to
denote the bird. Many local names are given, so that a person
knowing a bird by one of these may discover its proper name.

A.—Australian Region (from Wallace’s Line to Sandwich
Islands and New Zealand, see map p. 10).

O.—Oriental (Indian) Region (India to Wallace’s Line).

P.—Palaearctic Region (Europe, N.W. Africa, and Northern and
Western Asia, except Arabia).

E.—Ethiopian Region (Arabia and Africa, except N.W.).

Ne.—Nearctic Region. “The A.O.U. Check-List of North
American Birds, 1910’’ has been followed in making this
North America, less Mexico).

Nl.—Neotropical Region (South America, with Mexico).

A.O.U.—American Ornithologists’ Union; R.A.O.U—Royal Aus-
tralasian Ornithologists’ Union.

A. denotes found throughout Australia; E.A. denotes found in
Queensland, N.S.W., and Victoria; S.A. denotes South Australia;
C.A. denotes Central Australia; W.A. denotes Western Australia;
N. Ter.—Northern Territory; Mal.—Malaysia; Mol.—Molucca Is.;
N. Cal.—New Caledonia; N. Heb.—New Hebrides; N.G.—New
Guinea; N.Z.—New Zealand; Br.—British; T.—Tasmania.

Nom.—Nomadic; Mig.—Migratory; Part. Mig.—Partly Migra-
tory; Stat.—Stationary; exc.—except; acc.—accidental.

C.—common; v.c.—very common; r.—rare; v.r.—very rare;
u.—unlikely that the ordinary observer will see it.

* means see colored illustration.

f.—female; m.—male; f., sim.—f. is similar in color and size.

=vt. Eur. denotes that the Australian bird is closely similar in
form, habits, &c., to the corresponding European bird.

=vt. cos. denotes that it is the equivalent or representative of
a cosmopolitan group of birds.

1 6*King Quail (Chestnut-bellied, Least, Dwarf), reads

4 ‘“‘No. 6 (see colored illustration) is the King Quail,
called also the Chestnut-bellied Quail, Least Quail,
and Dwarf Quail. Four of this genus are known in
the world, of which one is found in Australia.’’

(e) denotes that a name is used in error.

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VANE:

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK

A LECTURE

Australia is the wonderland of the scientist and of the Nature.
lover. It is a great living ‘“‘museum,’’. stocked with marvels ol
many kinds, including so-called “living fossils,’ the sole sur-
vivors of otherwise extinct groups of animals.

Competent authorities have proposed to divide the world,
biologically, into two parts—Australia and the rest of the world,
and they have considered Australia the more important part.

This division was based mainly on the study of mammals—
animals whichsuckletheir young—for Australia is the home of the
two surviving members of the lowest group of mammals—Mono-
tremata, the egg-laying Platypus (Ornithorhynchus), and the
Spiny Ant-eater (Hchidna). Further, marsupials, except for
two kinds found in America, are confined to this long-isolated
southern land.

Here, shut off from the severe competition experienced by
the animals of northern lands, marsupials were modified so that
they were adapted for life in almost every realm utilized by the
higher mammals of other countries. Thus there are herbivorous.
carnivorous, and insectivorous marsupials. Owing, probably,
to the advent of Bats—true flying mammals—at, possibly, a
comparatively early time, the marsupial was beaten in the
air, and so a true flying form was not evolved, though the
so-called “‘Flying Phalanger” is some distance on the way.

As regards the other group of flying animals—birds—Australia
is even of greater interest, for here are found unique archaic
forms of life, such as the Emu, Cassowary, Mound-Builders,
and Lyre-Birds, and “every widely-spread family of birds but
two is represented; the only widely-spread families of birds
totally absent from Australia are Woodpeckers and Vultures.’’
Woodpeckers, however, have crossed Wallace’s line into Celebes
and adjacent islands, and may yet reach Australia naturally.

Further, many well-known birds, such as Pigeons, Parrots,
and Kingfishers, reach their highest development in the Aus-
tralian region, and, more important still, the whole bird world
seems to reach its culminating point in this wonderland. It
issoa. stactor adding to the interest of Australia’s fauna
that three of the four families placed at the head of the
bird world in the natural system of classification adopted
by ornithologists, and used by Dr. Sharpe in his just recently com-
pleted Hand-List of Birds, should be absolutely confined to

(11)

12 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR.

CLASS.—AVES.—BIRDS.
Sub-Class I.—Palaeognathae.

Ratitae and VTinamidae.

EF. 1. Rheidae, Rhea, 3 sp. NI.
F. 2. Struthionidae, Ostrich, 4 sp.—4(3)E., 1(0)P.(S. Palestine).
ORDER I.—CASUARITFORMES. :
F. 3. DROMAEIDAE (1), EMU, 1 sp. A.
1 1 Emu, Dromaius novae-hollandiae, A. Stat. r. plains T8
1 See diagram, second largest living bird; f., smaller.
Fruits, grass.

the Australian Continent and adjacent islands. Thus Aus-
tralia can justly claim to be the most highly developed of
regions, so far as birds are concerned, for Bower-Birds, Birds of
Paradise, and Bell-Magpies (Streperas) are peculiar, while the
penultimate family—the Crow family—is shared with the other
regions of the world.

Thus, with regard to birds, the term ‘‘fossil continent” applied
to Australia is not appropriate, as it is but partly true.

Since the birds native to Australia are so interesting in them-
selves, and are so varied in kind, Australians should know, love,
and jealously protect these beautiful creatures. Strict regula-
tions should be framed to prevent the exploitation of Nature’s
gifts by those who destroy useful or precious and rare birds for

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR. 13

4. CASUARIIDAE (1), CASSOWARY, 17 sp. A.
5. Apterygidae, Apteryx, Kiwi, 6 sp. A. (N.Z.).
6. Tinamidae, Tinamous, 69 sp. NI.

Sub-Class II.—Neognathae.

Carinatae, minus Tinamidae.
ORDER I.—GALLIFORMES.

F. 7. MEGAPODIIDAE (4), Mound-Builders, Scrub-Fowl,
Brush Turkey, Megapode, 28 sp.—27(25)A.,
3(1)0:

1 2*Mallee-Kowl, Lowan, Native Pheasant, Pheasant (e),

1 Leipoa ocellata, N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A.

Stat. r. mallee scrubs 24
Like a small turkey; neck light fawn-gray; back, wings
spotted white, black, brown; f., smaller. Seeds, ants.

F. 8. Cracidae, Curassows, Guans, 59 sp.—1(0)Ne., 59(58) NI.

F. 9. Tetraonidae, Grouse, Capercailly, Ptarmigan, Prairie-
Fowl, 45 sp.—1(0)0., 19(16)P., 28(26) Ne.

F. 10. PHASIANIDAE (6), Pheasants, Partridges, Peafowl,
Domestic Fowls, 242 sp.—12(10)A., 137(119)O.,
47(31)P., 64(58)E.

1 3*Stubble Quail (Pectoral), Coturniz pectoralis, A., T. =vt.

6 Eur. Quail. Nom. c. stubble, grass 6.7

Brown lined white, black; throat dull reddish; breast
streaked black; f., less distinctly marked with black.
Weed-seeds, insects. Rises with a burr-r-r.

3 4*Brown Quail (Swamp, Partridge), Synoicus australis,

7 N.G., A., T. =vt. Eur. Partridge. Nom. c. grassy flats 6.5

Upper finely-barred gray, black, chestnut; under buffy-gray
with zigzag black bars; bill blue, tipped black; eyes
orange; f., Sim. Seeds, insects. “Bee’e quick.”

5 Tasmanian Quail (Silver, Greater-Brown), S. diemenensis,
V., T.. Like 4, but larger. ~.Nom..r.-oec. thick grass: “8:5

the sake of gain. Even collectors, who, under the guise of
scientific work, collect eggs, and kill birds to trade iu their skins,
should be supervized.

Let us now consider the different groups of birds. Living
birds were formerly divided into two sub-classes—(1) Ratitae
(Lat., ratis, a raft), and (2) Carinatae (Lat., carina, a keel).
The first is the small group of flightless, running birds, made up
of five living birds, all inhabiting southern lands. These are
the Emu and Cassowary of Australia, the Ostrich of South Africa,
the Rhea or South American Ostrich, and the Kiwi or Apteryx of
New Zealand. Taken together with other evidence, all pointing
in the same way, these birds have led scientists to think of a
great southern land mass connecting the southern lands, for the
Emu did not fly here, nor did the Rhea fly to South America, but
they must have reached their present home by a land-bridge not
necessarily complete at any one time. As these birds do not fly,
they have no big wing-muscles, and so do not need the ridge

14 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

1 6*King Quail (Chestnut-bellied, Least, Dwarf, Swamp), Ha-
4 calfactoria chinensis lineata, Philippines, Sumatra to A.
exc. W.A.; sub-species of Chinese Quail. Nom. r. swamps 4.5
Back dark-brown; breast blue-gray; abdomen chestnut;
throat black, white bands conspicuous; 14 oz.; f., dark-
brown, spotted black; throat whitish; under barred
black. Weed-seeds, insects.

F. 11. Numididae, Guinea-Fowls, 23 sp. E.

?

of bone down the breast. Thus they belong to the sub-class, the
members of which have a raft-like breast bone. The other living
birds were placed in the sub-class the members of which have
a keel on the breast bone for the attachment of the wing-
muscles.

Recently, however, Pycraft, a leading ornithologist, has pro-
posed to base the division into sub-classes on the characters of
the bones of the palate instead of those of the breast-bone. Thus,
he places the sixth family of birds—the Tinamous, of South
America—with the ratite birds, to form his primitive group—
Palaeognathae (‘‘old jaw’), while the members of the old sub-
class Carinatae, minus the Tinamous, constitute his second divi-
sion, the Neognathae (‘‘new jaw”).

Mr. Gregory Mathews, the first part of whose projected great
work on Australian Birds has just come to hand, has followed
Dr. Bowdler Sharpe in accepting this classification, so we must
follow too, as Mathews’ work will probably be our standard for

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 15

F. 12. Mcleagridae, Turkeys, 5 sp.—4(2)Ne., 3(1) NI.
F. 13. Odontophoridae, American Quails, Bob-Whites, 72 sp.—
18(10)Ne., 62(54) NI].
ORDER TI.—TURNICIFORMES, HEMIPODES.

F. 14. TURNICIDAE (8), Button (Bustard) Quail, 27 sp.—
14(14)A., 9(6)0O., 3(0)P., 4(4)E.
7 @ Red-Backed Quail (Black- backed, Orange - breasted),
26 Turnix maculosa, Cel., N.G., N.A., H.A., S.A.
Nom. r. marshy 7
Back brown; crown blackish; sides, breast large black
spots; abdomen lighter; no hind toe; f., larger. Weed-
seeds, insects.
8*Painted Quail (Speckled, Butterfly), Varied Turnix, New
Holland Partridge (e), 7. varia, A.,T. Nom. r.sandy 8
Upper rufous-brown with buff, black lines; breast, face
spotted; no hind toe; f., larger. Weed-seeds, insects.
9 Red-chested Quail (Chestnut-breasted, Yellow), IT.
pyrrhothorax, A. exc. W.A. Nom. v.r. marshy 6
Upper dark-brown with buff, black lines; breast sandy-
red; abdomen whitish; no hind toe; f., much larger,
brighter. Weed-seeds, insects.
10 Little Quail (Dottrel, Swift-flying, Button), 7. velox, A.
Nom. c. open plains 5.5
Upper rufous with chestnut, black lines; breast rufous;
abdomen white; no hind toe; f., much larger. Weed-
seeds, insects.
11*Plain Wanderer, Turkey Quail, Pedionomus torquatus,
A eXCe Wid Mig. r. grass, m., 4.8; f., 6.3
Brown; broad black, white spotted collar; light band on
wing; breast chestnut; hind toe; m., smaller, paler,
faint collar. Weed-seeds, insects.
F. 15. Pteroclididae, Sand-Grouse, Rock-Pigeons (e), 17 sp.—
W(2)05-8(L) PL, A2iCh) B.

ak

years to come. The large number of Australian birds belonging
to this second sub-class is now divided into 20 orders, which
with the Emu order, make a total of 21 orders of birds repre
sented in Australia.

Now, let us consider the birds in each order. The best-known
member of the first Australian order is the Emu, a bird well
known to all, though, unfortunately, becoming very rare, so that
few persons in the settled districts now enjoy the privilege of
seeing an Emu in a wild state.

The birds of the second order are well known as “scratchers.”
They include the domestic fowl, which has been derived from
the wild jungle fowl of India, and other fowl, such as
the peafowl. Quail are also included here; so are
Pheasants. The absence of Pheasants from Australia is
more than compensated for by the presence of the
Mound-Builders. These marvellous birds, Brush Turkeys and
Mallee-Fowl, retain the reptilian characteristic of not sitting on

16 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK,

ORDER IV.—COLUMBIFORMES, PIGEONS, DOVES.

F. 16. TRERONIDAE (8), FRUIT-PIGEONS, 228 sp.—
159 (155) AS 60!\(56)0-;, 1G) Pe 12 G2) E:
2 12 Topknot Pigeon, Lopholaimus antarcticus, E.A., T.
2 (acc. ) “Quook-quook.”’ Stat. c. thick brushes 17
“This noble pigeon;”’ under silvery-gray; upper dark-gray;
crest rust-red; eyes orange; f., sim. Native fruits.

=

their eggs. Thus the young have never known their parents.
The eggs are laid in a huge mound of sand and earth, which con-
tains rotting vegetation. The heat of decomposition in this re-
markable natural incubator, is quite sufficient to hatch the eggs.
The young are born fully feathered, able to run at once, and able
to fly the day they leave the mound. Contrast their stage of
development with that of a pigeon born naked, blind, and help-
less, and that of a chick born clothed with down and able to run
about. There is an interesting connexion between the size of
an egg and the state of development of the young bird at birth.
The pigeon lays a relatively small egg, so the young pigeon does
not develop far in the egg, and requires much maternal care. The
hen’s egg is larger, and the chick is more fully developed. The
Mallee-Hen’s egg is enormous, and so the young can develop
much further before birth. This bird, unfortunately, is doomed
to early extinction, for the fox has discovered the rich store of
food in the eggs, and country dwellers have also discovered that
they are delicate in flavor, und are good food. It is hoped that

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 17

F. 17. COLUMBIDAE (2), WOOD-PIGEONS, Passenger-
Pigeon, Rock-Dove, 119 sp.—41(40)A., 25(17)O.,
18(10)P., 19 Q7)EH., 400) Ne., 24(20).N1.

F. 18. PERISTERIDAE (15), GROUND-PIGEONS, Turtle-
Doves, 198 sp.—61(55)A., 21(8)0., 10(1)P.,
32(30)E., 10(0)Ne., 86(76)NI.

1 12AIndian Turtle-Dove, Turtur ferrago, Siberia to Cey-

6 lon, introduced A. Mig. c. gardens, cities 13

Back brown; head gray; broad patch side and back of
neck black spotted white; breast cinnamon; centre tail
feathers blackish, rest tipped white: f., sim. Seeds.

> 13 Ground Pove (Peaceful), Doo-doo, Geopelia placida, A.

5 (interior). Stat. r. grassy 8.7

Upper ashy-brown, barred black; chest, hind-neck gray
with black lines; abdomen fawn: side tail feathers

tipped white; f., sim. Small seeds. ‘“‘Doo-doo.”’
14*Diamond Dove (Little, Turtle), G. cuneata, A. (in-
terior). stat. r. grass 8:2

Upper light-brown; crown gray; under light-gray; white
spots on wing; side tail tipped white; eye red; f.,
neck. chest pale brown. Seeds.

1 15 Little Green Pigeon, Chalcophaps chrysochlora, Mol.,

6 N. Heb., N. Cal., Lord Howe Is., A. exc. S.A., W.A.
Melancholy bellowing note. v.r. dense scrubs 9.5

Rich brown: head, short tail darker: wings much green;

shoulder white; f., less brilliant. Fallen berries.

2 16*Bronzewing Pigeon (Scrub), Phaps chalcoptera, A., T.
Nom. c. open. forest 13.5
Upper brown marked lighter; cap whitish; line below eye,
throat white; breast, back of head vinous; bronze
wing; legs red; f., head gray. Seeds, fruits.

the scrubby western end of Kangaroo Island, where foxes are
unknown, will prove a suitable sanctuary for them. These
birds, which rank among Nature’s wonders, are almost confined
to the Australian region. Oneis found in Borneo and the Philip-
pines, while a second is confined to the distant Nicobar Islands.
Twenty-six live in Australia and its neighboring islands. One
of these has spread across Wallnce’s line to the small Kangean
Island, near Java. The Stubble Quail, a member of the Pheasant
family, is nearly identical with the Britiga Quail. Mathews and
Campbell make the King Quail a sub-species of the Chinese Quail.
Quail are favorite sporting birds, but when one considers
that they are worth about 9d. each as table or game birds,and that
sportsmen found at Birregurra, that the crops of Quail were
full of crickets, and at Kerang the Quail contained numbers of a
species of weevil, it is doubtful if it is wise policy to shoot this
insect-eating bird. Although it may be worth a few pence as
a table bird, it is worth many shillings as a pest destroyer.
Order TII. comprises the 26 Bustard Quai! and the peculiar
Australian Plain Wanderer. Only the last species of this

18 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

17 Brush Bronzewing Pigeon (Little Bronze), P. elegans,
Agee Nom. r. sandy
Upper chestnut-brown; breast blue-gray; throat, crown
chestnut; bronze wings; f., crown gray. Seeds.
1 18 Crested Pigeon (Topknot (e), Crested Bronzewing),
1 Ocyphaps lophotes, A. Seeds. Nom. r. inland plains
Upper fawn; crown, under gray; crest black; black bars
on wings; tail tipped white; eyes orange; f., sim.
1 19 Wonga-Wonga Pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca, H.A.
1 Seeds, fallen fruits. Stat. r. coast-, (hillside-) brushes
Back, breast slaty-gray; wings brown; crown, throat,
abdomen white; sides spotted black; f., sim.
. 19. Gouridae, Crowned Pigeons, 8 sp. A. (N.G.).
20. Didunculidae, Tooth-billed Pigeons, 1 sp. A. (Samoa).
. 21. Opisthocomidae, Hoactzin, 1 sp. NI. ‘

ORDER V.—RALLIFORMES.

F. 22. RALLIDAE (16), RAILS, 204 sp.—68(60)A., 37(18)O.,
18(0)P., 37(24) B., 17(7) Ne., 72(65) N1.

4 20 Slate-breasted Rail (Short-toed), Lewin Water-Rail,

17, Eulabeornis (Hypotaenidia) brachypus, A., T., Auck-

land Is. =vt. Eur. Water-Rail. Stat. r. rivers, lagoons

Upper blackish striped olive; wings, flanks, abdomen

barred black, white; throat, breast, slate-gray; f., duller.

— 21*Pectoral Rail, Landrail, HZ. philippinensis, Malay Arch.

to A., N.Z., Pac. Is. —vt. Eur. Corn-Crake (Land-

ray ba yj

13

13

15

8.5

rail); f., young sim. Insects, grass. Mig. c. grassy 10.5

Upper brown spotted white; under finely-barred black;
white; sandy-buff bar on chest; light stripe above eye,

_ 4 22*Australian Spotted Crake, Water-Crake, Porzana
deg, fluminea, A. —=vt. Eur. Spotted Crake. Stat. r. rivers
Upper dark-brown, spotted white; abdomen, flanks black-
ish barred white; breast gray; swims; f.,sim. Insects.

See

21 Pectoral Rail
22 Aust. Spotted Crake
26 Black Moor-Hen

27 Bald Coot
30 Hoary-headed Grebe
67 Crested Tern

(19)

71 White-faced Ternlet
72 Silver Gull
73 Pacific Gull

ha

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 21

Bustard Quail family, the Australian Plain Wanderer has the
hind toe. The females of this order of birds do the fighting.

In Quail, the rule often observed amongst birds that the male
is larger and more beautiful than the female may be reversed,
for here the female is sometimes larger and the more conspicu-
ously colored. In association with this reversal of color and
size, the domestic habits are changed, for, in some species at
least, the female sits on the eggs but a very short time; the male
then finishes the task of incubating, and brings up and educates
the young family. Meantime, the female has found another
mate and another clutch of eggs is left to the care of the male.

In birds having both sexes the same color each bird usually
does its share of domestic work, sitting on the eggs, feeding the
young, etc. Where the male is more brightly colored, he, as a
rule, does not sit on the eggs, for he would be visible to a bird
of prey sailing overhead, and so would probably be killed and
the eggs taken. The great naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace,
thus regards the quiet coloration of most female birds as a
protection during the nesting season. The gaudy coloration of
many male birds has been explained by Darwin as being due to
sexual selection, the female choosing as a mate the most gaily
colored or most attractive bird.

Though the sitting bird is usually protectively colored, it was
our good fortune, on a Summer School excursion, attended by
His Excellency the Governor (Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael), a
keen Nature-lover, and the Director of Education (Mr. F. Tate),
to find the gorgeously-colored male Golden-breasted Whistler
(Thickhead) sitting on the eggs in full daylight. It was noted,
however, that the open nest was unusually well protected by an
overhead bushy branch. |

In Order IV. come those well-known birds—the “Cooers,”
Pigeons and Doves. The Australian region is the great strong-
hold of these often beautiful birds. It is only in this region
that members of each of the five families of living Pigeons are
found. Two of the five families are peculiar to the region, and
nearly half the kinds of Pigeons known are found here. The
finest and largest of all Pigeons are the large Crowned Pigeons
of New Guinea. Unfortunately, the heads of these Pigeons are
much in demand for millinery. Would that fashionable
women knew the cruelty and devastation wrought by such
fashions!

Amongst the most beautiful of Pigeons are, as Dr. Newton re
marked, the common Bronzewing Pigeons of Australia and
Tasmania. The lovely Fruit-Pigeons of East Australian scrubs
are, perhaps, the most beautiful of all, so it will readily be seen
how fortunate we are with regard to these birds.

The fine large Wonga-Wonga Pigeon is becoming rare. Its
flesh is white, so Gould named it Leucosarcia (white flesh). It
has been proposed to introduce this bird into Europe to breed
for table purposes.

The birds of Order V. are amongst the successes in the struggle
for existence, for they are found the world over.

22 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. ao

23 Australian Little Crake, P. palustris, A. =vt. Eur.
Little Crake. Stat. r. river, reed-beds 6

Upper rusty-brown; throat, breast gray; crown blackish;
flanks, lower-abdomen barred black, white; swims,

dives; f., sim. Water-animals.

The Landrail or Corn-Crake, the Little Crake, Spotted Crake,
Moor-Hen, Purple Gallinule, and the lobed-toed “Coot, of other
countries, are represented by similar birds here.

They are largely swamp-dwellers, and conditions about swamps
apparently do not vary much from continent to continent. There
is a full supply of vegetable and animal food, and there is good
shelter in the thick reed-beds. The smaller members of the family
are seldom seen, for they skulk amongst the reeds, and seldom
show themselves.

Many of these birds are long-toed, and are beautifully adapted
for life about the soft mud and floating vegetation of lagoons and
swamps. Though the feet are not webbed, several of these swamp-
dwellers swim well. Thus the Little Crake is an expert swimmer
and diver.

There is one Australian bird not represented in other countries.
This is the handsome, bantam-like Black-tailed Native-Hen. At
long intervals the birds appear in thousands, and, being largely
vegetable feeders, they have sometimes done considerable damage
to crops.

During one such irruption in 1846, the birds invaded the streets

AN AUSTRALIAN BIBD BOOK. id)

24 Spotless Crake (Leaden, Tabuan), Swamp-Ruail, Little
Swamp-Hen, Putoto, P. plumbea, Philippines to A., N.
Heb., N. Cal., Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, N.Z., Chatham Is.
Stat. c. reed-beds 6.3
Upper reddish-brown; under dark slate-gray: throat whit-
ish; eyes pink; f., young sim. Water-animals.

2°25 Black-tailed Native-Hen, Gallinule (e), Tribonyx ven-
2 tralis, A. Mig. flocks, oce. r. lagoons, rivers 15
Upper brown; under bluish-gray; white marks conspicu-
ous on flanks; upper-bill light-green; lower red at base;
legs brick-red; runs, seldom flies; f., sim. Water-
animals, seeds.
1 26*Black Moor-Een (-Gallinule), Gallinula tenebrosa,
8 N.G.,, A. = vt. cos. Gallinule: Stat. c. lagoons, rivers 15
Grayish-black; back deep-brown; under tail white at sides;
scarlet garter above knee; base bill, plate on forehead
blood-red; no white on flanks; jerks tail; f., smaller.
_. Water-animals, plants.
2 27*Bald-Coot, Purple Gallinule, Black-backed Water
16 (Swamp, Macquarie) Hen, Pukeko, Redbill (e),
Porpryrio meltanonotus. N.G., A.,- T.,.._Noriolk= Is;
Lord Howe Is., N.Z. =vt. cos. bird.
Stat. ¢. lagoons; mivers 11.5
Hind-neck, breast, flanks indigo-blue; back, wings, tail
black; under tail white; eyes orange-red; bill, legs red;
jerks tail; f., smaller. Insects, vegetable food.
1 28 Australian Coot, Dabchick (e), Fulica australis, A., T.,
13 —Vte. COS. bird: Stat. e@. lakes, bays 14
Sooty-black; bill bluish-grayv; eyes red; lobed feet; f., sim.
Water-insects, snails.
F. 23. Heliornithidae, Finfoot, 5 sp.—1(1)0., 3(3)E.,1(1)NI1.

of Adelaide. Others invaded the Geraldton district, and even
reached Perth in 1886. Northern Victoria was visited in 1909.

Some of the members of this group are known to all; indeed,
when you have finished reading this lecture, I expect to have
created in your mind an idea that bird study is very simple—
that you know at least one of each of the groups of birds. One
further advantage of bird study is that so few birds are found in
any district. Thus, only 880 birds have ever been recorded
from Australia, whereas there are over 9,000 kinds of native
flowering plants, not to mention non-flowering plants. In very
few districts could a list of 100 different kinds of birds be compiled
in one year.

Again, while it is impossible to talk popularly of native plants,
because they have no common names, that does not apply to birds,
for dvird-lovers have given a simple name to each bird. Even
children, therefore, can talk definitely and exactly about the differ-
ent kinds. This is a great advantage. Again, as birds are living,
moving, loving, and beautiful animals, they have always been
favorite objects of study, and so we know more about them than

94 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

ORDER VI.—PODICIPEDIDIFORMES.

FF, 24. PODICIPEDIDAE (3), GREBES, 25 sp.—5(2)A.,
8i(2)'0:.-6 (0) Ps, SO) HS 60) ING 1hCONE
2 29 Black-throated Grebe (Little), Dabchick (e), White-
15 bellied Diver (e), Podiceps novae-hollandiae, Java,
N.G., A., N. Cal., =vt. Eur. Little Grebe.
Stat. c. lagoons 9.5
Upper blackish-brown; white patch on wing; under silvery-
gray; throat, side-face black (summer), brown
(winter); beautiful fur-like plumage; lobed toes; f.,
sim. Small fish, snails, insects.

about any other division of the animal kingdom. Thus you
will, I hope, find that you know far more about the subject than
you at first thought.

In the next Order, the Sixth, there are three Australian birds.
They are called Grebes. Bird names often reflect some habit,
e.g., Scratchers, Cooers. So Grebes are often called Divers.
But the Divers of the ornithologist are Northern Hemisphere
birds, placed in the next family (25).

There is a widespread tradition to the effect that Grebes wait
for the flash of the cap, and then dive before the bullet can reach
them. They are, indeed, remarkably active in the water, but
are absurd on land. Their legs are set so far back that it is
almost impossible for them to walk. Their toes are not webbed,
but are broadly lobed.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR. 25

30*Hoary-headed Grebe, Dabchick (e), “Tom Pudding,” P.
poliocephalus, A., T. Stat. c. lagoons, river 9.5

Upper brown; wings white patch; under silvery-gray;
head short white hair-like plumes (Summer); head
brown, throat buff (winter); fur-like plumage; lobed
toes; f., sim. Small fish, snails, insects.

1 31 Great Crested Grebe (Tippet), Loon, Gaunt, Carr

3 Goose, P. cristatus (Lophaethyia cristata, Mathews’
Handlist), Eur., N. Asia, Japan, Africa, India to A.,
a IN. ZL. Stat. r. lakes, rivers 24

Upper brown; under glistening-white; crown black; neck-
frill chestnut edged black (summer); face, neck whit-
ish (winter); fur-like plumage; lobed toes; f., sim.
Small fish, snails, insects.

F. 25. Colymbidae (Gaviidae), True Divers, Loons, 5 sp.—
1£(0)0.,. 5(0) P.,. 2(0) BE; 5(0) Ne.

ORDER VIL—SPHENISCIFORMES.

F. 26. SPHENISCIDAE (3), PENGUINS, 17 sp.—i1(7)A.,
CCIE, -9:(4,) -Ni.

1 32 Crested Penguin (Tufted, Jackass, Victoria), Penguinus

5 (Catarrhactes) chrysccome, Southern Ocean (circum-
polar); VT, NiZ Occ. .re coasts «27

Wing a paddle; upper black; under silvery-white; crest
yellow; f., yellow crest feathers’ shorter. Sea-

animals.
2 33 Little Penguin (Little Blue), Hudyptula minor,N.S.W.,
3 Wes SAL. DS N.Z: Stat. ¢: coasts 18

Upper ‘light- blue; under glistening-white; wing a paddle;
Ee Sim. Sea-animals, plants.
34 Fairy Penguin, L. undina, V., T., N.Z. Stat. c. coast 13.5
Like 33, but smaller.

The Great Crested Grebe is identical with the British bird, for
it is found all through the Eastern Hemisphere.

This is a remarkable distribution, when we consider that the
bird, by reason of its very small wings, is a poor flyer, and is
almost helpless on land. Such a wide distribution of a creature
possessing poor means of locomotion indicates that the animal
must have existed for a long time, so that it has been able to
gradually extend its range. Thus we conclude it is an ancient
form.

In the next order come those remarkable birds, Penguins. As
so much has been said about Penguins by Lieutenant Shackleton’s
party, they have caught the popular fancy, and people are much
interested in them. Many Australians do not know that three
Penguins are found on their own coast. It was one of the sights
of the 1910 Summer School at Portsea to sit on the balcony and
watch the Penguins chasing their prey in the clear waters in front
Their wings are paddles, being flattened and devoid of quills.
The wings are not folded, but are carried hanging awkwardly at
the side.

26 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR.

ORDER VUI.—PROCELLARIIFORMES, TUBINARKS,
TUBEK-NOSED SWIMMERS.

F,. 27. PROCELLARIIDAE (5), STORM - PETRELS,
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKENS, 25 sp.—10(3)A.,

200) 0.,-10(0) P.. 7 (0) B; 13:(4) Ne:; 13.73) NE
2 35 Wilson Storm-Petrel (Yellow- webbed, Flat- clawed),
3 Oceanites oceanica, S. Polar regions N. to British Is.

(acc.), Labrador (acc.), India, A., N.Z. c. ocean 6.8
Blackish; base tail above below white; legs black; webs
yellow; f., sim. Shellfish, small fish, greasy.

During the interest aroused by Peary’s expedition to the North
Pole, an illustrated weekly paper published a cartoon, which
showed the American Eagle sitting on the North Pole and
reading a proclamation to an audience of Penguins. One thing
is unfortunate about this—Penguins are unknown in the Northern
Hemisphere. Indeed, they support the geographer in his con-
tention that, while the Pacific Ocean is very ancient, the Atlantic
Ocean has been formed much more recently, for Penguins are
found up the Pacific even to the Galapagos Is. on the Equator,
but have not spread into the Atlantic Ocean beyond Tristan da
Cunha, at the extreme South.

Order VIII. includes the true ocean birds—those wanderers seen
far from any land by ocean travellers. Indeed, many of them
do not go near land except to breed. Then they usually repair
to small lonely islands often with bold precipitous shores.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. Zk

36 Gray-backed Storm-Petrel, 0. (Gurrodia) nereis, S.
Oceans: A., L., N.Z. I. OCEan sat
Sooty; abdomen, under base tail whitish; bill, feet black;
t. Sim: Oily substances, shellfish.

1 37 White-breasted Storm-Petrel (White-faced), Frigate
1 Petrel, Mother Carey’s Chicken, Pelagodroma marina,
S. Oceans, N. to Canary Is., U.S. (acc.)
c. Mud. Is. ocean 8
Upper brownish-gray; crown, Jine under eye, edge of wing,
tail black; under, face, throat, line above eye white;
bill, feet black; webs yellow; f., sim. Shellfish, oily

matters.
2 38 Black-bellied Storm-Petrel, Cymodroma (Fregetta)
4 melanogaster, S. Oceans, to N. Atl., A., T. r. ocean 7.5

Sooty-black; under base tail, flanks white; bill, feet black;
f., sim. Sea-animals, oily.
39 White-bellied Storm-Petrel, C. grallariu, S. Oceans to
B. of Bengal, Atl. to Cancer, Florida (acc.), r. ocean 17.2
Upper, neck, chest black; under, rump white; bill, feet
black; f., sim. Sea-animals, oily.

F, 28. PUFFINIDAE (29), PETRELS, Shearwaters, Iulmars,
Prions, 75 sp.—47(16)A., 7(0)O., 24(0)P., 80(2)k.,
22(4)Ne., 37(7) NI.

7 40 Wedge-tailed Petrel (Shearwater), Puffinus sphenu-

25 rus, A. seas. v.r. ocean 17.5

Sooty-brown; wing blackish; tail black; throat ashy-gray;
under dull ashy-brown; bill lead color; legs, feet livid
flesh color, dusky on inner side of leg and toe. Like
42, but tail longer; f., sim. Food as for 41.

Ocean birds are readily divisible into four families. The first
is made up of the 25 Storm-Petrels; the second of the 75 Petrels,
Shearwaters, Fulmars, and Dove-Petrels; the third family com-
prises only the three small southern Diving-Petrels; while the
fourth contains the nineteen noble Albatrosses.

Though Storm-Petrels and Petrels of various kinds may be
seen in the Northern Hemisphere, yet the Southern Hemisphere,
eas its enormous expanse of water, is the headquarters of these

irds.

The dainty, tiny Storm-Petrels, fearlessly tripping over the
mountain billows in times of great danger to the sailor, were con-
sidered birds of ill-omen. Their peculiar flight possibly helped
this idea. Gould closely studied them and other ocean birds
during his voyages on sailing ships. He describes them as ‘‘flut-
tering over the glassy surface of the ocean during calms with an
easy butterfly-like motion of the wings, and buffeting and breast-
ing with equal vigor the crests of the loftiest waves of the storm;
at one moment descending into their deep troughs, and, at the
next, rising with the utmost alertness to their highest point,
apparently from an impulse communicated as much by striking

28 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

41 Allied Petrel, Gould Shearwater (Little Dusky), P.
assimilis, A. and N.Z. Seas, Atl. O. to Madiera Is.,
Nova Scotia (acc.). Flocks v.r. ocean

Upper, crown, wings, tail sooty-black; side face, under
white; side-chest dusky; bill dark horn-colour; legs
greenish-yellow; f., sim. Shrimps, shellfish, seaweed.

42 Short-tailed Petrel (Sooty, Bonaparte), Slender-billed
Shearwater (U.S.), Seal-Bird, Mutton-Bird (V.), P.
brevicaudus (tenuirostris), A., Bass St., T., N.Z.
Migrates to Alaska, Japan. Flocks, c. ocean

Sooty-brown; under paler; bill blackish-brown; legs, feet

light-grey, black down outer side. Food as 41.

3 43 Brown Petrel (Great-Gray), Black-tailed Shearwater
3 (U.S.), Night Hawk (e), Bully, Kuia, Procellaria

1

14

(Priofinus) cinereus, S.O., California (once). r. ocean 19.5

Crown, upper dark brownish-gray; under white; under
tase tail ashy-brown; tail black; feet grayish-flesh
color; outer toe brownish-black; dives; f., sim.

1 44 Silver-gray Petrel (Fulmar), Slender-billed Fulmar
i (U.S.), Priocella glacialoides, Bass St., A., T., N.Z.,
S. Oceans, Pacific to Japan, Alaska. c. ocean
Pearly-gray; tip-wing black; face, under silky-white; f.,
sim. Dead animals, oil, cuttlefish.
3 45 Black Petrel (Fulmar), Taonui, Procellaria (Maja-
3 queus) parkinsoni, A. and N.Z. Seas. r. ocean
Sooty black; f., sim. Food see 41.
9 46 Great-winged Petrel (Long-winged, Gray-faced), Astre-
32 lata macroptera, A., N.Z., S. Oceans. v.r. ocean
Dark brown; about bill, throat gray; wing-quills, tail
black; bill, feet black; f., sim. Food see 41.

18

18

15

ee

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 29

47 Brown-headed Petrel, Solander Fulmar, 4. solandri, 1
specimen only, Gould, Bass St. u. ocean 16

Head, wings, tail dark-brown; back slaty-gray, marked
dark-brown; Dill, legs black.

48 White-winged Petrel,2. leucoptera, A., N.Z. to C. Horn,
Fiji. Te OCEWI els

Upper dark slaty-gray; forehead, face, under, under wing
white; wings blackish-brown; eyes, bill black; legs, half
toes and webs fleshy-white; tip toes and webs black; f.,
sim.

49 Giant Petrel (Fulmar), Mother Carey’s Goose, Nelly,
Glutton, Stinkpot, Vulture of the Seas, Macronectes
gigantea, S. Oceans up to 30° S. Lat. Oregon (acc.).

CLlL0CEUN aoe

Dark chocolate-brown; bill horn-color; has also a white

phase; f., sim. Scavenger, omnivorous.

50 Cape-Petrel (Pintado, Black and White, Spotted, Pied),
Cape-Pigeon (-Fulmar), Daption capensis, A., N.Z.,
S. Oceans to Brazil, Ceylon, Peru, acc. to California,
Maine, England. Large flocks c. ocean 16.5

Head, hind-neck, upper-back, edge of wing, quills, chin
sooty-brown; inner-wing, back white, broadly spotted
sooty-brown; under white; bill, feet blackish-brown; f.,
sim. Food as 41.

51 Blue Petrel, Prion (Halobaena) cocrulea, S. Oceans, A.,
i, IN. Ze to Tcepack, Wij c. ocean 11
Forehead, cheeks, throat, centre-chest, under white; upper
grayish-blue; outer wing-quills black; tail square, tipped
white; bill blackish-brown; f., sim. Cuttlefish, shell-
fish.

30 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

52 Broad-billed Dove-Petrel (Blue-), Whale-Bird, Prion,
P. vittatus, S. Oceans. c. ocean 11.5

Upper delicate blue-gray; head darker than back; edge
shoulder, wing, tip-tail black; under, line over eye,
white; flanks blue; broad bill blue tipped black; feet
light-blue; f., sim. Cuttlefish.

—— -_—— — i ee ys - —

the surface of the water with its webbed feet as by the action ox
the wings.”

This habit of “walking” on the sea is said to be responsible
for the name “Petrel,” which is associated with Saint Peter, who,
of old, walked on the waters. Sailors call them Mother Carey’s
Chickens.

The largest Australian Storm-Petrel is the Whitefaced Storm-
Petrel, whose scientific name, Pelagodroma, means “open sea wan-
derer.”” It has been recorded even from the North Atlantic and
Britain. Many thousands of these birds still nest on Mud Island,
a sandbank just inside Port Phillip Heads. The presence there
of a true ocean wanderer is a valuable piece of evidence to sup-
port the geographer in his claim that Port Phillip Bay once had
a wide opening, which has been almost closed by the drift of sand
across its mouth. The Storm-Petrels have probably nested there
for many, many centuries. Long may they continue to do so!
They hurt no one, and they are a feature of interest to all inter-
ested in the flora and fauna of Australia, and to natural history
students and Nature-lovers in general.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR. 31

53 Banks Dove-Petrel (Blue-), Prion, Whiroia, P. banksi,
Se wOGenms ware: De, INEZ, rT. ocean 10
Like 52, but bill narrower and paler blue-gray; expanded
wings show black marks like letter W. Food as 54.
54 Dove-Petrel, Dove-like-Petrel (-Prion), Whale- Bird
(Snow-), P. dcesolatus, S. Oceans. c. ocean 10.5
Like 52, 53, but more delicate; blackish below eye; white
stripe above eye; head same as back; bill straighter,
more slender; f., smaller. Shellfish, oily substances.
55 Fairy Dove-Petrel (-Prion), Short-billed (Gould) Blue-
Petrel, P. brevirostris (ariel), S. Indian O., A., Bass
St., Madeira, S. Africa. v.r. ocean 9.5
Like 52, 53, 54, but bill shorter, stouter; head same as
back; white face.
F. 29. PELECANOIDIDAE (1), DIVING PETRELS, 3 sp.—
ZO) AL. COE, 38°C) NI.
1 56 Diving-Petrel, Smaller Diving Petrel, Tee-tee, Pele-
3 canoides urinatriz, A., N.Z., Str. of Magellan.
r. sheltered bays 8
Upper black; under white; legs, feet blue; dives; f., sim.
Shellfish.
F. 30. DIOMEDEIDAE (10), ALBATROSSES, Mollymawks,
19 sp.—13(3)A., 2(0)0., 5(0)P., 5(1)E., 5(0)Nce.,

9(3) NI.
7 57 Wandering Albatross, Man-of-War-Bird, Cape Sheep,
Le Toroa, Diomedea exulans, S. Oceans up to Lat. 30° S.

c. ocean 44
Upper white with fine zigzag brown lines; wing-quills
black; tail short, black above; side face, under white;
zigzag Jines on side of breast; bill whitish; color varies
with age; span up to 14 ft.; f., sim. Jelly-fish,
shrimps, shellfish.

The Shackleton expedition met the Wilson (Yellow-webbed )
Storm-Petrel, in considerable numbers, far south. Two specimens
were presented by Lieutenant Shackleton to the National Museum,
Melbourne. However, recently our Museum received, through
the agency of two schoolboys, a specimen that is valued even more
highly, for it is Australian.

The boys, on their way to the Marshalltown State School (Mr.
H. B. Williamson, H.T.), found a bird near a fence about nine
miles inland. It had evidently been killed by flying into the
fence in the dark. Using the Bird-List, the boys discovered
that it was a Yellow-webbed Storm-Petrel, a truly pelagic bird,
as its name, Occanites oceanicus indicates. Mr. Williamson, to
show that the List was of assistance, even to boys, in identifying
birds they had never heard of before, left the bird at the Con-
tinuation School, Geelong. Here it was recognized as a valu-
able specimen, and was at once sent to Mr. Kershaw, curator of
the National Museum. It is now in the Australian collection.

The true Petrels are very numerous in kinds and individuals.

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AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR.

58 Royal Albatross, D. regia, A., T., N.Z. Seas. c¢. ocean 44
Lately separated from 57, because young have white down
instead of gray; adult has no zigzag lines; f., sim.

Food see 57.
59 Black-browed Albatross (Mollymawk), D. melano-
phrys, S. Oceans, England (once). v.c. ocean 32

Darwin thought that the most numerous of birds was a Petrel.
One of great interest is the “Mutton-Bird,’ or Short-tailed Petrel.
This romantic bird, breeds by the million on Cape Woolamai and
other places about Bass Strait.

Just as the mallee farmer is dependent on his annual wheat
harvest, so the remarkable colony of people living on Cape Barren
Island is entirely dependent on the annual Mutton-Bird harvest.
They claim to take about a million and a half birds each year.
The number is probably much exaggerated, for Littler, in his
valuable Birds of Tasmania, gives the number as 555,000 for
1909, valued at about £4000. Bass and Flinders were glad to
replenish their stores with young Mutton-Birds. Flinders calcu-
lated that one flock of these birds he met in Bass Strait contained
132,000,000 birds. They lay but one egg, so one would expect
the Petrel to be long-lived. We found a closely-similar bird
nesting on Mast Head Island, Capricorn Group.

The three southern Diving Petrels, forming the next family,
are much smaller than the common Petrels. They are expert
divers, and are found mainly in the far South.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 333

Head, neck, under, upper base tail white; blackish-gray
streak through eye; wings dark-brown; back slaty-
black; tail dark-gray; bill buff-yellow; f., young sim.

Fish
60 White-capped Albatross, Shy Mollymawk, D. (Thalassa-
geron) cauta, A. Seas, Bass St. c. ocean 31

Back slaty-gray; rump white; wings dark-gray; tail slaty-
gray; head, neck, under white; blackish streak through
eye; bill horn-color; f., smaller. Fish, barnacles,
shrimps.

61 Flat-billed Albatross (Yellow-nosed (e), Gray-headed),
Gould Yellow-nosed Mollymawk, D. chrysostoma (cul-
minata), A., Indian O., Pacific O., Oregon (cas.), G. of
St. Lawrence (cas.). r. ocean 28

Back, wings, tail dark grayish-black; head, neck gray;
faint blackish streak through eye; under, rump white;
bill black, tip, crest, lower-edge yellow; f., sim. Food

see 60.
62 Yellow-nosed Albatross D. chlororhynchus, 8. Atl. O.,
Seelnd::O7; 2AG.e Te c. ocean 30

Under, head, neck, rump white; back, wings brownish-
black; tail brownish; bill black, crest bright orange-
yellow, tip blood-orange; faint dark streak through
eye; f., sim. Food see 60.

1 63 Sooty Albatross,Phoebetria palpebrata (fuliginosa), S.
1 Oceans, Oregon (cas.), A., N.Z. c. oceans 29.5

Sooty-brown; white ring almost round eye; bill black; f.,
sim. Food as 60.

F. 31. Alcidae, Auk, Garefowl, Puffin, Razorbill, Guillemot,
Murre, 28 sp.—22(1)P., 27(6) Ne.

The mighty Albatross, with its enormous wing-span of possibly
up to 14 feet, is also largely a southern bird. That this bird
has spread to the North Pacific Ocean, but has not yet penetrated
any distance into the Atlantic, is another piece of evidence as to
the age of these two oceans. The Pacific Ocean is a very ancient
depression, while the Atlantic is much younger, and has been
formed since the lands which border its shores. The Black-
browed Albatross, however, was once seen in England. Probably
this bird might have been carried north on board ship, and then
set free again. Fossil bones of Albatrosses have been found in
France and England. Their remarkable power of wheeling
round and round a vessel, with no perceptible movement of the .
wing, has excited much interest and controversy.

Mr. Froude, in his Oceana, has given a vivid description of this
flight. The Albatross “wheels in circles round and round and
for ever round the ship—now far behind, now sweeping past in a
long, rapid curve, like a perfect skater on an untouched field of
ice. There is no effort; watch as closely as you will, you rarely
or never see a stroke of the mighty pinion. The flight is gene
rally near the water, often close to it. You lose sight of the

34 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

ORDER IX.—LARIFORMES.

KW. 32. LARIDAEH (21), TERNS, NODDIES, GULLS, Skim-
mers, 125 sp.—s2(13)A., 35(3)0., 45(1) P., 42:(6)E.,
43(5)Ne., 46(19) NI.

2 64 Whiskered Tern (Marsh), Hydrochelidon fluviatilis

4 (hybrida), Eur. (Br.) to China, Malay, Afr. to A.

r. swamps (inland) 11
Head black; upper, wings, tail light-gray; face, throat,
tail white; chest dark-gray; abdomen black; bill blood-
red; winter, head grayish-white; f., sim. Water-
insects, small fish.

bird as he disappears in the hollow: ae ihe waves, and catch
him again as he rises over the crest; but how he rises, and whence
comes the propelling force, are to the eye inexplicable; he alters
merely the angle at which the wings are inclined. <a

Gould considered that many of these birds circumnavigate the
globe many times. They follow ships for days together.

Albatrosses are sometimes caught by those on board ship.
One means of protection employed by these birds is to discharge a
considerable quantity of oily matter at an intruder. This has
led sailors to declare that the bird is “‘seasick.”” Some claim that
this is not done for protection, but is due to fright.

The members of the Australasian Ornithologists’ Union, when
on a trip in the Manuwatu to the Bass Strait Islands found it
tantalizing to see the beautiful Shy Albatrosses sitting on their

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 35

| 65 Gull-billed Tern (Long-legged), Gelochelidon macro-
I tarsa (anglica), cos. r, rivers, swamps inland 17
White; crown, hind-neck black; upper, wing-quills silvery-
gray; bill long, stout, black; long legs and feet black;
winter head white streaked black; f., sim. Small
fish, insects.
1 66 Caspian Tern, Taranui, Sterna (Hydroprogne) caspia,
1 cos. exc. S. Amer. c. shore 20.5
Head, hind-neck black; back, wings, tail pale-gray; dark-
gray wing-quills; under white; bill scarlet; dives; f.,
smaller. Fish.
10 67*Crested Tern (Swift, Riippell, Bass-St., Torres-St.),
aif Village Blacksmith, Sterna bergii, Red S., Indian O.,
to Japan to A., Pac. Is. v.c, ocean 17
Crown, crest black; forehead, sides and back of neck,
under, white; back, wings, tail dark-gray; bill yellow;
legs, feet black; f., sim. Fish.
68 White-fronted Tern (Southern), S. striata (frontalis),
BA, Ts NZ: G. shorey Ws
Upper delicate-gray; wing-quills grayish-black; forehead,
side-neck, under white; bill, about eye, hind-neck black;
f., sim. Small fish.

69 Bridled Tern (Brown-winged, Panayan, Smaller-Sooty),
S. anaestheta, tropical, sub-tropical seas. v.e. shore 14.5

Upper light sooty-brown; forehead, line over eye, throat,

under white; crown, nape, line from bill past eye

black; bill, legs, feet black; like 70, but smaller; back,

wings brown; f., sim. Fish.

nests on the precipitous granite Albatross Rock, and be unable
to land owing to the rough sea that was running. We waited
a second and a third day, in the shelter of Chimney
Corner, Three Hummocks Island, but finally had_ to
depart with but a distant acquaintance with this fine bird.
When they return to nest the succeeding year, the parents
drive last year’s brood off the island. Does the young live
on its fat all through the cold, rough winter, or do the parents
return at intervals to feed it? Some recent records by a French
party on one of these lonely nesting islands show that in some
cases, at least, the parents do feed the young at night during their
long wait. The sitting bird is fed by her mate. He opens his
mouth, and she inserts her bill, and chooses a dainty for herself.

A Monograph of the Petrels, by F. Du Cane Godman, F.R.S.,
Pres. British Ornithologists’ Union, was consulted for Order VIII.

The birds of Order IX. are mainly shore birds. There are four
chief kinds of these—Terns (Sea-Swallows), including Noddy
Terns, Gulls, the remarkable northern Skimmers, which skim
along the surface with the lengthened end of the lower mandible
in the water, and the bold sea-pirates, Skuas. Fifty-seven Terns
and Noddies are found throughout the world. Of these, twenty-
one have been recorded from Australian waters.

36 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

Being powerful flyers, it is not surprising to find that several
of the Australian Terns are really Old-World, and even New-
World, forms too. Thus the Whiskered (Marsh) Tern is also
British. The Caspian, Gull-billed, and Bridled (Brown-winged)
Terns are British and American, while the Sooty Tern is found
in all tropical and sub-tropical seas. It is one of the famous
birds of the world, for it is the ‘“‘egg bird” of sailors. It retires
in large companies to low scrubby islands to breed. Here it lays
a single egg on the bare ground. Sailors, tired of ship’s fare,
often visit these ‘‘rookeries.”’ Gould quotes a record of one party
which took 1500 dozen eggs on one small island in Torres Strait.
Spanish eggers from Havanah take cargoes, which are disposed of
at 25 cents per gallon.

The Wide-Awake Fair, of Ascension Island, is a famous
annual event in natural history. A similar scene has been
described by Mr. A. W. Milligan, the well-known West Australian
ornithologist, on the Houtman Abrolhos Island, west of Western
Australia. Here acres of the ground were covered by birds
sitting on their nests. The question is, does each find its own nest
when it returns to sit? Mr. Milligan settled this in the affirma-
tive by tying a piece of string to a sitting bird and then letting it
take flight. It found its own egg, and resumed its work. It is
noteworthy that no two of the million eggs are similarly
marked, and this puzzling variation in marking probably assists
each bird to recognize its own egg.

Cne of the daintiest of these birds is the Fairy Tern, which
was common on Mud Island while the 1909 Summer School was
being held. Obedient to the call of the mother bird, which
hovered threateningly overhead, the mottled and striped young
one squatted on the shelly sand beach while bird-lovers hunted
around for the material for a photograph. At length the dark
eye revealed the beautifully-protected young bird.

As the camera was being fixed, a different call from the mother
caused the young one to run away. Three or four naturalists
tried to catch the active little bird, which stopped for a moment
and disgorged two whole small fish, with which its mother had
evidently but recently fed it. Eventually a good picture was
obtained. These Terns nest singly, though others nest in large
companies. They obtain fish by diving into the sea. It was
interesting, on a Nature-study excursion, to watch the Crested
Terns diving frequently into the sea above a shoal of small fish
at Sandringham.

We found the Noddies breeding in thousands on Mast Head
Island, in the Capricorn Group. They built a small platform
of leaves, or seaweed, high or low, on every possible nesting site
on the great Pisonia trees. In fact, there is an interesting kind
of partnership between the bird and the tree. The fruits of the
Pisonia have bands of sticky glands, which adhere to the plumage
of the birds. After a time the fruits fall off, possibly on another
island, and so this interesting tree is spread throughout these
small coral sandbanks and islets. The birds are sometimes so

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BI Black-breasted Plover 106 Australian Snipe 149 White-fronted Heron
87 Black-fronted Dottrel 107 ar Painted Snipe {23 Nankeen Night Heron
102 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 109 Southern Stone-Curlew 125 Australian Bittern

(38)

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 39

loaded and clogged with these fruits that they are incapable of
flight. Surely here is a wonderful partnership between the tree-
frequenting Noddy and the forest tree that provides shelter and

nesting places for it. It is, indeed, a marvellous method of seed
dispersal.

The number of ocean birds breeding on these tiny island-para-
dises is amazing. Minute Mast Head Island is a place free of
all pests—no flies, no mosquitoes, no ticks, no snakes, nor prickly
plants, but a deep shady forest of giant Pisonia trees, sometimes
covered with creepers and lianas, and fringed with pretty flower-
ing shrubs, fig trees, and long green grass, and surrounded, above
spring-tide level, by a fringe of graceful Horse-tail Sheoaks
(Casuarinas). We calculated that over 100,000 birds bred annu-
ally on this 100-acre sandbank, no point of which rose 10 feet
above spring-tide level. The graceful White-capped Noddies
already mentioned nested high and low on the trees and shrubs.
Petrels in thousands burrowed in the sand under the giant
Pisonias, which are so thickly foliaged that not enough light
penetrates to enable undergrowth to flourish, so the sand was
practically bare in the centre of the island. Reef Herons nested
low on spreading branches or interlacing roots. Silver Gulls ana
Oyster-catchers nested on the ground, within about a yard of the
spring-tide mark; Doves, Silver-eyes, Bell-Magpies (Streperas),
Caterpillar-eaters, Kingfishers, and other land birds nested in the
trees, while the White-bellied Sea-Eagle (almost a fac-simile of
the Bald Eagle of America) had his nest overlooking all, on the
highest tree on the island. The Frigate Birds were not nesting
on Mast Head Island, but they roosted each night in the tall She-
oaks at the water’s edge. It was a treat, in the late afternoon,
to see these glorious birds winding up their invisible staircase
into the vast void of upper air. Gloriously and calmly ther
sailed up and up, until the merest speck only could be seen. Of
corals, turtles, and other marvels we may not speak here. The
migrating wading-birds had just reached the island after their
long journey from Siberian Tundras. Some were so poor that
we caught Sandpipers by hand. Flocks of Turnstone, Golden
Plover, Godwits, Curlew, and other wading-birds were there, pos-
sibly only resting before continuing their journey to the South.
It was indeed a privilege to live on such a spot for nine days and
to see Nature in some of her most interesting phases.

The two Australian Seagulls illustrate the “law of representa-
tives” so often referred to by Gould. It is strange how often a
closely similar representative of a Northern bird is found in Aus-
tralia. Thus the big Pacific Gull is the representative of the
large Gull of Europe, though its peculiar deepened and orange-
colored bill is distinctive. It does not gain its beautiful white
and black plumage until it is three or more years old, being
brown in the first year, and brown and white in the second year.

The Silver Gull is known to all. Though a dainty-looking
bird, it has a bad character. It is worse than any bird of prey
for stealing eggs and young birds, for let a gannet or other nesting

40 AN AUSYIRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

70 Sooty Tern, Wide-awake, Egg-bird, S. fuliginosa (8S. fus-
cata, A.O.U.), tropical, sub-tropical seas, Br. (acc.).
V.¢c. Shores) aa
Upper, crown, wings, line from bill past eye, tail black;
forehead, under white; bill, feet black; like 69, but
larger, blacker above; f., sim. Fish, squid. “Oo-ee.’’
71*White-faced Ternlet, Sea-swallow, Little (Fairy) Tern,
Taraiti, S. nereis, A., N.Z. —vt. Eur. Little Tern.
c. shore 10.5

bird but leave the nest for a moment, and Gulls quickly rob it of
its contents. They are scavengers, and eagerly follow a
steamer at lunch-time to gather the scraps. An interesting sight
of Currie Harbor, King Island, is to see the large company of
Seagulls nesting undisturbed on a tiny, bare, rocky islet close to
the pier.

It was noted that, whenever the Noddies were disturbed, and
rose, protesting loudly, the Gulls immediately gathered and
hovered over the trees containing Noddies’ nests. Evidently
they were looking for unprotected eggs.

Placed in the next family are the seven robber Gulls or sea
pirates—Skuas. We read of these birds in the old Royal
Readers, but few recognized them when they followed us to the
Summer School of 1910. They also followed our afternoon-tea
cruise to South Channel fort, and played their usual game of
compelling the Seagulls to give up the scraps they had gathered.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 4]

Upper silvery-gray; under, rump, tail, forehead white;
crown, hind-neck black; bill, feet orange-yellow; f.,
sim. Small fish.

1 72*Silver Gull (Jameson), Seagull, Sea Pigeon, Larus
45 novae-hollandiae, A., T., N. Cal., N.Z. (acc.).
Stat. ec. shore, inland 17.5

Head, neck, under, rump, tail white; back, wings delicate-
gray; wing-tips white and black bars; bill, legs, feet

blood-red; eye white; f., sim. Scraps, eggs, omni-
vorous.

1 73*Pacific Gull (Larger), Gabianus pacificus, A., T. vt.

1 Eur. Greater Black-backed Gull. Stat. c. shore +25

“This fine gull;’” head, neck, under white; tail white
barred black; back, wings slaty-black; eye white; legs
yellow; deepened bill orange tipped red; f., smaller;
young up to 4 years mottled-brown, becoming more like
adult each year. Fish, crabs, carrion.

Fr. 33. STERCORARIIDAE (4), SKUAS, Robber Gulls, Sea
Pirates, 7 sp.—4(0)A., 1(0)O., 4(0)P., 3(0)E.,
4(0)Ne., 4(1)NI.

1 74 Great Southern Skua, Robber Gull, Port-Egmont-Hen,

4 Sea-Hawk, Hakoakoa, Megalestris antarctica, S.

Oceans, A., N.Z. —vt. Hur. Great Skua.
Mig. r. shores 23
Upper blackish-brown; under chocolate-brown; wing white
patch; centre tail feathers project 4in.; f., sim. Stolen
fish, carrion.

2 75 Richardson Skua (Arctic), Arctic (Parasite) Gull,

3 Long-tailed Jaeger, Sea-Pirate, Boatswain-Bird, Teaser,

Stercorarius crepidatus, cos. Mig. r. shores 20

Dimorphic (two phases)—1. Dusky upper; blackish cap;
narrow whitish collar; under white; brown band on
chest; brown band on wing; centre tail feathers pro-
ject 3ins.; strong bill, claws. 2. Under mottled and
barred brown and whitish; follow bay steamers; f.,
sim. Stolen fish.

The Robber Gull, or Skua, of Victoria is, strange to say, identical
with the Skua of England. The one that followed the s.s. Lady
Loch to the Summer School is better known in England as the
Arctic Gull or Richardson Skua. It breeds in the far North, so
it is a great traveller.

One interesting fact about these birds is that they show two sets
of plumage. Thus, while each bird, as it gets older, usually
changes its immature and almost uniform dusky plumage for a
white under-surface, an incomplete white collar, and a blackish
cap, yet some retain the dusky plumage throughout life. This
is a good example of ‘‘dimorphism,” as it is termed. Usually,
instead of picking up their own prey, they watch until some other
bird has captured a meal, and then they rapidly pursue it and
cause it to disgorge. They do not skim over the waves like

42 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK,

ORDER X.—CHARADRIIFORMES.

F. 34. Chionididae, Sheathbills, Kelp-Pigeons, 3 sp.—2(2)K.
1G INT.

F. 35. Thinocorythidae, Seed-Snipe, Seed-Plover, 5 sp. NI.

F. 36. CHARADRIIDAE (44), Waders, Plover-like Birds,
202 sp.—68(29)A., 75(5)0., 84(2)P., 70(24)E.,
65(3)Ne., 74(28) NI].

1 76 Turnstone, Sea-Dottrel, Calico (Beach) Bird, Arenaria

2 interpres, COS. Mig. c. shore 8

Winter plumage, mottled brown, black; summer plumage
in far north; black and white conspicuous; short Dill
black; legs, feet, orange; f., duller. Sand-hoppers,
shellfish.

Petrels, but show a heavy, labored flight, varied by a short soar.
As the two centre tail feathers project beyond the rest, the birds
can be readily identified as they follow a steamer for tit-bits.
The fifty Australian birds included in the important order of
Waders are remarkably like such birds found inhabiting other
regions of the globe, shore conditions apparently being somewhat
similar the world over. It is interesting to note that thirteen
of the forty-four Australian members of this family of Plover-
like birds are also found in Britain, and that most of the others
are direct representatives of closely-related birds found in other
countries. No less than twenty-eight of these birds are merely
visitors here, for they breed away in the far North. Many even

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 43

2 77 Pied Oyster-catcher (White-breasted, Black and white),

13 Seapie, Olive, Redbill, Torea, Haematopus longi-
rostris, Mol., N.G., A., T., N.Z., Chatham Is. —vt. Eur.
Oyster-catcher. . Stat. c. shores 19.5

Black; abdomen, rump, base tail above, below white;
eyes, bill, legs red; bill 3.75in.; f.,sim. Sand-hoppers,
shellfish, worms.

78 Black Oyster-catcher (Sooty), Redbill, Toreo-pango,
BD .fuuginosus, A., T:, N.Z. Stat. c. shores 18
Sooty-black; bill, feet, eye red; f., sim. Shellfish, worms.

79 Red-kneed Dottrel, Sandpiper (e), Hrythrogonys cinc-
tus, A, Mig. r. muddy river banks 17.5
Head, upper-neck, chest black; throat, sides of neck, abdo-
men, under base tail white; back olive-brown; middle
tail feathers olive, rest white; thigh, knee pink-red; f.,
sim. Insects.

80 Spurwing Plover (Wattled), Alarm-Bird, Lobivanellus
lobatus, A., T. Stat. c. plains, swamps 14

“One of most beautiful of plovers;’’ crown black; face,
hind-neck, rump, under white; upper brown; tail white
tipped black; wattle on face lemon-yellow; spur on
shoulder; f., sim. Insects.

81*Black-breasted Plover (Stubble, Flock, Plain), Zonifer
tricolor, A., T. Stat. v.c. plains 10.5
Upper brown; crown, line on face down to broad band on
chest, wing-quills black; line through eye, throat, abdo-
men white; tail white barred black; spot at base of
upper-bill blood-red; f., spot lighter-red. Insects.
82 Gray Plover (Black-bellied), Gray Sandpiper (e), May-
cock, Squatarola helvetica, cos.
Mig. r. muddy shores, rivers 12
Crown, upper, wings, olive-brown mottled white; wing-
quills blackish-brown; rump white; tail white barred
light olive; face, under white, breast tinged buff; bill,
feet blackish; small hind toe; brighter in far North;
f., sim. Insects, worms.

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nest within the Arctic Circle, in Siberia, for it is a rule that a
migrating bird nests in the colder of the two countries visited.
Strictly, these twenty-eight species are Siberian, or at least
northern, forms, and not Australian birds.

Many members of this group undergo a seasonal change of
plumage when breeding time comes. As they spend this season
in the Northern Hemisphere, we do not see them in their brilliant
colors, but in quiet, mottled browns and grays.

Some are “‘accidental” visitors to Australia. Possibly they find
their way here by getting mixed with a company of allied birds
on their annual journey south. Thus the Common (British)
Sandpiper is a very rare bird here, though it retains its British
name—Common Sandpiper. Similarly, other European and
American birds have been recorded, and the number of these

44 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

1 83 Lesser Golden Plover (Pacific, American, Australian,
2 Eastern), Churadrius dominicus, almost cos.

Mig. flocks. r. plains near sea, rivers

Upper, tail dark-brown marked whitish; under mottled

buff, brown, white; line over eye, throat whitish; no

hind toe; brighter in far north; f., sim. Insects, worms.

4 84 Double-banded Dottrel (Banded), Pohowera, Ochtho-

8 dromus bicinctus, A., T., Norfolk Is., Lord Howe Is.,

N.Z. Mig. c. shores, grass

Upper brownish-gray; under white; black band on chest;

chestnut band on abdomen; forehead white; black line

through eye; eyelash scarlet; no hind toe; f., duller.
Insects, Worms.

85 Oriental Dottrel (Eastern, Asiatic, Mongolian), QO.
veredus, Mongolia, China to A.
Mig. v.r. sandy coasts
Indistinct mottled plumage; upper brown and buff; throat
lighter; abdomen white; slender bill dark-brown; iegs
long, slender; no hind toe; f., sim. Insects, worms.

4 86 Red-capped Dottrel, Red - necked Plover, Sandlark,
19 Ajgialitis ruficapilla, China to A., T., N.Z.

tat. c. shores

Crown, hind-neck rust-red; upper, wings pale-brown; wing-

quills blackish-brown; centre tail dark-brown, rest

white; under, forehead white; f., duller. Shellfish.

87*Black-fronted Dottrel, 4. melanops, A.

Stat. r. rivers, pools, lakes

Forehead, broad band on chest black; throat, abdomen,

stripe over eye, round hind-neck white; eyelash bright-

red; “active, elegant bird;” f., sim. Insects, worms.

6.5

9.5

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 45

88 Hooded Dottrel, “. cucullata, A., T. Stat. c. shore 8.3

Head, throat, upper-back black; hind-neck, under white;
lower-back light brownish-gray; middle tail feathers
black, rest tipped white; scarlet ring round eye; f.,
crown mottled black, white. Sand-hoppers, worms.

1 89 Australian Dottrel, Pelitohyas australis, A. =vt. Eur.
1 Common Dottrel. Mig. v.r. plains (interior) 8
Upper sandy-buff mottled with dark-brown; black band
across top of head from eye to eye; black collar on
hind-neck continued as a narrow V across chest; fore-
head, throat white; m., duller. Insects.

1 90 White-headed Stilt (Pied), Longshanks, Stilt - bird,
1 Long-legged Plover, Himantopus leucocephalus, Great
Sunda Is:, Mol.,iN.G.; A. s=vt.; Bur. Stilt.
Nom. r. swamps, lakes 15
White; hind-neck, back, wings black; long legs pink; f.,
smaller. Insects, pond-snails.
1 91 Banded Stilt, Rottnest Snipe (e), Cladorhynchus
if leucocephalus, A. Nom. v.r. shallow lakes 13.5
White; broad chestnut band on breast; wings, centre of
abdomen black; long bill black. Plaintive whistle.
92 Red-necked Avocet, Cobbler, Cobbler’s Awl, Painted
Lady, Scooper, Recurvirostra novae-hollandiae, A., T.,
N° Z: yt» cos», bind: Nom. r. lakes, tidal bays 15.5
White; head, neck chestnut; wings black; f., sim. Shell-
fish, insects.
93 Australian Curlew, Sea-Curlew, Nuwmenius cyanopus,
E. Sib., Japan to A. =vt. Eur. Common Curlew.
Mig. c. tidal shores m., 21; f., 24
Arched bill 7in.; mottled brown; f., larger. Crabs, worms.

ren

© po

46 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

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ee =

94 Oviental Whimbrel (Australian), Jack-Curlew, May-
fowl, N. variegatus, KE. Sib., Japan to A., T. =vt. Eur.
Whimbrel. Mig. r. river, swamp 15

Brown mottled; chin, abdomen white; tail barred brown,
white; arched bill 3in.; f., sim. Crabs, shellfish,

worms.
1 95 Little Whimbrel, Mesoscolopax minutus, E. Sib, Mon-
1 golia, Japan to A. Mig. v.r. swamps 12

far-wandering birds recorded from Australia is likely to be
still further increased. The stout, short-legged Turnstone is the
most cosmopolitan of birds. Breeding in Siberia, so widely does
it roam, that it has visited almost every shore in the world, where,
true to name, it turns the stones in search of sandhoppers.

The two “Oyster-catchers’’—‘‘Redbills’—are representatives of
similar birds found almost the world over. Their deepened, flat
bill is said to serve as a pick-axe to force open oysters and mus-
sels. We found one or two pairs on almost every shore we visited
about Bass Strait, on Eyre Peninsula, and on the Barrier Reef.

The two common Plovers—the Spurwing and Black-breasted—
do not migrate, so we see them in brighter colors. Still, though
bright when noticed, they are yet wonderfully protected, as they
stand quite still. I felt great astonishment on finding that I
had driven, near Lake Tyrrell, into the midst of a company of
over a thousand Black-breasted Plovers, not noticed until the eye
picked out one and then another. It recalled to mind the scene

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 47

Upper blackish-brown much marked and spotted buff;
under, line past eye buff; arched bill 1.7in. Insects,

worms.

2 96 Barred-rumped Godwit (Pacific), Kuaka, Limosa,

) novae-zealandiae (lapponica, Am.O.U.), Alaska, Cali-
formas H. Sibs to “A., TT; N:Z:, Oceania, ==vt, -Hur.
Barred-tailed Godwit Mig. c. shores 15

Upper brownish-gray marked whitish; rump, tail barred
brown, white; abdomen white; legs brownish-black;
broad, indistinct whitish eyebrow; bill long, slightly up-
turned; f., larger. Shellfish, worms, sand-hoppers.

97 Black-tailed Godwit, L. limosa, Br. Eur., N. Afr., India,
E. Sib., Japan to A., Greenland (acc.), may be a dis-
tinct species than called L. melanuroides,
Mig. v.r. shallow lakes 16
Upper grayish-brown; wing white band flying; lower-back
blackish-brown; upper base tail white; tail black, white
at side at base; neck, breast, flanks grayish-brown;
abdomen white; bill long, slightly upturned; f., larger.
Insects, pond snails, worms.

1 98 Common Sandpiper, Summer Snipe, Tringoides hypo-
2 leucus, Eur. (Br.), N. Asia, Afr., Ind., to A. (acc.).
Mig. u. shores, lakes 8
Upper pale-brown marked darker; wing-quills slightly
tipped white; centre tail feathers glossy-brown, side
feathers white barred brown; under white; chest
marked pale-brown; indistinct pale eyebrow; tail con-
stantly jerked; f., sim. ~Water-insects, shellfish.
1 99 Greenshank, Glottis nebularius, Br., Eastern hemi-
1 sphere, Florida (acc.). Mig. r. shores, lakes 14
Face, under, tail white; sides of breast streaked brown;
edge of tail barred freckled brown; crown, hind-neck
gray; wings dark-brown; upper light-brown; legs deep
olive-green; f., sim. Shellfish, worms.

in the Lady of the Lake, when Fitz James found the hillside alive
with Roderick Dhu’s warriors.

The White-headed Stilt, or Long-legged Plover, is one of five
species spread throughout the world. Some people have pre-
tended to pity the Stilt for being one of Nature’s misfits, but
surely they never saw the bird in a state of nature enjoying life,
and gaining an easy living on shallow tidal flats, its long legs
being a beautiful adaptation to the environment in which it lives.

The Banded Stilt is a purely Australian bird, and has no repre-
sentative in other countries. These and some other shore-birds
live about tidal flats, and get their food in the soft mud. Their
long bill is often flexible, and the tip is sometimes well supplied
with nerves, so that it is sensitive. The bird can thus detect, in
the soft mud, any animal that would serve for food. It can then
open its bill enough to catch the animal without trouble. The
Avocet’s bill is sharply curved upwards, and is one of the most

48 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

1 100 Sanderling, Calidris arenaria (leucophoea, Am.0O.U.),
1 cos. exc. Pacific Is. Mig. v.r. sandy shores, swamps 7.5

Crown, back gray; white band on wing; sides, lower-back

white; eyebrow, forehead, face, under white; no hind

toe; brighter in far north; f., sim. Sand-hoppers,
insects. ‘‘Wick.”’

——————o ———— SS

remarkable of such organs. The Australian Avocet is one
species of a cosmopolitan genus.

Some of the Dottrels live on the dry, open plains of the interior;
others frequent the beaches and shores.

When a bird of prey appears, these plain-living birds squat quite
flat, placing even the head flat on the ground. They thus escape
detection, for the protective coloring of these birds and of their
eggs is marvellous. The story of how a photograph of a Dottrel’s
nest was obtained is of value to teachers,for it will remind us that
it is not well to neglect the three R’s, and that Nature-study alone
will not give a complete education. Three bird-lovers spent some
time trying to find this nest, while the parent birds flew noisily
around. Suspecting at last that the birds’ knowledge of num-
bers was probably deficient, the three hid behind a log. Two
then walked away. The birds immediately returned to the nest.
and a valuable photograph was the result. A training in Nature-
study, valuable as it undoubtedly is, is thus not all of our work.

The Painted Snipe breeds in Australia, but tne Australian Snipe
breeds in Japan, so it, properly speaking, is not an Australian

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 49

2 101 Eastern Little Stint (Little), Red-necked Sandpiper,
5 Land-snipe, Little Dunlin, Pisobia ruficollis, EB. Sib.,
jap sChina to. A. E2eNsZ.) vit.) Hur. Little Stin.
Mig. flocks c. shores 6.2

Upper ashy-brown mottled darker; wing-quills blackish-

brown; centre tail feathers blackish-brown; rest whit-

ish; forehead, under white; faint chestnut band on

chest; ‘bill, legs black; brighter in far north; f., sim.
Insects, shellfish.

102*Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Siberian-, Asiatic-Pectoral),
Sharp-tailed Stint, Marsh Sandpiper, Marsh Tringa,
Heteropygia aurita, (P. aurita, Am.O.U.), Alaska, E.
Sib: Japan, Ind, to A.. T., N-Z: Mig. r. coast 8.5
Upper dark-brown marked gray; crown faint rufous; wing-
quills dark-brown; face, under whitish, breast brown-
ish; f., smaller. Small water-animals.

1 108 Curlew-Sanédpiper, Pygmy Curlew, Curlew-Stint, Ancy-
lochilus subarquatus (Erolia ferruginea, Am.O.U.),
A TINA almost -cos:, exe. Pac. Is.
Mig. flocks r. shore 8.5
Upper grayish-brown; eyebrow, rump, under white, chest
tinged brown; bill 1.5 in., black, arched; brighter in far
north; f., sim. Insects, worms.
2 104 Knot, Knot-Snipe, Tringa canutus, almost cos., A., T.,
2 N.Z. Mig. r. tidal mud flats 9
Upper grayish-brown; under white; flanks, breast barred
grayish-brown; upper base tail white barred black;
brighter in far north; f., sim. Insects, worms.
105 Eastern Knot (Japanese), Great Sandpiper, 7. cras-
sirostris, E. Sib., Jap., Ind. to A. Mig. v.r. shore 11.5
Crown, neck, brownish-gray; back, wings brown; rump
white; tail brownish-gray; breast dark-brown marked
white; abdomen white; bill olive, 1% in.; brighter in
far north; f.,sim. Insects, worms.

Olr

—

bird. Think of the journey twice a year! Six of these wading-
birds even visit New Zealand each year. How do they find their
way there, across a gap of over 1000 miles, without any land what-
ever? Inherited memory is strong, but how did the first batches
find their way? Their annual journey supports the geographer
in his surmise that Australia at no very distant date extended
very much farther to the east. Indeed, these birds almost cer-
tainly follow the old coast of the Australian continent.

Snipe, some Plovers, Dottrels, Curlews (Sea), Whimbrels, God-
wits, &c., thus go to the North each year to partake of the abun-
dant banquet of fruits, &c., preserved in the great ice chamber of
the North. Numberless flocks of birds followup themelting ice,and
so nest unmolested on the great tundras and plains of Siberia.
They wear their bright wedding dress in the far North, and are
known here only in the quiet mottled browns and grays. In
autumn these birds depart. They travel mostly at night, to

50 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

1 106*Australian Snipe (Japanese, Latham), Jack Snipe,
23 Bleater, Long-bill, Gallinago australis, Jap., For-
mosa, to: A. 2., N.Z:. vt. Bur. Snipe:
Mig. c. swamps 9.5
Richly mottled; crown blackish with buff line along centre;
face, chin buff; breast, washed reddish-brown; brown
bars on flanks; back mottled brownish-black; under
wings finely barred black, white; chestnut band on
tail; two black lines on face; bill 2.7 in.; f., sim.
Insects, worms.
1 107*Australian-Painted Snipe, Australian Rhynchaea, Ros-
3 tratula australis, A. Mig. v.r. grassy, bush 9.5

avoid Birds of Prey, and so are seldom seen, though they may be
heard calling as they pass high overhead. They are occasionally
seen with the aid of telescopes as they pass across the face of the
moon.

The Pratincole, or Swallow-Plover, is a representative of an
Old-World family. Its long wings and long legs denote a rapid
runner and a rapid flyer, so that it has little trouble in catching
its insect food, either in the air or on the ground.

Our inland Stone-Curlew has a call very similar to that of the
sea (true) Curlew, but it has a short, straight bill, instead of a
long, arched bill. The proper name of the land Curlew is the
Southern Stone-Curlew or Stone-Plover. It is the only Australian
bird that seems to have the power of varying the color of its

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 51

Beautiful mottled dotted; crown dark-brown, with buff
line; throat, chest dark, chin lighter; wing brown,
spotted black, white, buff; abdomen white; long
straight bill “1:7 in.; “m., duller, smaiiler. Insects,
worms.

. 37. PARRIDAE (1), PARRA, Jacana, Water-Pheasant, 11
Sp GleyPAS = SC 2) Or, -olGs.) Li LU CO)ING, 4(3):NI.

F. 38. Cursoriidae, Coursers, 15 sp.—3(2)0., 1(0)P., 18(12) H.

F. 39. GLAREOLIDAE (2), PRATINCOLES, Swallow-
Plovers, 10 sp.—2(0)A., 4(1)0., 3(0)P., 7(5) EB.

108 Australian Pratincole, Swallow-Plover, Stiltia isa-
bella, Borneo, Java to A., N.Z. =vt. Eur. Pratincole.

Mig. v.r. (interior) rivers, marshes 9.5

Upper, wings, breast light-rufous, throat whitish; abdomen
chestnut; base tail above, below white; centre tail
black, rest white; bill red, tipped black, swallow-like
flight; f., sim. Insects.

. 40. Dromadidae, Crab-Plover, 1 sp.—1(0)0O., 1(0)E.

41. G2DICNEMIDAE (2), STONE-CURLEWS, Stone-
Plovers, Thick-Knees, 13 sp. — 2(1)A., 3(1)0O.,
1(0)P., 7(6)H., 3(8) NL.

109*Southern Stone-Curlew (-Plover) Willaroo, Scrub

Curlew, Burhinus grallarius, A., T. (acc.).
f Stat. c. sandy plains, timber 20.5

Crown, upper dark-gray, marked black; round eye white;
throat buff; chest, abdomen whitish, streaked blackish;
white patch on wing; legs long; bill short, black; f.,
sim. Insects, berries. ‘“Wee-lo.”

42 ODlDIDAKH ‘C); BUSTARDS,, 33 sp:—ti(1)A:, 7(2)0:;;
7(2)P., 238(21)E.

110 Australian Bustard, Wild Turkey (e), Hupodotis aus-

tralis, A. Mig. r. plains 48

Crown black; face, neck grayish-white; upper, wings
brown; wings spotted black-white; black band on
chest; abdomen white; f., smaller. Seeds, grass,
lizards, insects.

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eggs. If the eggs are laid in grass, they are greenish; if amongst
ironstone, the eggs are reddish-brown; if on sand, the eggs are
tawny; and so on. Other ground-laying birds seem to pick out
the soil that matches the color of their eggs, and lay there only.
Possibly local races of the Southern Stone-Curlew keep to the
one class of country. However, the eggs do match the surround-
ings, and the birds nest on different kinds of soil and rock.

In Family 42, the only Australian bird is the Australian Bus-
tard, our representative of a widely-spread family, a member of
which formerly bred in Great Britain. It is the well-known ‘‘Wild
Turkey.” As it is a good table bird, it is generally shot on sight.
_ This is a mistake, as it is (as Mr. C. French, Government Ento-
mologist, has pointed out) worth many times its table value as an
insect destroyer. None of the family has spread to America.

AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

on
bo
i
ta

ORDER XI.—GRUIFORMES.

Fl’, 43. GRUIDAE (1), CRANES, 19 sp.—1(1)A., 8(2)0.,
SCP. Co yas. 300) INC. 2 CO) INIE
1 111 Australian Crane, Native Companion, Brolga, Anti-
3 gone australasiana, A. Nom. r. plains 42
Deep silvery-gray; wing-quills black; naked red patch
about face, throat; legs, feet black; f., smaller. In-
sects, lizards, bulbous roots, seeds. :
F. 44. Aramidae, Courlans, Limpkin, 2 sp. — 1(0)Nc.,
2(1)N1.

As no Bustard occurs in the regions between Australia and India,
this bird supplies a good example of what is known to z00-
geographers as “discontinuous distribution.”’’ “1Niscontinuous
distribution,” as applied to land animals, e.g., marsupials found
in America and Australia, ratite birds in South America, South
Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, or the tapir, found in Cen-
tral America and Malaysia, implies a land connexion (not neces-
sarily complete at any one period) to allow of the gradual spread
of the animals. Of course, as flying birds can pass easily from
one region to another, ‘‘discontinuous distribution,” as applied to
them, cannot have so much importance attached to it as indicat-
ing previous land connexions.

Australia, fortunately, has one representative of Order XI.—
Cranes. This is the Native Companion, the only true Crane found
in Australia. These are interesting birds, with their ‘‘quadrille

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 53

45. Rhinochetidae, Kagu, 1 sp. A.vN.Cal.).
46. Mesoenatidae, 1 sp. E. (Madagascar).
47. Eurypygidac, Sun-bitterns, 2 sp. NI.
48. Psophiidae, Trumpeters, 7 sp. NI.

49. Cariamidae, Seriema, Saria, 2 sp. Nl.

ORDER XII.—A RDEIFORMES.
F. 50. IBIDIDAE (3), IBISES, 27 sp.—4(2)A., 6(2)O.,
3(0)P., 10(8)E., 4(0)Ne., 11(7) NI.
1 112 Australian White Ibis (Black -necked), Sickle- Bill,
5 Ibis molucca, Mol., N.G., A. ==vt. Sacred Ibis of
Egypt. Nom. flocks. r. lagoons 30

White; head, upper-neck bare black; back of head and
neck barred rose-pink; black bill arched; f., smaller.

ms bo

Insects.
1 113 Straw-necked Ibis, Dryweather (Letter) Bird, Far-
il mer’s Friend, Carphibis spinicollis, A. T.

Nom. flocks, c. grassy 28
“This beautiful ibis;” head, fore-neck naked black; black
bill arched; pointed, straw-colored plumes on neck;
breast, upper greenish-purple barred black; abdomen,
flanks, tail white; f., smaller. Insects.
1 114 Glossy Ibis, Black Curlew (e), Plegadis falcinellus,
3 A., T., N.Z., almost cos. exc. S. Am., Arctic, and Pac.
Is. Nom. flocks, v.r. swampy 25
Head, neck, breast, back, under rich reddish-chestnut;
lower-back, tail dark bronze-green; winter; head, neck
streaked white; f., sim. Insects, worms.
F. 51. PLATALEIDAE (2), SPOONBILLS, 6 sp.—2(2)A.,
ZOO} 2:0) P.;: 201) E-,, (0) Ne-, 1:(0) NI.
1 115 Black-billed Spoonbill (Royal), Platalea regia, A.,
4 N.Z. Nom. r. marshy 29
White; bill, legs, feet black; f., sim. Shellfish, frogs.

parties,” “‘corroborees,” and dances. They live chiefly on vermin
—insects, lizards, &c. The great Gould said: ‘‘Its presence adds
greatly to the interest of the scenery.” Would that more Aus-
tralians thought so!

Cranes are amongst the best of flyers. They are said to fly
sometimes at a height of from three and a half to five miles, and
have been seen to cross lofty mountains in Central Asia without
increasing their altitude. Perhaps because of its inappropriate
name—Native Companion—some have proposed to regard this
bird as the typical Australian bird, but it is not so. In fact, it
is our one representative of an almost world-wide group.

In Order XII. Australia has representatives of the Ibises,
Spoonbills, Storks, Herons, Egrets, Night Herons, and Bitterns, so
well known in every part of the world.

Amongst the world’s birds, few are better known than the Ibis.
This bird was so highly prized by the ancient Egyptians as to be
considered sacred, and they thought enough of it to embalm it.
As Egypt depended on the overflow of the Nile for food supply,

54 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

and as this overflow was heralded by the arrival of the migratory
Ibis from the South, it was natural for the Egyptians to connect
the rise of the river with this bird, and thus look for its approach.
Again, the Ibis is an insect destroyer, and, as Egypt was subject
to plagues of grasshoppers, it undoubtedly rendered as valu-
able service there as it does here. This is another reason that
has been assigned for the esteem in which this valuable bird was
held. However, it is now almost unknown in Egypt.

In Australia we have three Ibises. One, the Sacred Ibis, or
White Ibis, is practically identical with the Sacred Ibis of Egypt.
Our second Ibis is the even more valuable Straw-necked Ibis,
which extends its labors to plains and pastures, while the Sacred
{bis is rarely seen except on swampy lands. The Straw-necked
Ibis is restricted to Australia. It seems to be increasing in
numbers, for I have seen small and large flocks in many parts of
the Eastern States recently. It has an insatiable appetite for
grasshoppers and other insects. This bird is a valuable asset to
Australia, and yet thoughtless farmers used to shoot it. Mr. Le
Souéf and Dr. C. Ryan came upon a flock of Ibises breeding in
Riverina. They estimated the flock to contain 240,000 birds.
They found that each bird shot contained on the average
2000 young grasshoppers. Think of it; 480,000,000 grasshoppers
aday! Where are those birds now, when needed to stem a locust
plague? We have to pay the price of our folly in destroying
valuable birds. A third Ibis is identical with the little Glossy
Ibis of Europe. ;

The six Spoonbills are found throughout the world except in
New Zealand and the northern parts of North America. They
used to breed in England before man’s selfishness and stupidity
destroyed them and their nesting-places. They breed at present
in the Murray swamps.

The Australian Stork—the Jabiru—does not .come to the
Southern parts of Australia, but breeds on the Queensland coast.
It is a quaint-shaped, though beautifully-colored, bird. Its large,
awkward-looking bill has a slight curve upwards.

Now come those beautiful birds, the Egrets. Man’s cupidity
and selfishness, and woman’s desire for ornament, seem to have
doomed these birds to total extermination, for the plume trade,
which is responsible for some of the “most abominable cruelty
practised in the animal world,” is a war of extermination. Egrets
are shy, and are approachable only in the breeding season. At
that time they are, in obedience to parental instincts, brave in
defence of their young. It is just then that the plume-hunters
visit the rookeries and shoot the parents, leaving the helpless,
almost fully-fledged, young to die in the nest, so high overhead.
And all for what? Could anyone who has seen the devastated
nests, with the famished bodies of the fledglings rotting in the
sun, ever take pleasure in Egret plumes decking the head of a
sister or wife? Women of refinement and tender heart will
refuse to wear the proceeds of human cruelty. Those en-
gaged in the trade resort to the mean trick of calling the

i

128 Cape Barren Goose 133 Black Duck 136 Australian Shoveller
129 Mained Goose 134 Australian Teal 137 Pink-eared Duck
131 Plumed Whistling Duck 135 Gray Teal 139 White-eyed Duck

(55)

152 Allicd Harrier
155 Australian Goshawk
157 Collared Sparrowhawk

158 Wedge-tailed Eagle

165 Black-shouldered Kite

167 Black-cheeked Falcon
(57)

170 Little Falcon
172 Brown Hawk
173 Nankeen Kestrel

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 59

plumes “Osprey plumes.” Now, the Osprey is a Fish-Hawk, and
so possibly of little use to the land-dweller, but these plumes grow
on the back and neck of a valuable insect destroyer. The extent
of this trade is appalling. At one plume sale, held in London
on 4th August, 1909, the breeding plumes of 24,000 birds were
offered for sale. Think of it! The slow starvation of 40,000
nestlings, the death of 64,000 birds, to provide the plumes for one
day’s sale. No, ladies, if you consider you are in need of orna-
ment, wear ostrich plumes and pheasants’ feathers, for these do
not involve the death of a bird, but rather the reverse, for the
greater the demand for these feathers, the more birds will be
bred; but spare the Egret.

The Reef Heron is found on beaches from the Bay of Bengal
to New Zealand. It has given scientists much trouble, for it
has a pure-white form and a dark slaty-gray form. We
found and photographed the nests on Mast Head and Heron
Islands. This was a prize, for no photograph of a Reef Heron’s
nest had been published previously. As soon as the falling tide
exposed the reef round the island, Reef Herons, Gulls, Plovers,
Dottrels, and Terns, went out to have their next meal.

The ‘‘Blue Crane” of the country dwellers is the ““White-fronted
Heron” of the bird-lover. ‘‘Fronted” in a bird name refers only
to the forehead. Herons are valuable birds to the grazier,
farmer, and irrigationist, for, in addition to insects and snails,
they eat yabbies (fresh-water crayfish), which bore into the banks
and bed of irrigation channels, and so cause much loss of water
by soakage.

Distinguished from these birds mainly by its nocturnal habit is
the interesting Nankeen Night Heron, our one representative of
a practically cosmopolitan genus. Our one Night Heron hides
on a leafy bough asleep during the daytime. About dusk he sets
off to a swamp.

The Australian Bittern, also our one representative of a cos-
mopolitan genus, skulks in a bed of reeds. Hence it is seldom
seen. Its loud, dismal, booming note probably assisted in the
formation of the Bunyip legends of the blacks. I saw more Bit-
terns in a recent trip down the Brisbane than I ever saw before.

At breeding time these birds assemble in very large com-
panies, and their nesting-places are called heronries or rookeries.
The chief rookeries here are in the Riverina, where the great
annual overflow of that fine river, the Murray, converts the coun-
try into a great series of lakes and swamps. Here water animals
live in large numbers, and thousands of birds take advantage of
this abundant food supply to nest there in the enormous redgums.

Each bird is the close relative of a similar bird in Europe, so
that what is read concerning Herons and Egrets there, applies
equaily to our members of this widely-distributed family. Eating
grasshoppers and other insects in great numbers, they are friends
of the farmer and grazier. Destroying yabbies and other burrow:
ing water animals, they are valuable allies of the irrigationist,
and it is decidedly bad policy to shoot one.

60

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK,

1 116 Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Platibis flavipes, A.

1

we

Nom. r. swamps

White; bill, legs, feet yellow; f., sim. Shellfish, frogs,

52.

53.
54.

55.

CICONIIDAE (1),STORK (JABIRU), 19 sp.—2(0)A.,
10:(6)0:; 4(1)P., 8(4) B., 2€0RNc., 3(1) NI:

Scopidae, Hammer-Head, 1 sp. E.

Balaenicipitidae, Shoe-bird, Shoebill, Whaleheaded
Stork, 1 sp. E. (Upper White Nile).

ARDEIDAE (16), HERONS, 107° sp.—82(16)A.,
21 (4) 0;, 21(1) PB 25(14) Be 174) Nex 3320 Nie

117 Plumed Egret, Mesophoyx plumifera, Cel., Mol., N.G.,

Nom. v.r. swamps

White: bill yellow; feet, lower legs black, above ‘‘knee”’

yellow; f., sim. Insects.

118 Australian White Egret (Great), White Crane (e),

Herodias timoriensis, Jap., China, Philippines to A.,
aye ING Zi Nom. v.r. lagoons

“This noble species;” white; bill beautiful orange; legs

above “knee”? and line down centre of inner shin dull
yellow; rest of shin, feet black; naked space about eye
greenish-yellow; f., sim. Fish, frogs, insects.

119*White-fronted Heron, Blue-Crane (e), Matuku, Noto-

phoyx novae-hollandiae, Cel., Mol., N.G., A., T., N.Z.
Nom. v.c. about water

Face, throat white; upper, wings dark-gray; under gray

tinged rufous; f., sim. Insects, crabs, yabbies.

120 White-necked Heron (Pacific), White-necked Crane

(e), N. pacifica, A., T. Stat. r. swamps

Head, neck, breast, shoulder white; under, wings, tail upper

blackish; f., smaller. Frogs, insects.

30

30

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

61

1 121 Lesser Egret (Little, Spotless), Garzetta nigripes,

2 Malay to N.G., A. Nom. r. swamps

White; 2 long plumes from nape; feet, legs totally black;
bill black; f., sim. Frogs, insects.

1 122 Reef Heron (White, Blue, Sacred), Demiegretta sacra,

1 Jap:, ind... to A., -T.,. N:Z. Stat. r. coast

Dark slaty-gray; bill yellowish-green; some birds are
white; f., sim. Crabs, shellfish.

1 123*Nankeen Night Heron, Nankeen Crane (e), Nycti-
8 coraxz caledonicus, Cel., N.G., A., T., N.Z. =vt. Eur.
Night Heron. Frogs, insects, yabbies. Mig. c. swamps
Nocturnal; crown, nape black; long white plumes from
nape; upper rich chestnut; abdomen white; neck, chest
reddish-chestnut; f., sim.; young mottled brown, buff.

2 124 Minute Bittern, Kaoriki, Ardetta pusilla, A., N.Z.,
10 =vt. Eur. Little Bittern. Stat. v.r. swamps
Crown, back, tail greenish-black; under pale-buff; hind-
neck, shoulder deep-chestnut; bill, feet yellow; dark
line from chin to lower breast; f., smaller; upper brown
streaked chestnut: tail black; under white streaked
brown. Water-animals.
125*Australian Bittern (Black-backed), Boomer, Bull-
Bird. Matuku-Lurepo, Botawrus poeciloptilus, A.
TeoN. Cal NZ. vi. Par. Bittern. stat. 0-7 .7eeds
Head, hind-neck, back dark-brown; wings brown marked
buff; throat, under creamy-buff streaked dark-brown;
bill yellow; f., smaller. Fish, frogs, yabbies, insects.
. 56. Palamedeidae, Screamers, Unicorn-Bird, 3 sp. NI.
57. Phoenicopteridae, Flamingoes, 6 sp.—2(0)0O., 1(0)P.,
2(0)E.. 1(0) Ne; 4¢3) Ni.

1H

my hy

22

23

Ws,

10

24

62 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

ORDER XIII.—ANSERIFORMES.

F. 58. ANATIDAE (21), SWANS, GEESE, 206 sp.—39(30)A.,

50(9)0., 68(10)P., 41(21)E., 56(11)Ne., 70(39) NI.
1 126 Black Swan, Chenopsis atrata, A., T.
i]

Stat. c. lakes 40
Black; white on wing; very long neck; f., sim. t Plants.

Swans, Geese, and Ducks, the Swimming Birds grouped in
Order XIII., are all classified in one family, though there are
many sub-families.

At the head of the Australian birds is the Black Swan—that
rara avis which, possibly, has done more to advertize Australia
than any other Australian animal or plant. A “black” swan
was an “impossibility,” so this bird was one of the strongest
factors in establishing Australia’s reputation as a land of para-
doxes and contradictions.

The Black Swan is well known outside Australia, as it is com-
mon in every park and garden in Europe. Gould feared that it
would be exterminated here, but fortunately Australians are now
learning to appreciate their own land, and there is no danger of
such a calamity.

Bight species of Swans are known to occur all over the world
with the exception of New Zealand and Africa.

In the next sub-family there is but one bird—the Semipalmated
Goose of Australia. This bird, better known as the Magpie Goose,
has its feet but half-webbed, hence its specific name, semipalmata,.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 63

127 Pied Goose (Magpie, Black and White, Semipal-
mated), Anseranas semipalmata, A., T.
Stat. v.r. water 32
Head, neck, wings, lower-back, tail, thighs black; rest
white; feet half-webbed; f., sim. Grass.
1 128*Cape Barren Goose, Cereopsis novae-hollandiae, V.,
1 SrA. W.A., ©. Bass St. Is. Stat. v.r. grass, coast 33
Brownish-gray; dark spots on wing; bill black; naked skin
round bill lemon-yellow; legs pinkish; toes, webs,
streak up front of leg black; pugnacious; f., sim.

a

Grass.

1 129*Maned Goose, Wood-Duck (e), Chenonetta jubata,

1 Ate TS Stat. c. water 20

Crown deep-brown; tail, lower-back black; metallic green

on wing; breast gray spotted black; hind-neck short
black plumes; white patch on wing; Dill olive-brown,
high, goose-like; f., smaller; duller; breast spotted
white. Grass, snails, insects.

2 130 Whistling Duck (Tree), Dendrocygna arcuata, Ind.,

9 Malay to Cel., Mol., N.G., A., Oceania. Stat. r. water 17

Crown, upper brownish-black marked lighter; chin whit-
ish; breast deep-buff, spotted black; abdomen chestnut;
under base tail white; whistles when flying; f., sim.
Water-plants, fish.

It is getting rare, though I heard of six near Colac recently.

Again, the only living representative of the next sub-family is
the Cape Barren Goose, which is common in city gardens in
Adelaide. It is also becoming rare. It is found only in Tas-
mania, the Bass Strait Islands, and Southern Australia. We
visited its nesting place near Flinders Island. It is a very pug-
nacious bird, so it is difficult to keep with other birds.

After the Goose sub-family comes the group which includes our
“Wood Duck,” or, as it is called, the Maned Goose, for its bill is
goose-like. It is a common bird in Australia. Two allied
genera are found in South America and North-east Africa
respectively.

In the next sub-family come the domestic Ducks and most of the
wild Ducks of Australia. This group is often referred to as the
“Wreshwater or River Ducks.”

First come two kinds of Whistling Ducks—so called on account
of their whistling note uttered while flying. These are rare
Ducks, one of which is found as far as India; the other is
occasionally seen in New Zealand, as well as in Australia. The
Sheldrake, or Shieldrake (Mountain Duck) is the largest Austra-
lian Duck, and one of the most handsome of the sub-family. It
is nowhere very plentiful, though one or more pairs appear in
most suitable localities. As it is unfit for the table, it should be
spared as an ornament to the landscape.

The Black Duck is very similar to the common wild Duck (Mal-
lard) of England. Our Black Duck does not change color with

64 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD fOOR.

131*Plumed Whistling Duck(Eyton Tree), D. eytoni, A.,
Le, ING Ze Stat. r. lagoons 16
Upper grayish-brown; rump, tail blackish-brown; lower-
breast, flanks chestnut barred black; white, black
plumes on flanks; under base tail white; whistles when
flying; f., sim. Water-plants, fish.

the season, nor is the male different in color from the female.

The Australian Teal is closely similar to the Teal of Europe.
It is a grass feeder, and is a good table bird. The female is very
different from the male. It is impossible to distinguish the male
Gray Teal from the female Teal when in the free state. Mr.
Keartland (ex-President of the Field Naturalist Club, and ornith-
ologist to the Horn and Calvert exploring expeditions) has shown
that there is a big difference in weight. The male of the
smaller Gray Teal is not brightly colored like the male Chestnut-
breasted Teal.

The remarkable Shoveller comes next. It is closely similar to
the English Shoveller. Strange that this name was first used
for the Spoonbill. The Shovellers are found the world over.
The males are very brightly colored in the nesting season.

Unlike most other birds, Swans and Ducks lose the whole of
their wing feathers at once when moulting, so that for a short
time they cannot fly. As a protection, the gaudy ones acquire a
quiet, inconspicuous coloration for a time, so that the male is said
to get an “eclipse plumage.’’ Many other birds get a bright dress

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 65

2 132 Australian Sheldrake, Chestnut-colored Shieldrake,
5 Mountain Duck, Casarca tadornoides, N.S.W., V., T.,
S.A., W.A.,.N.W.A. vt. Eur. Sheldrake
Stat. r. lagoons 27

Head, neck shining-green; chest, upper-back pale rust-red;

white band between green and rust-red; upper, under

blackish; tail black; white, green, chestnut on wing; f.,
smaller, duller. Small fish, shellfish.

1 133*Black Duck (Australian Wild, Gray, Brown), Parera,
16 Anas superciliosa, =vt. Eur. Mallard. Sunda Is.
tocN- Ge A., Ty, NZ: Stat. v.c. water 24
Head dark-brown; line above eye, line below eye, throat
light-buff; upper, under brown marked lighter; glossy-
green patch on wing; bill bluish lead-color; f., sim.
Grass, insects, pond-snails.

3 134*Australian Teal (Chestnut-breasted, Black, Mountain),
15 Tete, Nettium castaneum, Java, Cel., A., T., N.Z.
=vt. Hur. Teal. Stat. c. lagoons 18.5

Head, neck dark bronze-green; upper rich brown; under
chestnut; flanks spotted black; white, green patch on
expanded wing; quills black; 1 lb. 9 oz.; f., head, neck
brown and buffy-white; breast gray, spotted black; 1 Ib.

8 02. Grass.

135*Gray Teal, Wood-Teal, N. gibberifrons, Sunda Is, Cel.,
IN-G:; AS,. oL., N.Z.- Stat. c. lagoons 16

Like female of 134, but smaller; neck white; 1 lb. 2 0z.;
re smaller: 1 lib: 1 oz:

for the breeding season only, but the male Duck wears his bright
_ dress for the whole year, except in the moulting period. It is then
“eclipsed,” with the corresponding advantage that he is protected
from his many enemies at a time when he is most helpless.

The remarkable Pink-eared Duck has no close relative. It has
a small pink spot between the eye and ear, and so is called pink-
eyed or pink-eared. It is found only in Australia. The female
is similar in color to the male. The name Wigeon, or Widgeon,
sometimes applied to this Duck, properly belongs to another of the
fresh-water Ducks which is not found in Australia. Hence, this
name should not be used for our bird.

Another peculiar Australian Duck is the Freckled Duck. Xt
is a very rare bird. One taken on the ornithologists’ excursion
to Eyre Peninsula was considered a prize. So far as is known,
it does not change color with the season, nor has the male or
female the usual bright metallic patch seen on the wing of a Duck.

The “Salt-water Ducks’ form the next sub-family. These
Ducks, though, are not always true to name, for they are not con-
fined to the salt water. The Victorian representative is the well-
known White-eyed Duck, or Hardhead. This Duck was common
on the Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne, until it was emptied
some time ago. Thus, our one “Salt-water Duck’ was often seen
on fresh water. In the same sub-family come the Hider-Ducks

66 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

2 136*Australian Shoveller, Bluewing, Spoonbill-Duck, Stin-
4 ker, Kuruwhengi, Spatula rhynchotis, A., T., N.Z.,
=vt. Eur. Shoveller. Nom. v.r. freshwater 21.5

Crown brownish-black; white line before eye, side of

neck; head, neck gray tinged green; under chestnut-

brown mottled black; flanks chestnut banded black;

back-feathers blackish edged grayish; blue, white,

green on wing; throat black; quills dark-brown; under-

wing white; f., duller; head, neck buff marked brown;

under mottled brown, buff. Water-plants, shellfish,
insects.

of Iceland and the Logger-head, Racehorse, or Steamer Duck, of
Magellan Straits, which is said to lose the power of flight on reach-
ing maturity after the first moult. Thus tke life-history tells
us that this bird is a degenerate form, and not a primitive flight-
less form, for it has evidently descended from flying ancestors.
It uses its wings to row itself along at great speed.

The ninth sub-family of this group of swimming birds contains
two na:iive Ducks. The Blue-billed Duck, the first of these, is
“especially adapted for immersion and for obtaining its food
from the bottom of the water rather than on its surface.” It
was thought by Gould to be confined to the coastal lagoons of
Western Australia, but it has since been recorded from inland in
Victoria, and four specimens have been taken in Tasmania. It
remains under the water for a considerable time, and, if hunted,

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 67

1 137*Pink-eared Duck (Pink-eyed, Zebra), Widgeon (e),
al Malacorhynchus membranaceus, A., T.
Nom. v.r. fresh water 17
Under barred brown, white; face, chin white; black round
eye; behind eye a spot of rose-pink; back, wings brown;
upper base tail whitish; tail dark-brown slightly tipped
white; f., smaller. Water-animals.

138 Freckled Duck (Monkey), Stictonetta naevosa, V.,
Seen Wek. TNE SSW. v.r. water 17
Dark-brown freckled whitish, under lighter. Small fish,
pond-snails.
139*White-eyed Duck (Purple- headed, White - winged),
Hardhead, Brownhead, Barwing, Karakahia, Aythya
australis, N.G., A., T., N.Z., =vt. Canvas-back of N.
Am. c. lagoons, bays 20
Chestnut-brown; white patch on wing; upper abdomen
whitish; under tail white; eye white; f., smaller,
duller. Pond-snails, insects.
1 140 Blue-billed Duck (Spiny-tailed, Stiff-tailed, Diving),
a Erismatura australis, N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A., T.
vr. reedbeds 16
Head, neck black; chest, back, flanks chestnut; tail black-
ish; bill light-blue; f., bill olive-green; freckled gray-
brown; under lighter. Insects, pond-snails, fish.
141 Musk Duck (Must), Mould Goose (e), Biziura lobatia,
S22 NiS:.W., V.,~5.a-, WA.2 T:
Stat. c. lagoons, bays 26
Blackish freckled buffy-white; wings small; long stiff tail-
feathers; bill, lobe beneath chin greenish-black; dives;
f., half-size; duller; no lobe. Frogs, shellfish, shrimps.

ht

oo

Ft

flaps along the surface with its short wings, but hesitates to exer-
cise its “feeble grebe-like flight.”

Some writers declare that the large Musk Duck is the most
remarkable of the many remarkable birds of Australia. It is the
only known species of the genus, and is ‘‘singularly different from
every other member of the Duck family,’ as Gould points out.
Gould further says that ‘‘this extraordinary bird reminds one of
the Cormorants. Like many other of these antipodean forms, it
must be regarded as an anomaly.” The male has a lengthened,
stiff, and leather-like appendage under the Dill. The female is
without this pouch, and is but half the size of the male. A pair
is often to be seen on a Sheltered bay or on an inland dam, and
yet this bird has very feeble powers of flight. It is difficult
to cause one to take to flight. Mr. A. J. Campbell summed up
an instructive discussion on this point in the columns of The
Australasian by concluding that Musk Ducks can fly, though they
do so almost entirely at night.

There are six families of birds included in Order XIV.—the
Totally-webbed Swimmers. All four toes are joined by a web.
Ducks have three toes only joined by the web, the hind toe

68 AN AUSTRALIAN. BIRD BOOK.

ORDER XIV.—PELICANIFORMES.

F. 59. PHALACROCORACIDAE (5), CORMORANTS, 42 sp.
—I6(14)A., 6(2)'0:, 7(3) PRP: 6(5)H:, 10(4) Nez

9(6) NI.
5 142 Cormorant, (Black), Black Shag, Phalacrocoraz carbo.
42 AG, LIN. Zi, COS:8EXCS S.A: c. lagoons, sea 35

Glossy blackish-green; side of neck, face buffy white;
white on thighs; f., sim. Fish.

being free. Representatives of the six families are found in Aus-
tralia. These birds are fishers par excellence.

In the first family come the well-known Cormorants or Shags,
birds found in almost every country in the world. Forty-two
species are known, of which five occur in Australia.

The large Black Cormorant is the common Black Cormorant of
Britain. It has a very extensive range over North America,
Greenland, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

The little Black Cormorant is found in Australia, from the
Moluccas to Borneo, and in New Zealand. Indeed, New Zealand
is the stronghold of Cormorants, as it possesses many species.

The White-breasted and Pied Cormorants are so closely similar
that possibly they will yet prove to be one species. Each is
glistening white below, and jet black above. The bill is said
to be longer in the Pied Cormorant, and the patch of naked skin
near the eye is yellow, whereas, in the White-breasted Cormorant,

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 69

143 Little Black Cormorant, Shag, P. sulcirostris, Borneo
TOWNE GG. A... “Dis NZ. ec. lagoons, rivers 25°
Glossy greenish-black, about eye and side of neck lighter;
f., sim. - Fish, frogs.
144 White-breasted Cormorant, Black and White Shag,
Diver (e), P. gouldi, Louisiade Is., A., T.
Stat. ¢: shores, rivers 30
Upper greenish-black, under glistening-white; naked skin
about eye purple; hooked bill 2in.; f., sim. Fish.
145 Pied Cormorant, Black and White Shag, Diver (e),
P. hypoleucus, S.Q., N.S.W.; V., S.A., W.A., N.W.A.
Stat. v.c. bays 30
Like 144, but bare space in front of eye orange, bill 2.7in.;
Pe sim, fish.
146 Little Cormorant, Frilled Shag, P. melanoleucus,
Sunda Is;, Mol: N:G., Az 25-N.Z.
Stat. pairs, r. inlets, rivers 23

Upper black; under white; upper breast chestnut; f., sim.
Fish, water-insects.

this patch is said to be blackish or purplish. The Little Cor-
morant is also black and white. Its throat and upper chest are
yellow.

Mr. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., and others claim that the Cormorant,
by feeding its young on yabbies, which, they say, prey on
fish eggs, saves many more fish in the young stage than it ever
eats in the adult stage, and hence it is really ‘‘a friend” of the
anglers and fish. One thing is certain—fish were formerly much
more abundant, and so were Cormorants. Anglers, collect evi-
dence, and balance good with evil. Cormorants have a long, nar-
row bill, with a strongly-hooked tip. They are such expert fishers
that in China they are much used to catch fish. Some will pro-
bably be surprised to learn that this custom formerly held in
England, for the “Master of the Cormorants” was once one of the
officers of the Royal household.

Some Cormorants nest in company in the Murray swamps, while
others retire to a rocky island, such as Storehouse Island, east of
Flinders Island, to breed.

These birds are expert swimmers and divers, so that one of the
common names for them is “Diver.” but the true Divers, as
already pointed out, are Northern Hemisphere birds, and are
placed in Family 25.

The Darter, or Snake Bird, is practically identical with the
Water-Turkey of the United States. Sometimes, when alarmed,
it submerges its body, leaving the head and neck exposed. It
swims rapidly in this position. Four of these birds are known,
and they are spread over America, Africa, Madagascar, Southern
Asia, New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand. The Darter was
frequently seen on a recent trip to Enoggera Reservoir, the storage
basin for Brisbane. The long, stiletto-like bill is used to impale
its prey, while the flexible neck assists the spearing operation.

70 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

K. 60. PLOTIDAH (1), DARTERS, Water-Turkey, 4 sp.—

2(Lj)A.; U(0)O., 200) P., 1 C0 )e-,, £00) Ne: at COD NIE

1 147 Australian Darter, Snake-bird, Diver (e), Shag (e),

4 Plotus (Anhinga) novae-hollandiae, N.G., A., N.Z.

r. lagoons, bays 36

Head, long thin neck, upper, under greenish-black; white

patch side of neck; wings spotted whitish; bill straight,
sharps: tail) lone: f:, light-brown neck, breast. Fish.

The next family contains the famous “Boobies” of sailors—the
stupid Gannets, or Solan Geese, that were too stupid to escape
from danger. Gould says our Gannet out-boobies the Booby, for
he Janded on a flat rock and secured five specimens by hand before
the rest shuffled over the edge of the cliff and took flight. The
Australian bird can scarcely be distinguished from its British
cousin. It is common in Australian seas, where it can be seen
diving for fish or flying swiftly round looking for prey. There
is a large Gannet rookery on Cat Island, east of Flinders Island,
where probably 4000 pairs of these fine birds nest each year.
This was visited by a party of ornithologists in the Manawatu in
1908.

The famous Frigate-Bird we read of in the old school readers
was twice taken in Port Phillip Bay. It is the best of flyers, as
it can “breakfast on the Senegal (Africa), and dine on the
Amazon.” The two FrigateBirds are common in Australian
tropical seas. As already mentioned we met the Frigate Bird on

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 71

F. 61. SULIDAE (4),GANNETS, Booby,Solan Goose, 11 sp.
—A(1)A., 3CO)O:, LO) P., 3G)E., 6(1) Ne., 5(2) NL

4 148 Australian Gannet, Takupu, Sula serrator, A., T.,

isk N.Z. Stat. c. bays 32

White; wing-quills black; head, hind-neck buff; f., sim.;
young brown spotted. Fish.

F. 62. FREGATIDAE (2), FRIGATE BIRDS, Man-o’-war-

binds: 2) sp-—2Z(0)AG, <200)0 1(0):P., 20) E.,
1(0)Ne., 2(0)NI. (Tropical Seas).

2149 Krigate-Bird, Man-o’-war-Bird, Fregata aquila.

2 Stat. r. ocean 40

Brownish-black; about eyes, pouch on throat deep red;
variable in size, color; bill long, hooked; tail forked;
wings very long; legs very short; f., browner; breast,
flanks whitish. Stolen fish, young turtles.

F. 68. PHAETHONTIDAE (2), TROPIC BIRDS, Boatswain-
Bird, Straw-Tails, 7 sp.—4(1)A., 4(1)0O., 4(0)E.,
3(0)Ne., 4(0) NI.

F. 64. PELECANIDAE (1), PELICANS, 10 sp.—1(1)A.,
BG) Os 0,00) Pes Cl) he 30) New 2Ci) Ni.

1 150 Australian Pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus, N.G., A.,

10 ie INEZ. ==vte. Cos: Ubird. c. lagoons, bays 60

White; wings, tail black; bill pink, pouch yellowish; f.,
sim. Fish, insects.

F. 65. Cathartidae, Condor, Turkey (American, New World)
Vultures, 9 sp.—8(1)Ne., 8(6)NI. The largest of
flying birds.

Mast Head Island. Its wings are long, the forked tail also is
long, but the legs and feet are very small. It is a creature of
the air, and gets its living by compelling hard-working sea-birds
to disgorge their prey.

The last bird in this varied Order is the Pelican. Our Aus-
tralian Pelican is one of the largest of its tribe. Its enormous
pouch distinguishes it at once. The ten Pelicans are practically
world-wide in their distribution. On the trip of the Manawatu
last year round the islands of Bass Strait, we visited the Peli-
cans’ nesting-place on Penguin Island. This bird is practically
identical with the “Pelican of the wilderness’ mentioned in Holy
Writ. The Pelican enjoys a reputation for maternal care of her
offspring; indeed, she was said to feed the young with her own
blood. This was probably due to the fact that one species of
Pelican has a blood-red tip to the bill. Young Pelicans have not
the long bill or the pouch. Thus this bird illustrates the truth of
the statement that each animal in its development climbs its own
ancestral tree, or, to say it in another form, each animal in its
development recapitulates the life-history of the race. The Peli-
can has evidently descended from birds that possessed a short bill.

The well-known Birds of Prey, so keen of eye, so rapid of flight,
so fearless in courage, and so matchless in fight, have spread over
almost the whole known world. The Eagles of one land are,

72 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

ORDER XV.—ACCIPITRIFORMES, DIURNAL BIRDS OF
PREY.
F. 66. Serpentariidae, Secretary-Bird, 2 sp. E.
F. 67. Vulturidae, Vultures, 17 sp.—8(5)O., 6(0)P., 9(5)E.
F. 68. FALCONIDAE (29), HARRIERS, GOSHAWKS,
EAGLES, FALCON, etc., 485 sp.—99(86)A.,
106(58)0., COGS) Ps 118(91)E., 5S(s) Niece

144(112)NI1.
2 151 Spotted Harrier (Jardine), Spotted Swamp-Hawk,
18 Circus assimilis, Cel. to A., T. Stat. c. plains 22

therefore, much like the Eagles of another. The Harriers of Eng-
land are practically identical with the Harriers of Australia and
New Zealand, and, in fact, of almost any other land. The Falcon,
so famous in medieval times, is practically identical with the
Falcon of Australia and Tasmania. The Australian Fish Hawk
is the universal Fish Hawk or Osprey, for there is probably but
one Osprey, having an almost world-wide range. The naming of
these birds, though, has been a stumbling-block to us. To Aus-
tralians they are all Hawks—even our gigantic and glorious Eagle
has been reduced to the ignominious level of an ‘‘Eaglehawk,”’
though our male Eagle is the largest male Eagle known, outrival-
ling, as it does, both the Bald Eagle of America and the Golden
Eagle of Europe. A source of confusion, too, has arisen from
the introduction of so many of our popular names from America.
Thus, the Gum-tree (Eucalypt) is not a Gum, the ’Possum is not

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. (e:

Facial disc, hind-neck, back, chest dark-gray; crown rust-
red streaked black; shoulders, rest of under rich-
chestnut spotted white; tail barred dark-brown, gray;
legs long, yellow; m., smaller, duller. Lizards, mice,
small snakes, birds.
152*Allied Harrier (Gould), Swamp-Hawk, Kahu, (0.
gouldt, A: T., N. Cal., Norfolk Is., Lord Howe Is.,
N.Z., Fiji =vt. Eur. Marsh-Harrier.
Stat. v.c. swampy 20
Upper, head dark-brown; facial disc indistinct brown;
under buffy-white streaked and tinged red-brown;
upper base tail white; rest tail brownish-gray; f.,
larger. Reptiles, mice, birds.
5 153 Gray Goshawk (New Holland, Gray-backed), Astur
63 clarus (cinereus), A. v.r. dense brushes 16.5
Upper gray; throat, under white finely barred gray; feet
yellow, claws black; f., larger. Reptiles, mice, birds.
154 White Goshawk, A. novae-hollandiae, E.A., S.A., T.
r. timber 16.5
Pure white; m., much smaller. Food as 153.
155*Australian Goshawk, Chicken- Hawk, A. fasciatus
(approximans), A., T., Norfolk Is., N. Cal. =vt.
Eur. Goshawk. Sit. ¢. .~vmoern t..- 207 mb
Upper dark-brown; shoulder thigh rust-red; tail dark-
brown barred black; throat buff; under buff barred
brown; f., larger. Food as 158.
156 Lesser Goshawk (Western, Chestnut-colored), A.
cruentus, V. (acc.), W.A., N.W.A. Slat. C. cmver ) ti
Back, wings, tail slaty-brown; chestnut-red, indistinct col-
lar; under barred brown white; chin buffy-white; f.,
upper brown. Birds, mice, lizards.

the carnivorous Opossum of America, the Goanna is not the
equivalent of the vegetarian American Iguana; the ‘‘Wild Cat” is
not a Cat, nor is the ‘‘Native Bear” a Bear, nor even remotely
related to one, nor is the Kestrel a Sparrowhawk. It is an
American error in popular naming, which has given us the Kes-
trel as the equivalent of the American Sparrowhawk, while the
Sparrowhawk of the crnithologist is the equivalent of the Spar-
rowhawk of Britain.

In one respect, we are unfortunate in this new land. No mass
of association and tradition has yet had time to crystallize about
our native animals and plants. Our poets have not been able to
sing of our birds for want of names and knowledge. Little has
been done beyond the giving and frequent altering of scientific
names, and the misapplication of names of animals and plants
living in other lands to often totally different animals and plants
here, so that confusion has reigned supreme. However, in bird
matters, at least, we are on a better footing, for the bird-lovers
have provided a common, and in most cases an appropriate, name
for each bird.

74 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

The American Bobolink and Chickadee are famous birds,
chiefly on account of an appropriate name; so is the British
Cuckoo, while its even more noisy, more common, and practically
identical Australian cousin is still unknown, or rather was until
recently. The introduction of Bird Day has already produced
gratifying results. We need good descriptive names for our
varied and beautiful birds—more children’s and poets’ names, and
less of the deadly formal “Yellow-vented Parrakeet,” ‘‘Blue-bellied
Lorikeet,’ and ‘‘Warty-faced Honeyeater”’ for some of the most
glorious of the world’s birds.

The old Order Raptores—birds of prey—included Hawks and
Eagles, and Owls. These are now placed in two orders as
“Diurnal Birds of Prey’—Hawks, and “Nozturnal Birds of
Prey’—Owls. They all seize prey with the very well-developed
talons, and not with the bill. Hence they were called Raptores—
Seizing birds. They use these talons when flying, and do not
catch prey in scrub, or very close to the ground, unless in a clear
space.

The two Harriers are typically Ground Hawks. The name is
said to be derived from the habit these birds are said to possess
of harrying birds. They are generally called ‘““Swamp Hawks,”’
and may frequently be seen flying low over bushes, to beat
birds out.

The Goshawks—i.e., Goosehawks—possibly received their name
by confusion, as possibly a Falcon to hunt Geese was kept in
olden days, but probably it was not this bird. Three of these
birds are rare. The White Goshawk is a fine bird, and is
confined to Australia and Tasmania. The Australian Goshawk
is said to be the only troublesome Hawk. to the poultry
farmer, and he bears a bad name generally. The Lesser Gos-
hawk is a casual visitor in the Eastern States.

The Sparrowhawk of the ornithologist is much feared by small
birds. He lurks in ambush, suddenly flashes out upon his prey,
and is away with it instantly. The male is one of the
smallest of Hawks. It is an almost universal rule in this order
of birds that the females are larger, often much larger, than the
males, and that there are several changes of plumage before the
adult plumage is finally donned, so it is often a matter of diffi-
culty to determine exactly the name of one of these birds.

Eagles are found the world over except in New Zealand. Our
Eagle has the honor of being, as already stated, the largest Eagle
in the world. It is also of undoubted courage, as its specific
name, audax (bold) would lead one to suppose. It is, further,
Gould says, of a “far more pleasing and elegant contour” than the
Golden Eagle, the “pride and pest of the parish.” Whoever heard
of an Australian who was proud of his Eagle, though it is some-
thing to be proud of? Let our noble bird appear near a house,
and there is a rush fora gun. On Eyre Peninsula we found the
Eagles fed their young on rabbits, a serious pest in Australia.

The equivalent of our Sea Eagle is the White-headed or Bald
Eagle of America, the female of which is the same length as the

— aa eee I

Beet be

184 Blue Mountain Lorikeet 193 Pink Cockatoo 197 Superb Parrot
{85 Musk Lorikeet 194 Rose-breasted Cockatoo 198 Black-tailed Parrot
(91 Gang-gang Cockatoo 196 Cockatoo-Parrot 199 King Parrot

(76)

le di

é

i
L
200 Crimson Parrot

202 Rosella
203 Mallee Perrot

204 Blue Bonnet
205 Many-colored Parrot
206 eet Parrot

)

209 Grass Parrot
213 Swift Parrot
214 Warblizg Grass-Parrot

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 79

male of our Eagle, 38 inches. Many of these glorious Sea Eagles
were floating, with their peculiar butterfly-like flight, over the
Brisbane River, and added much to our enjoyment of a recent bird
excursion there. We found one nest on each island in the Capri-
corn Group. On Mast Head Island the nest was in a tree about
60 feet high. On tiny Erskine Island, where there were no big
trees, it was built on the ground, though it had been added to
until it is now over 6 feet high. The fully-feathered dark-brown
young bird sat on the edge of the nest, and formed a good photo-
graphic subject. Eagles were ruthlessly slaughtered in the
British Isles. There is a shadow of an excuse there, perhaps.
with their game preserves, where rabbits and birds are bred
for sporting purposes. These reasons do not exist here. But it
is pleasing to find on record that, even there, “‘Lord Breadalbane,
who died in 1862, thought that the spectacle of a soaring Eagle
was a fitting adjunct to the grandeur of the Argvllshire mountain
scenery, and a good equivalent for the occasional loss of a lamb.”

Though the Sea Eagle lives mainly on fish and refuse cast up
by the sea, it is pitiful to read. that, though this interesting, pic-
turesque, and valuable bird was once common, not one is left on
the mainland of Scotland. Could blind, unreasoning slaughter
do more? Why kill a harmless bird? But it is not only harm-
less; it is of distinct value in its sphere in Nature. Hawks alto-
gether are misunderstood and misjudged. tt us: doubtiul tf: it
pavs a farmer, aye, even a poultry farmer, to shoot Hawks. Thev
might steal a few chickens, but they do not live on them. MThev
live mainly on rabbits, mice, rats, and insects.

The Whistling Eagle whistles while flying about in the fine
large flight-houses of the Adelaide Zoological Gardens. One fine
specimen accompanied the Federal trawler Endeavour down Glad-
stone Harbor, but not far from shore, for it returned when we
headed for the open ocean and the fairyland of the Great Barrier
Reef.

Kites used to be excessively common about many English
towns, where they acted as scavengers. The introduction of the
shot-gun has exterminated them. They are world-wide in dis-
tribution, so what you read about European Kites will fit Aus-
tralian Kites. They are, perhaps, the most graceful of flyers.
gliding, soaring, hovering, and performing all sorts of aérial
evolutions. The toy kites of our childhood were suggested by the
flight of these once common birds. Now, alas! they are very
rarely seen. Being mainly insectivorous, they are invaluable
birds, and we can ill spare them in this country, where insect life
is so abnormally prolific.

The Black-breasted Buzzard is the third largest of our Diurnal
Birds of Prey. It is a rare visitor in Southern Australia, but in
seasons of drought it comes down from Central Australia.

The Falcon, which our ancestors trained for hawking, is almost
identical with our Falcon, whileour Little Falcon is, for its size, the
“boldest and swiftest of all birds of prey,” for it has been observed
to decapitate a flying Duck with a blow of the edge of its wing.

80 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

1 157*Collared Sparrow-Hawk, Accipiter cirrhocephalus,
42 N.G., A., T. =vt. Eur. Sparrow-Hawk.
Stat. r. timber, 1.,.14>3mewe
Head, upper brownish- -gray; tail barred deep- brown: ob-
scure collar reddish-brown; throat, under, thighs
rufous barred white; lies much larger. Mee, birds.

In Brisbane we had the pleasure of seers an interesting after-
noon with Mr. J. Bell, who formerly practised falconry with
trained Australian Falcons,

The Kestrel of Australia is almost identical with the Kestrel
of Europe. You must have noticed with interest its habit of
hovering. One incident of the i909 Ornithologists’ Congress
will show that, even in the midst of a crowded city like Adelaide,
it is possible for scientific work in ornithology to be done. While
the Director of Education, Mr. A. Williams, Mr. Le Souéf (ex-
Pres., A.O.U.), Mr. A. J. Campbell (Pres., A.O.U.). Mr. Robert
Hall (Vice-Pres., A.O.U.), and myself were walking from the
Education Office to Grote Street School, a Kestrel was seen on the
grass in a small square. The members of the party were aston-
ished to see the Kestrel rise carrying a bird, possibly a Sparrow,
in its talons. Now, the interest of this observation is that most
of our ornithologists were prepared to state that the Kestrel is
entirely insectivorous, and never touches small birds. However,
an observation in the heart of Adelaide is of value in this matter
of scientific interest. This bird, unfortunately, is generally

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 81

1 158*Wedge-tailed Eagle, Eaglehawk (e), Uroaétus audaz,
1 A., T. =vt. Eur. Golden Eagle (32in.).
Stat. c. timber, plains 38
“Noble bird;”’ largest eagle known; upper, under blackish-
brown; feathers edged pale-brown; hind-neck golden-
brown; f., larger. Rabbits, rats, carrion.

1 159 Little Eagle, Eutolmaétus morphnoides, N.G., A.
4 r. timber 22
Back of head, under rufous striped black; back, rump,
wings brown; tail grayish-frown, barred blackish-

brown. Carrion, rats, mice.
1 160 White-bellied Sea Eagle, Haliaétus leucogaster, Ind.
10 Malay to A., T., Oceania =—vt. American Bald Eagle.
r. Shores 30
“Noble species;’’ white; wing-quills, base-tail blackish-
brown; f., larger; young; head buff; upper wings choco-
late-brown; under buffy-brown. Dead fish, shellfish.
“Floats like a great butterfly.”’
161 Whistling-Eagle (-Hawk), Haliastur sphenurus, A..,
N. Cal. Nom. c. swamps, shores 24
Under light sandy-brown streaked white; back, wings
brown marked lighter, spotted white; tail ashy-brown;
head, neck sandy streaked lighter; f., larger. Cater-
pillars, mice, rats, floating food.
1 162 Allied Kite, Milvus affinis, Sunda Is., Cel. to A. =vt.
6 Eur. Black Kite. Nom. c. open country 20
Upper glossy brown; wing-quills black; slightly-forked tail
brown; under rufous-brown; chest dark lines; f., sim.
Scavenger, birds.

en)

called the Sparrowhawk, a name which belongs to a much bolder
Australian bird of prey (No. 157), which does eat small birds.

Kestrels are very fond of mice, and would, if allowed, spend
time protecting the farmer’s haystacks, but if a Kestrel comes
near the farmhouse the gun is at once produced, and so the farmer
loses the services of one of his best friends.

Jeffries and other Nature-lovers have written on the marvellous
powers of hovering possessed by these birds. In fact, the Kestrel
is frequently called the Windhover. In Australia Kestrels fre-
quently nest in a hollow tree, but do not lay the usual white egg.

The Osprey is another example of bad naming. The word is
said to be a corruption of Ossifrage, the “bone-breaker.’’ As it
feeds on fish, it has no big bones to break. Tt is spread from
“Alaska to Brazil, Lapland to Natal, Japan to Tasmania, and
even out to the Pacific Isles,’ and it may be the same bird
throughout, though Dr. Sharpe has allowed three species in the
“Handlist of Birds.’ ‘The A.O.U. Check-list of North American
Birds, 1910,” however, recognizes the North American bird as a
sub-spacies only, so it is possible the Australian bird will be also
listed as a sub-species when the Royal Australasian Ornitholo-
gists’ Union adopts its check-list in Sydney this year. These

82 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

1 163 Square-tailed Kite, Lophoictinia isura, A. =vt. Eur.

ik Common Kite. r. timber, plains 19
Neck, shoulders, under reddish-orange; chest marked
black; head streaked black; abdomen, flanks barred
lighter; upper blackish-brown; square tail brownish-
gray; f., larger. Caterpillars, birds.

1 164 Black-breasted Buzzard, Gypoictinia melanosternum,
il A. (interior). v.r. timber, plains 23
“Fine species;’’ crown, face, chest, abdomen black; flanks
chestnut; hind-neck light-brown; upper brownish-black;
wing-quills white base, rest black; this white patch
gives appearance of window in wing when flying; f.,
larger. Animals.

2 165*Australian Black-shouldered Kite, Hlanus azillaris,
5 A. Mig. r. open plains 12.5
Upper delicate-gray; head, under white; jet black shoulder,
patch under wing; tail grayish- white: f.,sim. Insects,
reptiles.
166 Letter-winged Kite, White-breasted Sparrow Hawk
(e), #.. scriptus, WeA., S:A., W.A:
r. plains (interior) 12.5
Like 165, but more black on under angle of wing gives
letter W when wings expanded; f., sim. Insects.
4 167*Black-cheeked Falcon, Falco melanogenys, A.,_ T.
37 =vt. Eur. Peregrine Falcon.
Stat. c. plains, coast, rocky 15
Crown, side of head black; upper-breast creamy spotted
black; rest of under barred black, reddish-gray;
upper, wings, tail dark-gray; tail barred brown, gray;
f., larger. Birds.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

83

168 Gray Falcon, Blue (Smoke) Hawk, F. hypoleucus, A.

=vt. Eur. Gyrfalcon. v.r. timber, plains; f:, 17; m.,

“Rare beautiful falcon;” bluish-white below; grey
above; tail barred gray, brown. Birds.
169 Black Falcon, F. subniger, A. v.r. plains (inland)
Dark, sooty-brown, paler below; chin whitish; f., larger.
170*Little Falcon (White-fronted), Duck Hawk (e), Aus-
indian, HODDY Ai a lUnUulacus, VAS, Tea vt mur:

12

1%

Hobby. Stat. C. plGins; f.,° 3.05. M., L125

Forehead white; upper grayish-black; cheeks black; tail
barred gray, chestnut; throat buff; chest reddish-buff,
striped dark-brown; under, thighs reddish; incom-
plete whitish collar; f., larger. Birds, insects.

2 171 Striped Brown Hawk (Western, Orange - speckled),
3 Hieracidea berigora, A. v.c. swampy, plains

Upper dark-brown; wings spotted reddish; incomplete col-
lar, under buff-white striped dark-brown; throat whit-
ish; naked skin round bill yellow; tail barred dark-
brown, gray; f., larger. Caterpillars, insects, birds.

172* Brown Hawk, H. orientalis, A., T. Stat. v.c. limber

Head, upper dark-brown; line overeye, throat buff;
under buff spotted rust-brown; tail brown barred rust-
red; Skin round bill bluish; f., larger. Food as 171.

1 173*Nankeen Kestrel, Windhover, Mosquito Hawk, Spar-
28 rowhawk (e), Cerchneis cenchroides, A., T., N.Z.

AZ.

17

=vt. Eur. Kestrel. Stat. v.c.timber, plains 11.5

Upper cinnamon-red, spotted black; tail rufous, faintly
banded black above, tipped white, then black bar;
side neck, throat, abdomen, under tail white; chest
buff striped black; f., larger. Insects, mice.

$4 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

Fk. 69. PANDIONIDAE (1), OSPREYS, 6 = sp.—3(0)A.,
DO NEO): P., (0) He CO) Nes = GO) INE
1 174 White-headed Osprey, Fish Hawk, Pandion leucoce-
3 pnatus, Mol. N:G:; 2A, “F:—viz. Cos-] bird:

Stat. r. shores 23

Crown, hind-neck, throat, abdomen, under tail white;

upper dark-brown; chest mottled brown; side-reck dark-

- brown, marked white; wing-quills black; dives; f.,
Sit. e Fish:

Occasionally they drive their talons into too big a fish, and, not
being able to withdraw them, are drowned.

¥linders, in his journal, wrote about the enormous nests he
met on rocky points, and considered they were built by a great
“Dinornis.”

The Osprey and the White-bellied Sea Eagle, however, build on
rocky points if no trees are available, and add to the nest each
year. It is interesting to read in the Western Australian Year
Book article on birds that the Government has placed an Osprey’s
nest in the cave district, “under the protection of the Cave War-
den.” A pleasing interest is growing in Australian nature in its
many forms.

Just as the Diurnal Birds of Prey (e.g., Hawks) are closely
related to those of the Northern Hemisphere, so are the Nocturnal
Birds of Prey (Owls) very closely related to those of the Old

A be

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 85

ORDER XVI.—STRIGIFORMES, NOCTURNAL BIRDS OF
PREY, OWLS.

F. 70. BUBONIDAE (11) HAWK OWLS, 280 sp.—47(44)A.,
88(74)0., 33(17)P., 48(42) EH., 34(16)Ne., 75(61) NI.

11 175 Boobook Owl (Cuckoo), Ninox boobook, A.

44 Stat. v.c. timber 16

Head, upper, wings, tail reddish-brown; under rufous
blotched white; facial disc indistinct, grayish-white
edged black; f., larger. Insects, mice, birds.

176 Spotted Owl, N. maculata, 8.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., T.,

King Is. Stat. rv. timber. 13

Head, upper brown spotted white; under brown blotched
tawny and white; disc indistinct; f., slightly larger.
Insects, birds.

177 Winking Owl (Western), N. connivens, A., exc.N.W.A.

Stat. c. brushes, wooded gullies 16

Upper dark-brown spotted white; tail dark-brown barred
grayish-white; under mottled brown, white; disc indis-
tinct; f., larger. Insects, birds.

178 Powerful Owl (Eagle), N. strenuu, N. Ter., H.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.

World. The different kinds of Owls are so closely similar that
there are many disputes as to their classification, and it is not
likely that we shall ever be able to recognize in the living, free
state all the species recognized by scientists.

Indeed, I was much interested at the Adelaide Museum to see
our leading ornithologists fail to pick out the skins of two Eng-
lish Barn Owls when they were placed with three Australian
Lesser Masked Owls, and yet ornithologists give our birds
such widely-different names that literature is useless to us.
These names have seriously hampered the popularization of bird-
study in Australia. If ornithologists, with skins in hand, cannot
separate them, what is the use of manufacturing species?

As Owls are active late in the afternoon or at night, there has
always been a certain amount of mystery regarding them, and,
speaking generally, the ordinary observer knows little of them.
Two of the Australian birds have forced themselves on our notice
to some extent. The Powerful Owl, the largest of our Owls, has
alarmed many by means of its blood-curdling screeches heard in
quiet forest gullies.

The Boobook Owl, though not often seen, calls ‘““Mopoke,” which
sounded like ‘“Boobook’” to the aboriginal ear, but became
‘‘Cuckoo’’—the best-loved bird-call of their far-distant home to the
ears of the homesick first white residents. And was it not, they
asked, what one might expect in a country where Christmas came
at the wrong time of the year, where the trees were always green,
and shed their bark instead of their leaves—where the leaves

86 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

F. 71. STRIGIDAE (5), BARN OWLS, 26 sp—13(11)A.,
5 GL) Ol L(0) P.= 403) He 1(1)Nce., LCieNG
5.179 Australian Barn Owl (Lesser Masked, Delicate,

26 Screech), Strix delicatula, N.G., A. Stat. c. timber 14
Upper beautiful soft light grayish-brown tinged yellow.
finely spotted blackish-brown and white; under white,
few small krownish spots; disc white edged, buff; f.,
sim. Mice, rats.

grew vertically, instead of horizontally, and so gave no shade—
was it not natural that the Cuckoo, a day bird in England, should
become a night bird in this land of paradoxes and contradictions?
Thus Australia’s reputation was added to even by the Boobook
Owl.

Confusion was caused, for, when daylight came, and the Frog-
mouth was seen sitting in the tree, the Frogmouth was supposed
to be responsible for the frequent calls of the previous night.
_ However, some reliable observers, notably Mr. C. H. McLennan,
“Mallee Bird,” and Mr. T. H. Tregellas, claim that the Frog-
mouth does call “‘Mopoke” occasionally, but the Boobook Owl is
the bird that is responsible for the frequent ‘‘Mopoke” on calm
evenings.

The Owls are divided into two families. The members of the
first family—the Owls Proper, or Hawk-Owls—-have the facial
disc almost absent, while in the second family the facial disc is
complete. In each, the eyes are directly obliquely forward, and,

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 87

180 Masked Owl, 8S. novae-hollandiae, A.
Stat. r. forests, rocky 14
Pale buff; head, back wings marked dark-brown, few
white spots; under paler, few brown spots; disc pur-
plish-white, edged with deep-brown spots; f., larger.
Mice, rats.

181 Chestnut-faced Owl, S. castanops, N.S.W., V., S.A.,
T. 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, shoul-
ders; under deep sandy-brown with blackish spots; f.,
larger. Mice, rats.

182 Sooty Owl, Dusky Barn Owl, S. tenebricosa, N.G., E.A.
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, Philip-
pines to E.A. Stat.) V-L.. 9rass 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.

since they are not capable of much movement, the bird turns its
head from side to side. Though mainly nocturnal, Owls are
sometimes seen hunting for their prey by day. As they feed
mostly on mice, rats, and insects, they are very valuable birds.
The feathers are very soft, with a weak central axis, so that no
sound is made when flying. They are thus able to approach
their prey without giving warning. The Powerful Owl well
deserves its name, as it possesses great strength, and is a for-
midable enemy if wounded. However, Owls are, fortunately,
seldom shot at.

Like Hawks, Owls catch their prey with and carry it in their
feet, unless the feet are required for climbing. One peculiarity
of the feet is that the bird can reverse one toe, so that it can have
three toes in front and one behind, like most birds, or two in
front and two behind, like Parrots and Cuckoos.

Although not so strong of flight as the Diurnal Birds of Prey
(e.g., Hawks), Owls have managed to spread throughout the
world, so that they are found even in New Zealand. The dif-
ferent kinds are not easily separated, so most people are satis-
fied when they have classed a bird as an Owl, though you will
probably want to divide them into two groups—the Owls
Proper and the Barn Owls.

While Australia possesses representatives of nearly all the
important widely-spread families of birds this favored land also

SS AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR.

ORDER XVII.—PSITTACIFORMES.
F. 72. Nestoridae, Nestor, Kaka, Kea, 4 sp. A. (N.Z.).

EF. 73. LORIIDAH (9), BRUSH-TONGUED PARROTS,
LORIES, LORIKEHERTS, 87 sp. A.
3 184*Blue Mountain Lorikeet (-Parrot), Rainbow Lory,

16 Blue- bellied (Swainson) Lorikeet, Trichoglossus
novae-hollandiae, N.A., E.A., S.A., T.
Nom. flocks c. ewealypts 14

Head, throat, abdomen blue; chest blood-red tinged yel-
low; back green; bill blood-red; f., sim. Honey.
Screech.

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.

When one reflects that no figure of a Parrot is found in ancient
Egyptian art, and that no Parrot is mentioned in the Bible, then
one begins to understand the interest of Europeans in these
“spoilt children” of the animal world, the ‘‘monkeys of the bird
world,” and “the cream of the Australian avifauna.”

Their tameness, their affection, their entertaining habits, and

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 89

3 185*Musk Lorikeet, Green Keet, Green Leek (e), Glossop-
5 sittacus concinnus, E.A., S.A., T.
Nom. v.c. /lowering eucalypts 8.5
Green; forehead, behind ear red; bill black tipped red; f.,
sim. Honey, Screech.
186 Purple-crowned Lorikeet, G.porphyrocephalus, N.S.W.
Vii SeA. 2 WA:
Nom. flocks with 185. r. eucalypts 6.5
Green; forehead red, yellow; behind ear fainter red, yel-
low; crown purple; behind head _ yellowish-green;
shoulder light-blue; under wing crimson; under
greenish-gray; flanks, under-tail golden-green; bill
black; £., “sim: Honey. Screech.
187 Little Lorikeet. Jerryang, G. pusillus, 4.A., S.A., T.
Nom. flocks with 185. c. eucalypts 6.5
Green; face deep-red; hind-neck brown; wings black
edged green; tail feathers grass-green, inner webs red
at base, yellowish at tip; f., smaller. Honey. Screech.
F. 74. CYCLOPSITTACIDAE (2), Fig-Parrots, 23 sp. A.
Fr. 75. CACATUIDAE (17), COCKATOOS, 29 sp.—28(28) A.,
1(1)0O. (Philippine Is.).
7 188 Black Cockatoo, Funereal Biack Cockatoo, Calyptor-
q HY MCHUS) ~fAMCTEUS. , (S.Qes7 NeseW, Ve; 7oseAs sles
King Is. Small flocks, r. timber 26
Black; ear-patch, under tail yellow; f., sim. | Wood-boring
larvae. Seeds. “Wy-la.”’

their remarkable powers of speech, all help to render Parrots the
favorites amongst birds. The brilliance of their plumage, their
intelligence, and their longevity excite wonder, for Parrots have
been known to live 100 years in captivity. Presumably, they
would live even longer in a state of nature. Humboldt recorded,
as quoted in Newton’s “Dictionary of Birds,’ ‘“‘that in South
America he met with a venerable bird, which remained the sole
possessor of a literally dead language, the whole tribe of Indians,
Atures by name, who spoke it, having become extinct.”

Australians will perhaps be surprised to learn that there are
no Parrots or Cockatoos in Europe, and none in Asia, excepting
India, none in Africa north of the Tropic of Cancer, and only two
in North America, and that one of these is rapidly becoming
extinct, and that Africa and India are poor in Parrots. Thus
South America and Australasia alone are left as the lands that
contain these interesting birds in any number. While South
America contains the largest Parrots—the Macaws—all the South
American species belong to one family. In the Australian region
six families of Parrots are represented. Four of them are con-
fined to the region, while but one species of the fifth family
(Cockatoos) is found outside the region.

The Brush-tongued Parrots, or ‘“‘Lorikeets,’’ are a purely Aus-
tralian family. Some of these are very common at times in
flowering eucalypts, even in the public gardens and streets. The

90 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

189 Banksian Cockatoo, Banksian Black Cockatoo, C.
banksi, E.A., S.A. r. timber 24
Glossy greenish-black; vermilion-red band on tail; f., yellow
side of head, neck. Caterpillars, seeds.

Blue Mountain Parrot, very common at times, is a giant of the
family. It has been described as a “noble bird, gorgeously
apparelled.” Its vernacular name of Blue-bellied Lorikeet has
been altered to Blue Mountain Lorikeet. We found these birds
nesting in the big sugar-gums bordering Warunda Creek, Eyre
Peninsula. They keenly and noisily resented our curiosity, and
screeched much as we tried to discover them amongst the green
foliage. Though so gaudy, they were picked out with difficulty.
This bird was very troublesome in my garden at Bengworden, near
the Gippsland Lakes, where, when the apples were about the size
of marbles, they tore them to pieces to get the developing
“pips.”’ In common with the other members of the family, they
have a swift, direct flight, and screech much when flying. The
“Green Keets,”’ generally called ‘‘Green Leeks,” which are so very
numerous at times, are often accompanied by two other Lorikeets,
the Little and Purple-crowned Lorikeets. These green birds
hang, head down, among the eucalyptus leaves, and brush up the
honey from the flowers with their brush tongue. Thev follow the
flowering of the eucalypts from district to district, and since the
eucalypts flower at irregular intervals, these birds are not so
regular in their movements as Swifts, Snipe, Curlews, Cuckoos,

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 9]

190 Glossy Cockatoo (Leach Black), C. viridis, B.A.,
S.A. Small flocks, r. timber 19.5
Glossy greenish-black; deep vermilion-red on tail; f., no
vermilion on tail. Sheoak (Casuarina) seeds.
1 191*Gang-gang Cockatoo (Red-crowned), Red-crowned

1 Parrot (e), Galah (e), Callocephalum galeatum,
S.Qa0 NeScW.. Ve, De King Tis: Vale POTESt 10.0
Head, crest fine scarlet; rest slategray barred grayish-
green; wings tinged green; under tinged red; f., head,
crest gray. Eucalypt seeds.
5 192 White Cockatoo (Sulphur-crested), Cacatua galerita,
17 AG be Kine ES:
Nom. Flocks. v.c. timber, open plains 20
White; crest, under wing, portion of tail sulphur-yellow;
fest. Seeds, grain, native bread, bulbous roots,
grasshoppers’ eggs. Screech.
193*Pink Cockatoo (Leadbeater), Major Mitchell, C. lead-
beateri, Int. A. Nom. r. lofty gums 16
“Most beautiful and elegant’? cockatoo; white; forehead,
neck, under wing, middle abdomen, base of tail sal-
mon pink becoming deeper under wing; crest crimson,
yellow, white; eyes black; f., yellow in crest brighter:
eyes reddish-brown. Plaintive cry.

and other migratory birds. For this reason the birds may be
absent from a district for some years, and then suddenly appear
again in great numbers.

Cockatoos are almost confined to the Australian region. This
includes the islands north-west of Australia out to Wallace’s line,
passing between Celebes and the Philippine Islands, Celebes and
Borneo, and between the small islands of Lombok and Bali, east
of Java. These islands, though but fifteen miles apart, ‘‘differ
far more from each other in their birds and quadrupeds than do
England and Japan. The birds of the one are extremely unlike
those of the other.”” Another authority says that the faunas of
Bali and Lombok are more unlike than those of South America
and Africa. Bali has Woodpeckers, Barbets, Bulbuls, and Black
and White Magpie-Robins, none of which is found in Lombok,
where we find Screaming Cockatoos, Friar-birds, and other Honey-
eaters, and the strange mound-building Megapodes and numerous
other remarkable birds. This narrow strait is over 1000 fathoms
in depth, and is probably one of the most ancient and most per-
manent dividing lines in the world. Instead of being united to
Asia, it is probable that Australia has been more recently joined
to New Zealand, South America, and South Africa. Only one
Cockatoo transgresses Wallace’s line to the west, and that is
found in the Philippine Islands; evidently it has spread there
from the adjacent part of the Australian region.

The sombre, slow-flying Black Cockatoo is the largest of all
Cockatoos. It is seen fairly often in small companies, especi-
ally on wattles and eucalypts, the wood of which it tears to pieces

92 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

194*Rose-breasted Cockatoo, Galah, Willie-willock, Wil-
lock, C.. roseicapilla, A., T. (ace)
Nom. large flocks, c. plains 14
Upper gray; under deep rose pink; head pinky-white; ‘‘the
second most beautiful of cockatoos;’’ f., sim. Seeds,
salt-bush.

with its powerful bill to get the insect larve feeding there. It
is a valuable forest-saving bird.

The Glossy or Leach Black Cockatoo is named after Dr. Leach,
who did a great amount of work on Australian animals about 100
years ago. It is a rare bird, and may readily be distinguished
by its smaller size and more glossy plumage.

The peculiar gray Gang-gang Cockatoos are common in parts of
the forest country. The male is easily recognized by his red head
and crest. I occasionally see these interesting birds in the big
eucalypt forests of Gippsland. I was surprised to discover that,
in South Gippsland, it is generally called the Galah, a name which
belongs to quite a different bird (194).

The screeching, fussy White Cockatoo, with its delicate sulphur
crest, is well known. Many country dwellers enjoy the privi-
lege of often seeing these snowy-white birds almost covering
a dead tree. They are favorites as pets, and live to a good old
age. They render good service at times by digging up and eat-
ing grasshoppers’ eggs, though they do damage to maize and other
crops. As they post sentinels, they are difficult birds to approach.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 93

2 195 Long-billed Cockatoo, Corella, Licmetis nasica, N.
2 Tera Nes: War V.5.°S:2. Flocks r. ground 17
White; under wing pale-yellow; under tail bright-yellow;
forehead, face scarlet; neck, breast tinged scarlet;
naked blue skin round eye; long bill, 1% in.; f., sim.
Bulbous roots.
1 196*Cockatoo-Parrot, Cockatiel, Quarrion, Calopsittacus

1 novae-hollandiae, A. Mig. ficcks, c. plains, timber 12
Forehead, crest lemon-yellow; ear-patch rich reddish-
orange in a patch yellow above white below; upper,
under gray; white on wings, chest; f., face, crest dull

olive-yellow; tail barred brown. Seeds.

F. 76. PSITTACIDAE (47), PARROTS, Macaws, 433 sp.—
144(144)A., 49(49)O., 42(42)E., ZL) NG
197(196) N1.

2 197*Superb Parrot (Scarlet-breasted), Green Leek, Barra-

2 band Parrakeet, Polytelis barrabandi, 8.Q., N.S.W.,

Vero. A. Stat. v.r. timber 16

Green; forehead, cheeks, throat rich gamboge-yellow; cres-
cent of scarlet next to yellow on chest; bill yellow;
sometimes red on thigh; f., green tinged dull rose on
chest; thigh red. Seeds.

198*Black-tailed Parrot,Rock-Pebbler, Rock-Pebble, Smoker,
P. melanura, N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A. (interior).
Nom. v.r. Box flats, timber 16

Head, neck, greenish-yellow; shoulders, under yellow;
upper-back olive; wing-quills, tail iridescent black;
some pink on wing; bill scarlet; f., duller. Seeds, honey.

1 199*King Parrot (Scarlet and Green, Spud), Blood Rosella,
9 King Lory (e), Aprosmictus cyanopygius, H.A., S.A.
Stat. c. forest 16

“Showy, noble species;” head, neck, under scarlet; back,
wings green; rump, base tail rich dark blue; band
bright green on wing; Dill scarlet; f., head, upper
green; throat, chest green tinged red; abdomen scarlet;
young male like female for two years. Bulbous roots,

seeds.

The Pink Cockatoo (Major Mitchell) is unfortunately becoming
rare. It was fairly common when I taught in a Mallee school,
near where Hopetoun now is. It has been described as ‘“‘quite
the most beautiful of all the Cockatoos, being a harmony of deli-
cate rose-pink and white, with a handsome crest of acuminate
feathers barred in crimson, yellow, and white.” It does not take
kindly to captivity. It nested in the smaller “spouts” of the
green ‘‘box-trees” in the “box-flats” and swamps about the Goyura
School, south of Lake Corrong.

What is more glorious than a mob of Rose-breasted Cockatoos
(Galahs), 500 strong, airing their beauties and graces as they
take a constitutional before retiring for the night? Probably no
other kind of bird shows better company-flying than Galahs; now

94 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

one sheet of a delicate gray lavender, and the next instant a flash
of brilliant salmon-pink, as the whole company turns and wheels.
obedient to some command or signal unperceived by us: again,
the sun lights up the pale-pink crests and gray backs, as they turn
once more and wheel, screeching, to continue their evolutions fur-
ther afield. Itisa sight that lingers in the memory. They are
charming pets, and some talk well. Their beauty adds charm to
our almost perfectly level great inland plains.

The delicately-colored and friendly Cockatoo Parrot, with its
immovable crest, takes a sub-family to itself. It migrates from
the North, and, in a dry year, may even reach the South
Coast. In 1908 some of these birds reached Colac, in Southern
Victoria. They are favorite aviary birds, and thousands have
been exported.

In the true Parrot family, Australia is strongly represented by
many beautiful birds. The first is the Barraband Parrakeet of
Gould, and the Green Leek of some ornithologists. As the name
Green Leek is practically in universal use for the Musk Lorikeet
(Green Keet) of the ornithologist. it seems desirable to sink an
inappropriate name into a synonym, and use the earlier name,
Superb Parrot, for it is a beautiful bird. Sad to say, it has
become exceedingly rare, though Mr. A. W. Milligan informed
me, a few days ago, that he saw six fly into some pines at Black
Rock one day this month (January, 1911).

The Rock Pebble, or Smoker, of the country dweller, formally
called the Black-tailed Parrot, is a fine bird. His tail, however,
is not really black, but is strongly iridescent. He nested in num-
bers, at the beginning of the nineties, in the dead box-trees in
Lake Corrong. After an early tea, we frequently went over to
the lake and watched the birds feeding their young. No longer
do they inhabit that district, which has been completely cleared
and placed under cultivation. :

The big King Parrot is a ‘‘showy, noble species,’ and is still
common in parts, especially the moist forest districts.

The members of the next group form a sub-family—the Broad-
tails—confined to Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the
Pacific Islands. Judging by their names, they must be amongst
the most beautiful of birds. The best known is the common
Rosella, often quoted in European books as one of the most beau-
tiful of birds. Its scientific name is eximius, which means ex-
cellent. Indeed, the scientific names of Australian parrots give
a good indication of their place amongst the glories of the bird
world. The cousin of the Rosella—the large blue-winged and
blue-cheeked Crimson Parrot—is well named elegans; a_ grass
parrot is also elegans, then follow splendidus, splendida, and
pulchella, while that great ornithologist, Gould, has conferred
the honor of pulcherrimus on another Australian parrot.
These names, given by scientists, will show Australians in what
high esteem these birds, so common with us, are held by observers
from other lands.

The Crimson Parrot, previously mentioned, is, I think, be

siinaciiersiacicmrumieen aed

a

219 Australian Roller
220 Blue Kingfisher
221 Laughing Kingfisher

223 Sacred Kingfisher

224 Australian Bee-eater

227 Spine-tailed Swift
(95)

229 Pallid Cuckoo
230 Fan-tailed Cuckoo
235 Bronze Cuckoo

=.

cae

ole

a

ee
44

} air: oes

; oe Seid
238 Welcome Swallow 244 Scarlet-breasted Robin 245a Ditto (Female)

240 Tree Martin 244a _,, fy (Female) 248 Red Capped Robin
242 Brown Flycatcher 245 Flame-breasted Robin 248a ,, s (Female)

(97)

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 99

coming common, for I have lately seen it flying about in towns,
notably in the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, the Zoological Gar-
dens, Melbourne, and the school yard at Wangaratta.

The Yellow Parrakeet, with its blue cheeks, is a ‘‘harmony in
blue and canary yeliow, and is an exceedingly lovely bird.” It
is unfortunately rare.

The next bird is one of our well-known cage pets—the beauti-
ful Ringneck—the Mallee Parrot. It flies ahead of one along
the half-chain strip of scrub left on mallee roads, and is a feature
of interest.

The next group contains some inland parrots. The “Bull-
oak,” or “Blue Bonnet,” is a beautiful bird, and is common on
inland plains. It has a_ brownish-olive back and a gray

chest. The bright, blue cheeks, forehead, and shoulder,
red abdomen, and light yellow base to tail present a striking ap-
pearance. Its vernacular name—Yellow-vented Parrakeet—has
now been altered to Blue Bonnet Parrot.

The Many-colored Parrot, with its large yellow shoulder
patch, is a glory. It is, indeed, difficult to imagine a more beau-
tiful bird as it flies about in the bright Mallee sunshine. The
Red-backed Parrot is the common “Grass Parrot” of country
‘dwellers. Large flocks of these birds are to be seen on the
inland plains. The female is much plainer than her gaudy mate.
This is unusual amongst parrots; for, as the work of sitting on
the eggs is done in a hollow tree under good shelter, there is
apparently no reason why the female should be plainer than
the male, and in most parrots she is equally preity.

The brownish female offers a strong contrast to her more
brightly coloured mate, which is immediately distinguished by
the large red patch on the back. (The Many-eolored Parrot
has a much smaller red patch on the back, near the base of the
tail.)

The seven small Grass-Parrots (Neophemas) are amongst the
most beautiful of parrots. These birds have become so rare that
the South Australian Government has wisely placed them on the
totally-protected list. Bird trappers formerly exported numbers
to Europe each year. These rare Parrots are said to be worth
about £7 each as cage birds.

We found the rare Rock Parrot nesting in the edges and hollows
of a tiny travertine-limestone island (Goat Island) in an inlet at
the eastern end of the Great Australian Bight. The eggs were
laid on the bare earth, often within two or three feet of high-
tide mark. The whole island was less than an acre in extent,
and at no point was ten feet above high-tide level. Many simi-
lar islands on the Australian coast have not yet been explored
ornithologically, so we do not know what matters of interest are
awaiting us.

The next bird, the Swift-flying Lorikeet, is a honey feeder, like
the first four Parrots (Lorikeets) mentioned. It is often found
with them, and was common al] the winter, and is common now
in a clump of flowering gums outside the Melbourne Cricket

100 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

16 200*Crimson Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Pennant Parra-
16 keet, Red Lory (e), Mountain Lowry (e). Platy-
cercius elegans, S.Q., N:S.W., V., S.A.
Stat. v.c. timber, open 13.5

Head, neck, under, rump rich deep crimson; feathers of

back black, edged crimson; cheeks, shoulders blue; tail

tipped pale-blue; f., sim.; young all green at first.
Grass, seeds, insects, caterpillars. °

Ground. It has given scientists much trouble as to its correct
name and position. It can be distinguished from the ‘‘Green
Keets” by having scarlet under the wings.

The beautiful and affectionate little Budgerigar (Warbling
Grass Parrot), or Love Bird, has many names. It is migratory,
and sometimes appears in thousands, though it may not be seen
again for years. It is a favorite cage bird, and breeds as
freely as caged canaries, so it is well-known in Europe.

The last two Parrots are ground birds, which never perch or
climb. It was feared that the Ground Parrot was extinct,
but it is seen occasionally in the National Park at Wilson’s Pro-
montory. The Night Parrot is better called the Western Ground
Parrot. It is found amongst the Spinifex (Triodia) scrub of the
interior.

Though Parrots are essentially “climbers,” having the suit-
able arrangement of two toes in front and two behind, it is in-
teresting to learn of these two Australian Parrots which cannot

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 101

201 Yellow Parrot, Yellow Rosella, Murray Smoker (e),
Swamp Lory (e), Yellow-rumped Parrakeet, P.
flaveolus, N.S.W., V., S.A. (interior).

Stat. v.r. lofty river gums 13.5

“Exceedingly lovely bird, a harmony in blue and canary

yellow;’’ upper under canary-yellow; oback feathers
black edged pale-yellow; wing blue; tip quills dark-
brown; tail tipped light blue and white; forehead crim-
son; cheeks blue; f., duller. Seeds.

202*Rosella, Rosehill Parrakeet, Nonpareil Parrot, P.
eriniius, S:.@.,-N°S.W.;- V4. 5:A., T.

Stat. v.c. open timber 12.5

Crown, hind-neck, chest, under base tail scarlet; cheeks

white; back feathers black edged rich yellow; rump,
upper base tail, lower abdomen pale-green; centre
abdomen yellow; shoulders blue; tail tipped pale blue;
f., young sim.
5 203*Mallee Parrot (Scrub), Barnard Parrakeet, Ring-neck,
5 Bulla-Bulla, Barnardius barnardi, 8.Q., N.S.W., V.,
S.A. (interior). Stat. c. mallee scrub, water courses 13
Crown, chest, abdomen, rump rich-green; yellow band on
hind-neck; forehead red; back bluish-gray; centre-abdo-
men orange; wing-quills black; shoulder blue; centre
tail feathers green becoming deep iridescent blue at
tip; side tail deep blue at base becoming bluish white
at tip; bill horn color; f., sim. Seeds:
204*Blue-Bonnet, Bulioak Parrot, Yellow-vented Parra-
keet, Psephotus zanthorrhous, N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A.
(inland). c. mallee-scrub, plains 12.5
Forehead, face blue; crown, upper, chest yellowish-gray;
rump, under base tail, abdomen deep-yellow, about legs
scarlet; edge shoulder, patch on wing blue; wing-
quills blackish-brown; f., duller. Seeds.
205*Many-colored Parrot (Varied, Mulga), P. multicolor,
IN-S2W:.... V.,. 5-A:,. W.A:, N.W.A, .Cinland):.
Stat. ec. plains 12
Head, neck, chest, back green; rump little red; abdomen,
thighs scarlet; forehead, shoulder, under base tail yel-
low; f., brick red patch on shoulder, duller. Grass-
seeds.

cw

perch or climb. The Parrot’s foot is of interest, further, in so
far as it is used as a hand, and the food is held in it while being
eaten. The powerful bill not only serves to reduce its food to
powder, but also assists in climbing. It is sometimes amusing
to note the “absurd caution,” and great deliberation with which
a parrot climbs down in his cage to pick up some dainty.

Possessing no less than 76 kinds of Parrots and Cockatoos, Aus-
tralians should be alive to their privileges as contrasted with
the dwellers of northern lands, where Parrots do not live. They
should insist on the proper protection of these beautiful and won-
derful birds.

102 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

206*Red-backed Parrot (Grass, Red-rumped, Ground), P.
haematonotus, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.
Large flocks. v.c. grass
Green; lower-back scarlet; tip-shoulder outer wing-quills
blue; centre-shoulder, abdomen yellow; f., brownish-
olive upper. Seeds.

7 207 Bourke Grass-Parrot (Night, Pink-bellied), Neophema
7 bourkei, N.S.W., V., S.A. (interior). v.r. plains
Upper olive-brown; under delicate brown tinged pink; fore
head, shoulder, flanks, under tail blue; f., forehead not
blue. Seeds.

208 Blue-winged Grass-Parrot (Blue-banded), N.-venusta,
N.S.W., V., S.A., T., King Is. Mig. r. open timber
Forehead, large patch shoulder deep-blue; crown, neck,
back, breast green; face, abdomen light-yellow: tail

tipped fine yellow; f., sim. Grass seeds.

209*Grass-Parrot (Elegant Grass), WN. elegans, S.Q.,
INES. We Vis5 SeAc,. WA: Mig. r. grass
Forehead, patch shoulder,wing-quills blue; about eye rich-
yellow; back golden-green; chest green; abdomen, side

of tail yellow; f., duller. Seeds. Musical whistle.

210 Orange-breasted Grass-Parrot (Orange - bellied), N.
chrysogastra, N.S.W., V., S.A., T. Mig. r. grass
Crown, upper grass-green; forehead blue; cheeks, breast
yellowish-green; shoulder, patch on wing deep-blue;
abdomen, under basetail yellow; lower abdomen much
orange; f, less orange. Seeds. Sharp snapping note.
211 Red-Shouldered Grass-Parrot (Chestnut-shouldered,
Beautiful), N. puicheila, S.Q:, N.S.W., V., S.A.
Mig. c. timber

11

8.5

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD-~ BOOK.

a

—_

Cheeks, shoulders rich metallic-blue; crown, hind-neck,
upper, flanks bright olive-green; bright patch chestnut-
red at insertion of wing; under rich-yellow, tail green
tipped yellow; f., sim. Seeds.

212 Scarlet-chested Grass-Parrot (Orange-throated, Splen-
did), N. splendida, N.S.W., V., S., W.A. v.r. serub

Head, neck beautiful deep-b’ue; shoulder blue; breast
scarlet; abdomen light-yellow; upper green; f., duller,
breast green. Seeds.

213*Swift Parrot(Red-shouldered), Swift-flying Lorikeet
(e), Huphema discolor, 8.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., T.
Mig. r. flowering eucalypts

Green; forehead, throat, tip-shoulder, base tail above
below, under-wing red; crown, edge wing blue; f.,
smaller, duller. Honey.

214*Warbling Grass-Parrot (Shell-, Canary-, Zebra-), Bet-

cherrygah, Budgerigar, Love-Bird (Flight-), Melop-
sittacus undulatus, A. (int.). Mig. flocks c. timber

Head, throat yellow; under, rump green; upper green
finely barred black; several dark spots on throat; f.,
smaller. Grass-seeds.

215 Ground Parrot (Swamp), Pezoporus terrestris, V.,
S.A. W.A., T., Bass St. Is. v.r. u. sandy, swampy

Green uniformly barred black yellow; forehead scarlet; tail
long; never perches; f., sim. Seeds.

216 Night Parrot (Spinifex), Western Ground Parrakeet,

Geopsittacus, occidentalis, 2V., ~S:Ac,) .CxAs WeAc,
N.W.A. v.r. u. Swampy

Like 215, but forehead not red; under base short tail yellow.

F. 77. Stringopidae, Owl-Parrot, 2 sp. A. (N.Z.).

9.5

7.5

13

10

104 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR.

ORDER XVIII.—CORACHIFORMES, PICARIAN BIRDS.
F. 78. Steatornithidae, Oil-Bird, Guacharo, 1 sp. NI.
F. 79. PODARGIDAE (6), FROGMOUTHS, 32 sp.—20(20)A,

12 (12) 0.
4 217 Tawny Frogmouth (Tawny-shouldered), Mopoke (e),
(i Podargus strigoides, A.T. Stat. ec. open forest 18

Upper brown freckled grayish-white and darker-brown;
wings lighter, spotted black and buff; tawny patch on
wing; tail tawny-brown barred blackish-brown; wide
bill brown; nocturnal; f., sim. Insects. “‘Oom, vum.”’’

2 218 Owlet Nightjar (Little), Banded Goatsucker (e),
13 Moth Owl (e), Agotheles novae-hollandiae, A., T.
Stat. r. timber 8.5

Blackish-gray; tail faintly banded; obscure collar; short,
wide bill; bristles round bill; nocturnal; f., sim. In-
sects, mosquitoes, moths.

F. 80. Leptosomatidae, Kirombos, Madagascar Rollers, 2 sp. E.

Australia is well represented in Order XVIII.—Picarian Birds.
The Tawny Frogmouth is one of “the most peculiar,” and is the
“ugliest of birds.” On account of its wide mouth, it is called the
Frogmouth, and on account of the confusion connecting it with
the Boobook Owl, which calls ‘“‘“Mopoke,” this bird is also called
’ the “Mopoke” (see p. 85). It so closely mimics a broken branch
during the day that it is seldom seen, though it is fairly common.

Gould bears eloquent testimony to the value of Australian birds

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 105

F. 81. CORACIIDAE (1), ROLLERS, 32 sp.—5(5)A., 6(3)0.,
3(0) P., 22(21) EH.
1 219*Australian Roller, Dollar (Star) Bird, Hurystomus
11 pacificus, Cel., Mol., A. exc. S.A., W.A., Lord Howe
g Iss aneZ. Mig. r. timber 12
Head, upper dark-brown; inner-wing bluish, outer-wing
dark-blue with a silvery-blue patch (dollar); throat
dark-blue; eyelash, wide curved bill, feet red; many
shades of blue and green; abdomen light-green; f., sim.
Insects.

F. 82. ALCEDINIDAE (14), KINGFISHERS, 200 sp.—
112(105)A., 52(44)0., 5(0)P., 31(30)E., 3(0)Nc.,

11(8)NI.
3 220*Blue Kingfisher (Azure, Water, River), Alcyone
/ azured. WA, S.X%., 1: Mis. r. water 78

Upper ultramarine-blue; behind ear yellowish-white patch;
wings black; throat whitish; under rusty-orange; bill
black; f., sim. Fish, insects.

3 221*Laughing Kingfisher (Great Brown, Giant), Laugh-
4 ing Jackass, Bushman’s (Settler’s) Clock, Kooka-
burra, Dacelo gigas, H.A., S.A. Stat. v.c. timber 17.5

Upper, line from bill past eye brown; side-head, under
whitish; blue, white spots on wing; tail barred brown,
black, tipped white; f., sim. Lizards, insects, snakes.

6 222 Red-backed Kingfisher (Golden), Halcyon pyrr-
lek hopygius, A. (interior). r. open country 8

Back, rump reddish-brown; collar, under white; crown
dull-green streaked white; dark band from bill through
eye round back of head; wings, tail bluish; f., sim.
Fish, insects.

in general, and the Podargus in particular, when he says: “In
no other country is there a greater proportion of insectivorous
birds, and certainly none in which nocturnal species such as the
Podargi are more numerous.”

The Australian Roller (Dollar-Bird) has the family beauty, and
has a white circular patch on each wing, which shows clearly
when the wing is expanded during flight. At the Tallangatta
excursion a pair was working even after dusk near the school-
ground. Flying from the topmost dead branch, one bird sud-
denly closed its wings, and cut queer antics in the air. After
flying a considerable distance, it returned to its former perch, and
the mate set off. On the return of the mate the first set off
again, and so on. - With their disagreeable, rough ‘‘treek treek,”
and peculiar antics, they are conspicuous birds. It is cur one
representative of a family most strongly developed in Africa.

While Kingfishers are cosmopolitan (world-wide in distribu-
tion), yet the Australian region contains far more of these beau-
tiful birds than any other region. They are famous in legend
and story, and we owe to them the expression, ‘“‘halcyon days’ (Gr,
alkuon, a Kingfisher).

106 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

223*Sacred Kingfisher (Wood, Forest, Tree), H. sanctus,
Cel., Java to A., T., N. Heb.
Mig. c. timber, near water 8
Head, upper greenish-blue; whitish collar; bhuffy-white
under; bill long black; f., sim. Insects, ants, lizards,
fish.
. 83. Bucerotidae, Hornbills, 71 sp.—4(4)A., 338(33)0.,
34(34) EH. ‘
84. Upupidae, Hoopoes, 6 sp.-—2(1)0., 2(0)P., 4(3)E.
. 85. Irrisoridaec, Wood-Hoopoes, 12 sp. E.
. 86. MEROPIDAE (1), BEEH-EATERS, 41 sp.—5(4)A.,
TOCC)'O;, 2:(0) P., s0iGat) Hh:

ra] ay]

The great terrestrial Kingfishers, of which Australia has three
species—the fourth being confined to New Guinea—are amongst
the avine curiosities of Australia. Few birds are more famous
than the Laughing Kingfisher (Jackass), first, on account of his
gigantic size—hence his specific name, gigas—and, secondly,
because of his laugh, which brightens many a gloomy, misty day
in lonely country districts. Homesick travellers from foreign
lands could only hear evil spirits laughing at their trials and
loneliness, but, just as mountains, once thought ugly, are now con-
sidered beautiful, so other thoughts are now associated with the
laugh of our remarkable Australian Kingfisher.

True to the law of representatives, Australia presents us with
a beautiful representative of the Old World family of Bee-eaters

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 107

1 224*Australian Bee-eater, Rainbow Bird, Sandpiper (e),
21 Kingfisher (e), Spinetail, Pintail, WMerops ornatus,
Cel., Lesser Sunda Is., Mol., A. Mig. c. open forests 10

Crown, back, inner-wing brownish-green; wing-quills
orange-brown, tipped black; band on throat blackish;
line below eye, lower-back blue; throat orange; tail
black; two tail feathers longer; curved bill black: f.,

sim. Insects, very rarely bees.

F. 87. Momotidae, Motmots, 24 sp. NI.

F. 88. Todidae, Todies, 7 sp. Nl. (West Indies).

F. 89. CAPRIMULGIDAE (Be NIGHTJARS, GOAT-
SUCKERS, 124 sp.—11(8)A., 22(17)0O., 10(4)P.,
30(26)H., 11(5)Ne., 57(51) NI.

2 225 White-throated Nightjar, Night Hawk (e), Moth

3 (Fern) Owl, LEurostopus albigularis, N.G., H.A.,

S.A. Stat. r. open forest 13
Upper mottled, striped gray, brown; head darker; wings
dark-brown marked gray, spotted buff, with white patch
(see figure); white patch side of throat; under buff
marked dark-brown; f., sim. Insects. Valuable noc-
turnal birds.
226 Spotted Nightjar, HZ. argus. Aru Is., New Ireland, A.
Stat. r. open forest 12
Like 225, but uniform rusty-brown abdomen and under
base tail; f., sim. Insects. Valuable, nocturnal.

F. 90. Macropterygidae, Tree-Swifts, 7 sp.—3(3)A., 4(4) 0.

He 9. CYPSELIDAH™ (4), -SWIFTS, 103 sp.—I11(7)A.,
33(24)0., 9(1)P., 28(22)E., 4(U)Ne., 30(26)NI1.

1 227*Spine-tailed Swift, Chaetura caudacuta, Sib., Jap.,

34 China, to A., f3,.N.Z. Mig. c. upper air 7.5

Throat, forehead, back edge wing, flanks, under base tail
white; wings, tail deep shining-green; under, back gray-
ish-brown; short tail ends in spines; f. smaller. Flying

insects.
1 228 White-rumped Swift (Australian), Cypselus pacifi-
25 cus, H. Sib., Jap., Indo-China to A., T., N.Z.

Mig. r. upper air 7
Upper brownish-black; rump, throat white; under brown;
long forked tail; indistinct collar; f., sim. Flying
insects.

A writer has well said that there are ‘‘few so beautiful, and none
so graceful.” Its scientific name, ornatus, shows that our bird
stands well amongst its fellows. One kind occasionally visits
England (about thirty records in the last hundred years).

In the same order come the Goatsuckers, or Nightjars, wide-
mouthed, swift-flying, insectivorous birds, which have an almost
cosmopolitan range, being absent only from New Zealand and
the Polynesian Islands. These Owl-like birds have very long
wings, thus indicating their rapid flight. They are very valu-
able insect destroyers, though they are sometimes ealled ‘Night

108 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

F. 92. Trochilidae, Humming-Birds, 581 sp.—18 (5) Ne.,
576(563) Nl.
F. 93. Coliidae, Mouse-Birds, 14 sp. H.
F. 94.Trogonidae, Trogons, 54 sp.—16(16)O., 4(4)E.,
1(0)Ne., 34(33) NI.
ORDER XIX.—COCCYGES.
F. 95. Miusophagidae, Plantain-eaters, Touracos, 35 sp. E.
F. 96. CUCULIDAE (14), CUCKOOS (Cuckows), 202 sp.—
61(50) A., ° 57(42).0., -8(0)P.,. 55(6DE:, SCO)ING;
43 (35) N1.

Hawks,” and are shot by people who foolishly shoot hawks.
Many destructive insects fly only at night, and these night-flying
birds are a necessity to maintain the balance of Nature.

Swifts are cosmopolitan birds. One Swiftlet is world-famous
on account of its saliva-built nest, which is the edible swallows’
nest we used to read about. This bird occasionally visits
Queensland. Two of the Australian birds breed in Japan.
They are essentially creatures of the air; their long, pointed
wings, shown much longer than the tail, indicate great speed.
Gould said that a Swift might be hawking for insects over Vic-
toria one hour, and over Tasmania the next hour; that is, it
can cross Bass Strait in an hour. The spines at the end of the
short tail feathers are thought to assist as a prop when the bird
settles on a wall or a cliff face. In some Swifts the four toes
point forward; this helps also in cliff clinging. Though so com-

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 109

2 229*Pallid Cuckoo (Unadorned), Harbinger - of - Spring,
ia AL Seale (Semitone, Brain-fever, Storm) Bird, Mos-
quito (Grasshopper) Hawk, Cuculus inornatus, A.,
Tv bur. ‘Cuckoo. Mig. v.c. open, timber 12
Upper brown; under gray; tail barred white, brown; eye-
lash yellow; white at edge wing; wing’ spotted,
marked lighter; f., upper mottled whitish, rufous.
Caterpillars, insects. Runs up scale, calls frequently

at night.
3 230*Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Ash-colored Cacomantis rufulus
13 (flabelliformis), Aruls., A., T. Mig. c. open, timber 10

Head, upper dark slate-gray; under rust-red; throat gray;
tail dark toothed with white; white edge of wing; eye-
lash citron-yellow; f., smaller. Caterpillars, insects.
Sad trill often repeated.
231 Square-tailed Cuckoo (Brush), C. flabelliformis (vario-
losus), Mol., Timor, N.G., A.
Mig. v.r. open timber 9.2
Like 230, but smaller; tail feathers toothed with white on
inner web only; f., sim. Insects.
1 2382 Black-eared Cuckoo, Mesocalius palliolatus, Mol., Aru
1 TssAs Mis. vir; scrub: 7b
Head, upper, wings glossy olive-brown; shoulder darker;
tail olive-brown tipped white; side tail feather five
white bars; behind ear a narrow black streak; above
this a lighter patch; under pale-brown; f., duller. _In-
sects. Feeble plaintive note.

mon in the upper air, Swifts have not, in Victoria, been recorded
as having been seen to alight.

Most birds have hollow bones which are filled with air. It
was claimed by those who like to find a use for everything that
this was an obvious adaptation for purposes of flight, but when
one reflects that, in some of the Ostrich and Emu group, the
members of which never fly, the bones are strongly “pneumatic,”
while in Terns and Swifts, and some other flying birds, the bones
are solid, one must hesitate before generalizing even about such
an apparently obvious matter. Swifts are in no way related _to
Swallows, but are close to Humming Birds, which are born with
a wide, Swift-like mouth.

Few birds have attracted more notice, or have been more writ-
ten about, than Cuckoos. To dwellers in lands with a dreary
winter, the Cuckoo heralds the spring, so its call is most wel-
come. Then, too, the mysteries connected with its up-
bringing have proved of interest to all Nature and _. bird
lovers. Its call, “‘Cuckoo,” aptly described as the ‘‘most imitable
of bird calls,” has also assisted in making the bird a favorite.

The Pallid Cuckoo belongs to the same genus as the well-known
Cuckoo of England. It also resembles that bird in appearance.
Its note, however, is quite different. At times it seems to be
endeavoring to run up a chromatic scale, so, in some districts,

110 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR.

5 233 Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo, Chalcococcyz basalis,
15 Mal. Pen., Java, Cel., to A.,T. Mig. c. open, timber 6.2
Upper beautiful bronze-green; under barred brown, white;
like 2384 but bill narrower; lighter brown head; paler
back; outer tail feathers strongly barred blackish-
brown, white; centre abdomen not barred; base tail
much chestnut; f., duller. Insects, caterpillars.

it is called the Scale Bird. At other times, after three running
notes, it repeats one note strongly. So persistent is it in calling
that it is called in places the Brain-fever Bird. Last Septem-
ber, in Castlemaine, it called all night in the street trees. Few,
however, seemed to notice it, and fewer still knew what was
uttering the persistent call.

Possibly other birds recognize the Cuckoo as an enemy, or pos-
sibly its remarkable superficial resemblance to a Hawk causes
birds to chase it. However, in some eases, possibly, the male
Cuckoo does not object to being chased. He draws the birds
away, while the female Cuckoo quietly places an egg in a con-
venient nest, and retires unmolested.

The Fan-tailed or Ash-colored Cuckoo is not so conspicuous,
as it keeps to more secluded places, and is a solitary bird. Its
flight is heavy and labored. It also has a habit of elevating
and lowering its tail several times both before and after flight.
Its frequent, plaintive, trilling note often reveals its presence,
which would otherwise be overlooked.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. haa

234 Broad-billed Bronze Cuckoo (New Zealand, Shining),
Pipiwharauroa, C. lucidus, E.A., T., N.Z., Chatham
Is., Macquarie Is. (acc.). Mig. v.r. open, timber 6.2
Like 233, but outer tail feathers barred white; next fea-
thers barred rufous; forehead freckled with white;
crown, hind-neck shining-green; bill broader; f., duller.
Insects.
235*Bronze Cuckoo, C. plagosus, A., T., Pac. Is.
Mig. c. open, timber 6.2
Like 2338, 234; crown, hind-neck dark violet-brown; very
little rufous on tail; f., duller. Insects, caterpillars.
1 2386 Channel-bill, Giant Cuckoo, Storm (Flood, Rain)
1 Bird Toucan (e), Hornbill (e), Scythrops novae-
hollandiae, Cel., Flores, Mol., A., T. (once).
Mig. r. plains 24
Gray; tail banded black; tipped white barred black, white
below; bill very large, light horn-color; red about eye;
f., smaller. Insects, berries.

F. 97. Indicatoridae, Honey-Guides, 18 sp.—2(2)0O., 16(16)E.

F. 98. Capitonidae, Barbets, 140 sp.—40(40)0O., 82(82)E.,
18(18) NI.

F. 99. Rhamphastidae, Toucans, 60 sp. NI.

F. 100. Galbulidae, Jacamars, 22 sp. NI.

F. 101. Bucconidae, Puff Birds, 45 sp. NI.

F. 102. Picidae, Woodpeckers, Piculets, Wrynecks, Flickers,
440 sp.—6(5)A., 124(117)0., 41(83)P., 54(53)E.,
44(32)Ne., 197(181) NI.

F. 103. Hurylaemidae, Broadbills, 16 sp. O. The only family

of birds restricted to the Oriental Region.

The Brush Cuckoo is rare. In fact, considerable difficulty was
experienced in obtaining a specimen for the photograph above, as
there was no named specimen in the National Museum. Thanks
to Messrs. Kershaw and French, the difficulty was at last over-
come.

The Bronze Cuckoos are very similar. They will be imme-
diately recognized by the under-surface barred brown and white,
and the golden-green or bronze lustre of the dark back. The
New Zealand Bronze-Cuckoo migrates from N.E. Australia and
New Guinea. Apparently it sometimes migrates down the East
Coast, instead of to New Zealand.

The Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo has a narrower Dill, and the
centre tail feathers are brownish-chestnut at the base. While
the birds are so similar, their eggs are quite unlike. The Bronze
Cuckoo lays a bronze egg, generally in dome-shaped or covered
nests. It is sometimes found in Tits’ nests. The Narrow-billed
Bronze Cuckoo has a red-speckled egg, which is placed often in
an open or cup-shaped nest.

The last Cuckoo—the Channel-biil—is one of the largest of
Cuckoos. It is a northern bird, which very rarely reaches the
southern part of the continent. Its large bill is characteristic.

Lie AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

ORDER XX.—MENURIFORMES, LYRE-BIRDS.
KF. 104. MENURIDAE (3), LYRE-BIRDS, 3 sp. A. (South-
Eastern A.).
3 237 Victoria Lyre-Bird, Pheasant (e), Menura victoriae,
3 We Stat r. dense.scruvs, ms, SGpemeeen
Beautiful lyre tail; f., sooty-brown; all tail feathers fully
webbed. Insects, centipedes, snails.

— — ———— =

Its tail is large, and often spread out fanwise, thus giving a
majestic appearance to the bird. Its call is not pleasing, as it is
described by Gould as a “frightful scream,’’ and again as con-
sisting of ‘awful notes.’”’ It lays its eggs sometimes in the nest
of a Sparrowhawk (not Kestrel), or in the nest of a Magpie, Bell-
Magpie (Strepera), or even of a Crow. It appears with the
first flood-waters, and follows the rivers from the Gulf of Car-
pentaria watershed down to Cooper’s Creek and Lake Eyre.

One large Australian Cuckoo builds its own nest, and rears its
own young. This bird, however, does not visit Southern Aus-
tralia.

In addition to the interest of their habits and life history,
Cuckoos are amongst the most valuable of insectivorous birds.
Few birds will eat the vine caterpillar or hairy caterpillar. The
Cuckoos, however, are very fond of these, and so should be
encouraged. They do no harm to anything we need.

One of the most interesting birds in the world is the Lyre Bird,
whose beautiful tail, alas, often brings early death to its rightful

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 113

ORDER XXI.—PASSERIFORMES, PERCHING BIRDS.

105. Pteroptochidae, Tapaculos, Tilt-birds, 31 sp. NI.

106. Conophagidae, Antwrens, 16 sp. NI.

107. Formicariidae, Ant-thrushes, 348 sp. Nl.

108. Dendrocolaptidae, Wood-hewers, Spinetails, 405 sp. Nl.

109. Tyrannidae, Tyrant-birds, American Flycatchers,
Kingbird, Phoebe, 560 sp.—41(9)Ne., 551(519) NI.

110. Oxyrhamphidae, 3 sp. NI.

111. Pipridae, Mannikins, 84 sp. NI.

112. Cotingidae, Cotingas, Chatterers, 145 sp.—1(0)Nc.,
145 (144) N1.

113. Phytotomidae, Plant-cutters, 4 sp. NI.

114. PITTIDAE (4), ANT-THRUSHES, 63 sp.—32(32)A.,
30(30)0., 1(1)E.

115. Philepittidae, Wattled Ant-thrushes, 2 sp. E. (Mada-
gascar).

116. Xenicidae, New Zealand Wrens, 4 sp. A.((N.Z.).

117. ATRICHORNITHIDAH (2), SCRUB-BIRDS, 2 sp.
JASCN:S. Wo, WA.)

myc yd at a

Owner. There are three species of these birds, found only in the
mountainous parts of South-eastern Australia, and as far as
Wide Bay, in Southern Queensland. Two of the species are
found in New South Wales and Southern Queensland, while the
third is found in Victoria. Though these beautiful birds are
supposed to be protected, hundreds of their tails are sold annually
in London.

The Lyre Bird is responsible for the statement that Australia
possesses ‘“‘Wrens as large as peacocks,” whereas most Wrens
are very small. However, the Lyre Bird is not now classed with
Wrens. In all its ways, the Lyre Bird is of interest. Its danc-
ing mounds, its large domed nest, containing but one egg, and its
remarkable mimicking powers have frequently been written about.
Dr. Sharpe has lately placed the Lyre Birds in an Order by them-
selves—Order XX.

Gould considered the Lyre Bird the most shy of birds, for he
spent days in the forest gullies surrounded by them, but though
he was entertained by their many and varied calls, he caught no
sight of a bird. The wonderful tail is not attained until the male
bird is four years old. It is unique, and is the most beautiful
tail ornament worn by any bird. Dr. Newton hoped that ‘‘so
remarkable a form as the Lyre Bird, the nearly sole survivor,
apparently, of a very ancient race of beings, will not be allowed
to become extinct—its almost certain fate, so far as can be
judged—without many more observations of its manners being
made, and fuller details of them placed on record.” Australians
please note. You alone can assist by collecting facts and record- .
ing reliable observations. Bird-lovers hope that the Lyre Bird
will be successfully established in the National Park, Wilson’s
Promontory, where some have already been placed, and so be
preserved for future generations. Its large, domed nest is

114 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

usually placed on the ground, and the large single egg (or the
young one) is often taken by the fox. Further, its natural
haunts—dense forest scrubs—are being rapidly cleared, so that
the bird is doomed, except in special sanctuaries.

The Lyre Bird is now generally acknowledged to be the prince
of mocking birds. It mimics clearly all bush noises, the chop-
ping of trees, sawing of logs, barking of dogs, clucking of hens,
the singing of native birds. Its dancing mounds are interesting. ©
Near one of these mounds, on the Upper Snowy River, in the
wild cherry scrub, we observed a nest at a height of about thirty
feet from the ground.

Australians! you owe it to mankind in general to see that the
protection supposed to be given to the Lyre Bird is a reality.
Recently, after passing a lady much bedecked with Bird of Para-
dise plumes, I thought it was fortunate the Lyre Bird’s tail was
too large for a lady’s hat. Imagine my surprise when, at the
next street corner (Collins and Spring Streets), I met a lady with
a Lyre Bird’s tail stuck through her head-dress. However, I
have seen no other tail used for such a purpose.

In America the Audubon Society has done splendid work by
disseminating knowledge about American birds, and arousing
public interest in the value of birds. There, also, thorough scien-
tific investigation has been made of the value of insect-eating and
seed-eating birds. It has been stated, as the result of full
research, that one wild pigeon, in whose crop over 7000 weed
seeds were found, was as efficacious in destroying weeds as two
farm laborers.

It is to be noted that no less an agricultural authority than
Professor Gilruth, of the Veterinary School, Melbourne University,
has given it as his deliberate opinion that the Australian farmer
would find life impossible without the aid of the detested Sparrow
as a weed destroyer. This is the judgment of a man whose
opinion is worthy of serious consideration. .

It is open to serious doubt if it pays commercially to kill indis-
criminately any kind of bird found on this continent. It may,
of course, happen that one individual bird has learnt where to get
an easy food supply at the expense of a farmer or orchardist.
Such a bird could be kept away. To kill birds at all times,
because of the damage done by a few at a particular time, is
foolish.

On the lines of the American Audubon Society, the Gould
League of Bird Lovers has recently been established. Just as
Audubon was the great father of American ornithology, so “John
Gould, the bird man,” was the father of Australian ornithology,
Hence his name has been associated with this movement to save
our birds. The movement is progressing by leaps and bounds,

The Victorian branch has a very large body of members, about
40,000 certificates having already been issued to adults and
children. Tasmania has a branch in full operation. In South
Australia bird clubs are doing excellent work, especially amongst
the young people, and Queensland and New South Wales bird-

|
|
a4

ce
251 White-throated Flyeater 256 Black & White Fantail 265 White-shouldered

254 White-shafted Fantail 259 Restless Flycatcher 265a Caterpillar-eater (F. )
255 Rufous Fantail 262 Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike 266 Spotted Ground Bird

(116)

3 Seeeliees

272 Coachwhip Bird
273 Gray-crowned Babbler
276 White-browed Field-\Vren

278 Brown Song Lark
279 Rufous Song Lark
289 Mountain Thrush

(118)

281 White-fronted Chat
28la_,, (Female)
282 Crimson-breasted Chat

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 119

lovers have taken active steps to develop the movement in their
States. A Bird Day, by order of the Minister of Education, Hon.
A. A. Billson, and the Director, Mr. F. Tate, was observed in
Victorian schools in 1909 and 1910, with gratifying results. Bird-
nesting, for the collection of eggs, has practically wholly disap-
peared from our schools, while at most country schools native
birds can be seen nesting on the school grounds, the children
keeping observation notes of nesting and feeding habits of the
birds as part of their work in Naturestudy. What study is of
greater economic importance to this wealthy, though occasionally
insect-troubled, land?

Order XXI.—Perching-Birds—contains 11,500 species, more than
three-fifths of the world’s 19,000 birds. As Perching-Birds
(Passeres) are still undergoing evolution, connecting links still
live, so that it is very difficult to divide the Perching Birds
into well-defined families. Sharpe has divided them into sixty-
one families, but, for several of these, no exact characters that
exclude other birds can be assigned, so that some of these, at least,
are “not worthy of family rank.” However, Sharpe’s classifi-
cation represents the latest thought of scientists on this difficult
matter, so it must be adopted here.

This large order of birds is divided into two sub-orders:—

1. Songless Perching-Birds, made up mainly of South Ameri-
can birds, though two families are included that are represented
in the Australian region—viz., Pittas (Pittidae) and New Zea-
land Wrens (Xenicidae).

2. Song-Birds.

Birds of the second division are again divided into two:—A.:
Abnormal Song-Birds. B.: Normal Song-Birds.

The first group, Abnormal Song-Birds, comprises only the two
remarkable Scrub-Birds (Atrichornithidae) of Australia. One
of these inhabits West Australian scrubs only, while the other
inhabits East Australian (Richmond River) scrubs only.

The breast bone and the muscles of the voice apparatus are
unusual. These birds are about the size of a thrush, and form
“one of the most curious ornithological types of the many fur-
nished by that country” (Australia).

So far, no female bird has been examined, and little is known
about these remarkable, noisy, scrub-haunting birds.

The remaining forty-eight “families” of birds belong to the
Normal Song-Birds. It is interesting to note that Australia con-
tains representatives of twenty-nine families of Song-Birds.
Representatives of but nineteen families have been recorded from
Britain. The Indian Empire, including Burmah and Ceylon,
contains representatives of twenty-two families, North America,
also, of twenty-two families, while in South America twenty-three
families are represented in this highest division of birds.

Again, while only 89 Song-Birds have been recorded as perma-
nent residents of, or regular visitors to, Britain, almost 500 species
of Song-Birds have, so far, been recorded from Australia and Tas-
mania. Of these, 157 have been recorded from Victoria, and are

120 AN AUSTRALIAN BIBD BOOK.

F. 118. HIRUNDINIDAE (6), SWALLOWS, MARTINS, 116
sp.—9(6)A., 25(7)0., 16(2) P., 54(50)E., 10(1)Ne.,

34(27) NI.
3 238*Welcome Swallow (House), Chelidon (Hirundo)
40 neoxena, A., T. =vt. Eur. House Swallow. Mig. c.howses 6.6

Breast, throat, forehead rust-red; abdomen whitish; head,
back, rump black; tail forked, a band of Teles spots;
Tee duller. Flying insects.

illustrated in this volume. And me we are told, this is a land
of songless birds.

Swallows have always attracted much notice, perhaps, because
of their airy play when enjoying themselves after their long
migration flight. It is very difficult to realize that Cuvier and
most scientists of one hundred years ago believed that Swallows
hibernated by burying themselves in the mud in the bottom of
lakes and pools. It is interesting to note, in Gilbert White’s
Natural History of Selborne, the growing doubt concerning this
belief; but, as it was supported by apparently good authority, he
is cautious. Fuller observation shows that there are well-marked
lines of migration, so that the European Swallow migrates some-
times even as far as South Africa, and the Swallows of North
Asia are said to migrate even to Australia. However, in our
winterless clime, migration is not complete, and this year (1910)
there was probably little migration of Swallows. As Swallows
are such rapid fliers, and spend much of their time on the wing,

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 121

1 239 White-backed Swallow (Black and White, White-
i breasted, White-capped), Cheramoeca leucosternum,
A., exc. N. Ter. =vt. Eur. Sand-Martin.
Stat. r, inland. 5.8
Back, throat, chest white; wings, tail, rump, abdomen
black; no rust-red; f., sim. Insects.

2 240*Tree Martin, Tree Swallow, Petrochelidon nigricans,

10 Mol. NeG:oA., -T., Bass St. Ist,. N-Z. =vt:.Eur. Tree
Swallow. Mig. flocks, v.c.. timber 5.1
Head, back black; under, rump whitish-gray; indistinct
whitish collar; rust-red forehead; f., sim. Flying
insects.
241 Fairy Martin, Bottle (Land, Cliff, Retort) Swallow, P.
ane HA; S.A., T. (oce.). Mig. c. cliffs, banks 4.7

Head rust-red; black back; rump, under white; tail
Slightly forked; f., sim. Insects.

F. 119. MUSCICAPIDAE (71), FLYCATCHERS, 690 sp.—
354(346)A., 164(148)0., 14(1)P., 155(151)E.,
5(2)Ne., 20(17) NI.

4 242*Australian Brown Flycatcher, Jacky Winter, Post-

1 boy, Post-sitter, Whitetail, Stump-Bird, Spinks,

Peter-Peter, Microeca fascinans, E.A., S.A.
Stat. c. open, forest 5.2
Upper pale-brown; side tail white; under lighter; chin,
abdomen white; swings tail sideways; f., sim. In-
sects. Songster.
243 Allied Flycatcher (Lesser Brown), M. assimilis, N.
AS oVi. »Cacc:)., WA; . Insects: Stat. c. open, forest 4.6
Like 242, but smaller; outer tail feathers brown at base.

it is not a matter of surprise to find that they have spread the
world over, except to New Zealand, though Tree Swallows are
Said to reach even that distant land occasionally.

The Australian members of the Swallow family present very
different nesting habits. While the Welcome Swallow builds the
well-known cup-like mud nest, the rare White-backed Swallow
drills a two-inch hole into a bank for two or three feet, and there
builds its nest. The Tree Martin (Swallow), on the other hand,
makes no nest, but lays its eggs on leaves placed on the rotten
wood in the hollow of a tree. The Fairy Martin builds a long,
bottle-shaped mud flask. under a bridge, or a ledge, and so is
sometimes called the Bottle or Retort Swallow. Wood-Swallows
and Swifts do not belong to the Swallow family.

The Flycatcher family is a large one, nearly 700 species being
accepted by Dr. Sharpe. More than half of these are restricted
to the Australian region.

The Brown Flycatcher is almost as common as the Willie Wag-
tail (Black and White Fantail). The white feather on each side
of the tail is a valuable guide, though the Groundlark also has
this. So often does it sit on fence posts looking at the passer-by
that it has been called the “Post-Sitter.” Its Sydney name,

122 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

11 244*Scarlet-breasted Robin, Petroica leggei, S.Q., N.S.W.,
ey. Vieira WAS. a:
Mig. c. (winter) open, (summer) forest gullies 5.2
Head, throat, upper black; cap white; white bands on
wing; breast scarlet; lower-abdomen dull-white; outer-
tail white; bill, feet black; f.,* upper, under brown;
breast tinged red; white marks on wing. Insects.

— = = = ———————————————— —— =e a

Jacky Winter, is less formal than Brown Flycatcher—a name
which is already in use for another bird.

The Robin Redbreast of Britain is regarded with affection by
all English children. That feeling has been transferred to the
externally slightly similar “Robin Redbreasts” of this country,
though they are not at all related to the British Robins. Red-
breast is really the name of the English bird, and Robin is per-
haps a term of endearment added to the nnme Redbreast. While
the British bird has a rufous breast, the Australian birds have
a scarlet breast, and are much handsomer birds. The British
Robin is now placed in the Thrush family.

Once given to members of this family, the name Robin has been
adopted for related birds that have no red—e.g., the black
and white Hooded Robin, and the Tasmanian Dusky Robin. The
Shrike Robins belong to the Shrike family, so they need not
be mentioned here. The Scrub Robin of the inland dry scrubs
belongs to the same family as the Coachwhip Bird and the Babbler.

The Fantails and some, at least, of the Flycatchers proper are

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 123

245*Flame-breasted Robin, P. phoenicea, S.Q., N.S.W.,
V;.5.A., T., Bass St. Is.
Mig. c. (winter) open, (summer) mt.-gullies 5.3
Crown, upper sooty-gray; small white forehead; white on
wing; outer-tail white; chin sooty-gray; under scarlet;
under base tail white; f.,* under brown; outer-tail
white; under reddish-gray. Insects.

246 Pink-breasted Robin, P. rhedinogaster, V., S.A., T.,
Bass St. Is. Stat. v.r. deep forest, gullies 5.2
Head, neck, back sooty-black; white spot on forehead;
breast, abdomen rose-pink; under base tail white; f.,
upper brown; buff marks on wing; under gray; under
base tail white. Insects. ‘‘Tick-tick-tick;”’’ like snap-
ping dead twig. :
247 Rose-breasted Robin,P. rosea, E.A.
Insects. Stat. r. dense brushes, gullies 4.5
Crown, throat, upper dark slategray; narrow white fore-
head; chest rich rose-red; under base tail white; outer-
tail white; f., forehead buff; upper grayish-brown.
248*Red-capped Robin, Redhead (e), P. goodenovii, S.Q.,
N:S.W.,. V:, S:A.,. Ci A.,. WA:
Nom. r. open inland scrubs 4.7
Crown, breast scarlet; upper, neck black; white stripe on
wing; abdomen, under tail white; f.,* dark-brown
upper; forehead tinged reddish; throat, breast faintly
tinged red. Insects.
249 Hooded Robin (Black and White, Black, Pied), P.
bicolor, S.Q., N.S.W.,:' V., S.A., W.A., N.W.A:
Stat. r. open, forest 6.5
Head, upper, throat black; patch on wing, abdomen,
under base tail, outer-tail white; f., brownish-gray in-
stead of black. Insects.

known to all. Who does not know and admire the plucky,
though fussy Black and White Fantail (Willie Wagtail), as it
drives a cat or a dog away from the vicinity of its nest, or as it
waits impatiently about the mouth of a grazing cow or horse, or
as it expresses its opinion of itself in the melodious “sweet, pretty
creature,’ heard even late on moonlight nights? The friendly
White-shafted Fantail is almost as well known, as it flits about a
camp or catches fiies near some water-course.

At the Summer School, a Fantail spent some time each day
in the dining-tent. The beautiful Rufous Fantail is just as tame,
but is not quite socommon. The nests of the White-shafted and
Rufous Fantails are things of beauty. The long wine-glass stem
is said by some to serve to drain the water away down from the
nest, or aS a means of carrying the eye down from the nest itself,
so that it is seldom seen, or as a balance, so that the nest is not
tilted too far in windy weather.

The Scissors Grinder, or Restless Flycatcher, is very much like
a Black and White Fantail, but the throat is white, while that

124 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

Pe a, a Ct

2 250 Short-billed Tree-Tit (Sombre), Scrub-Tit, Smicror-
2 nis brevirostris, E.A., S.A., W.A. Stat. c. treetops
Crown brownish-gray; back olive; behind eye reddish-
brown; throat, chest whitish; abdomen citron-yellow;

tail brown at base, banded blackish, spotted white at

tip; short bill brown; f., sim. Insects. Clear whistle.

16 251*White-throated Flyeater, Native Canary (e), Bush-

62 Warbler, Gerygone albigularis, N.A., H.A., N.W.A.
Insects. Musician. Mig. c. tree-tops
Upper ashy-brown; throat, face white; chest, abdomen
greenish-yellow; tail blackish band, white tip; f., sim.

252 Southern Flyeater (Western), White-tailed’ Bush-
Warbler, G. (Pseudogerygone) culicivora, H.A., S.A.,

C.A., W.A. f. sim. Insects. v.r. forests, scrubs
Upper olive-brown; throat, chest light-gray; abdomen
white; tail white base; black band, tip spotted white.

253 Brown Flyeater, Brown Bush-Warbler, G. fusca, E.A.

Stat. c. forest, scrubs
Back, sides reddish-brown; forehead, eyebrow, throat,
chest gray; tail black band, tip spotted white; f., sim.
Insects. Feeble “What is it? What is it?”
10 254*White-shafted Fantail (-Flycatcher, -Flysnapper),
99 Cranky Fan, Devil-Bird, Land-Wagtail (e), Rhipidura
albiscapa, H.A., S.A. Stat. c. open forest
Upper, band across chest sooty-black; under buff; stripe
over eye, mark behind eye, throat, bars on wing,
shafts of tail feathers (except 2 centre feathers) white;
outer-tail, tip white; f., sim. Insects. Musical song.
255*Rufous Fantail (-Flycatcher), R. rufifrons, E.A.

3.0

4.3

4.2

3.8

Part.-Mig. (winter) open, (summer) gullies, brushes 6.2

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

125

Crown, hind-neck brown; forehead, lower-back, base
tail rust-red; throat, centre-abdomen white; chest black;
flanks, under base tail light fawn; f., smaller. Insects.

256* Black and White Fantail (-Flycatcher), Shepherd’s
Companion, Willie Wagtail, Wagtail (e), Frog (Morn-
ing) Bird, R. motacilloides (tricolor), Mol., N.G.,
A. “Sweet pretty little creature.” Stat. v.c. open forest

Upper, throat, breast black; eyebrow, rest under white;

long fan-tail; f.,sim. Insects. Often sings at night.
4 257 Leaden Flycatcher (-Flysnapper), Frog-Bird, Myia-
29 gra rubecula, N.G., A.,T. Mig. r. coast scrubs, gullies

Upper, wings, tail, breast leaden-gray glossed with green;
abdomen, under base tail white; f., throat, breast rust-
red. . Insects. Squeaking note.

258 Satin Flycatcher (Shining), Satin Sparrow (e), UM.
nitida, Louisiade Is., H.A., S.A., T. Mig. r. gullies

Upper, breast blackish metallic-green; abdomen, under
base tail white; f., upper duller; throat, breast rust-
red. Insects. Loud piping whistle.

2 259*Restless Flycatcher, Scissors Grinder, Grinder, Willie
2 Wagtail (e), Dishwasher (e), Who-are-you? Seisura
inquieta, A. Stat. c. open, scrub

Upper shining black; under white; like 256 but throat
white; hovers; f., throat, breast buff. Insects. Harsh
grinding, ‘‘Tu-whee, tu-whee.”

2 260 Black-faced Flycatcher (Carinated), Monarcha mela-
8 nopsis, Timor, N.G., N. Ter., E.A. Stat. r. brushes

Forehead, face, throat black; upper gray; wings, tail
brown; chest gray; abdomen rufous: f., sim. In-
sects. Loud whistle, “Why-yew, witch-yew.”

7.5

6.5

6.5

6.7

126 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

F. 120. CAMPOPHAGIDAE (10), CUCKOO-SHRIKES, Cater-
pillar-eaters, 186 sp.—104(103)A., 63 (61) 0.,
Z(t) S99) a:
1 261 Ground Cuckoo-Shrike, Ground Graucalus, Ground
1 (Long-tailed) Jay (e), Pteropodocys phasianella, Q.,
N.S. W..;. V.; Ci:As, WAS (interior):
Stat. v.r. plains 13

Head, neck, chest, back delicate-gray; abdomén, rump
white, many narrow black bars; under base tail white;
wings, tail black; side tail tipped white; f., sim.

Insects, larvae. Shrill note.

of the Fantail is black. The Grinder is often mentioned in popu-
lar books on bird-life, on account of its peculiar scissors-grinding
note uttered while hovering in search of insects.

More than half the species of birds making up the family of
Caterpillar-eaters are restricted to the Australian region.

The common Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike has many names.
Leatherhead, Blue Pigeon, and Blue Jay are amongst the most
common, and all are wrong. The Leatherhead is a Honey-eater,
and is better known as the Friar-Bird. The Cuckoo-Shrike is not a
Pigeon, but is a perching bird; nor is it a Jay, which is a Northern
Hemisphere bird, a member of the Crow family.

The Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike is partly migratory, being sta-
tionary in the northern parts of its range, but migratory in the
south. It occasionally reaches New Zealand. These birds

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 127

5 262*Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Leatherhead (e), Cherry-

34 Hawk (e), Lapwing (e), Summer (Blue) Bird, Blue
(Gray) Jay (e), Blue (Mountain) Pigeon (e),
Australian Shrike (N.Z.), Coracina robusta (Grau-
calus melanops), Cel., Mol., N.G., A., N.Z. (acce.).

Part.-Mig. v.c. plains, timber 13
Delicate gray; forehead, face, throat black; wing-quills
black edged gray; tail gray base, black centre, tip
white; lifts wings after settling; f., sim. Caterpillars,
insects, fruit. Purring note.
263 Little Cuckoo-Shrike, Varied Graucalus, Lesser Blue-
Jay (e), C. mentalis, E.A. Stat. r. forest 10.5
Upper dark slate-gray; wing-quills black; tail black tipped
white; about eye black; throat, breast gray (adult),
under wing, under base tail white; young many
changes of color; head, neck black; f., sim. Cater-
pillars, insects, berries. Soft rolling note.

1 264 Jardine Caterpillar-eater (-Campophaga), Hdolisoma
35 tenuirostre, N. Ter., H.A. Stat. r. trectops 10.6
Face black; upper, under, centre-tail deep blue-gray;
wing-quills, outer-tail black; f., smaller; upper, wings,
tail feathers brown, edged lighter; under creamy-buff
with many blackish bars; line over eye buff. Insect
larvae. ‘‘Kree-kree.”
2 265*White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater (-Campophaga),
25 Peewee-Lark (e), Lalage tricolor, N.G., A., T.
Mig. c. thick timber 6.5
Crown, hind-neck, upper-back black; shoulders, line on
wing white; rest wing black; lower-back gray; tail
black outer tipped white; under white; somewhat like
248 but throat white; f.,*upper brown; wing marked
light lines; under whitish. Insects. Fine musician,
canary-like song.
F. 121. Pycnonotidae, Bulbuls, 257 sp.—7(6)A., 148(145)O.,
6(4)P., 99(99) E.

undergo many changes of plumage before assuming the adult
dress. The Little Cuckoo-Shrike, in particular, has several
plumage phases, the throat and neck being black in the young,
but gray in the adult. Its Cuckoo-like flight undoubtedly sug-
gested part of the name. When young males are unlike the
adult males, they usually resemble the female. Here, how-
ever, the adults of both sexes are similar.

The male White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater resembles a
Hooded Robin (249). It is supposed to be shy, but at the Tallan-
gatta excursion, two pairs were attending to domestic duties in
the school ground and surprised all by their fine musical per-
formances. The male called ‘“‘Peter, Peter,’ or some syllabize it
“Pretty Joey,’ and then broke into a trilling song that fully
equalled any canary performance I have heard. This was re-
peated frequently during the day. The female seemed to have

128 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD ROOK.

F. 122. TIMELIIDAE (27), BABBLERS, BABBLING-
THRUSHES, 590 sp.—65(65)A., 447(443)0.,

7(3)P., 75(75)E. (an ill-defined family).
6 266*Spotted Ground-Bird (-Thrush, -Dove), Babbling-
6 Thrush, Cinclosoma punctatum, S8.Q., N.S.W., V.,

Sean Wl. Stat. r. scrubby 10.7
Crown, back rufous-brown; back striped black; shoulders
steel-black spotted white; throat, narrow chest band
steel-black; eyebrow, patches on throat white; breast
gray; tail tipped white; f., upper lighter; throat white,
rufous patch at side. Insects. Rise with a whirr-r-r.
Low piping whistle.

a creak in her note, which, however, was musical. The bill is
slender in this species.

The Jardine Caterpillar-eater is rare and very shy. It keeps
to the topmost branches of lofty trees. The male is dark blue-
gray and black, and has a strong bill. The brown female is quite
dissimilar, her whitish under surface being crossed with numerous
brown arrow-head markings.

The Cuckoo-Shrikes and Caterpillar-eaters are, like the
Cuckoos, very fond of caterpiliars, and so should receive all the
protection we can give them.

The family Timeliidae is an ill-defined one, the members of
which are mostly ground birds, or, at least, spend a good deal of
time on the ground.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 129

267 Chestnut-backed Ground-Bird (-rhrush), C. castano-
notum, W.N.S.W., W.V., S.A., W.A., N.W.A.
Stat. r. plains 9
Upper chestnut-brown; eyebrow, side-throat white; throat,
chest black; shoulder black spotted white; tail tipped
white; f., duller; throat, chest gray. Insects.
1 268 Pilot Bird, Pycnoptilus floccosus, E.N.S.W., H.V.

i Stat. v.r. dense scrubby gullies 6.7
Rich dark-brown; throat rufous mottled dusky; f., sim.
Insects. ‘‘Guinea-a-week.”’
3 269 Scrub-Robin, Drymodcs brunneipygius, N.S.W., V.,;
D S.A. (interior). Stat.. v.r. mallee, scrub 8

Upper brown; wings brown barred white; tail brown,
slightly tipped white; under grayish-brown; long legs;
shy, runs; f., smaller. Insects. Monotonous whistle.

2 270 Chestnut-rumped Ground-Wren, Red-rumped Scrub-
2 Warbler, Hylacola pyrrhopygia, N.S.W., V., S.A.
Stat. v.r. dry scrubs 5.3

Upper brown; base tail chestnut-red, tip white; eyebrow
white; under streaked black, white; f., sim. Agree-
able song.

271 Shy Ground-Wren (Red-rumped, Cautious, Rufous-
rumped), Shy Scrub-Warbler, H. cauta, V., S.A.,
W.A. Stat. v.r. dry scrubs 5.7
Like 270, but small white patch near outer edge of wing;
shier; f., sim. Insects.
3 272*Coachwhip Bird (Whip, Stockwhip), Psophodes
3 crepitans, E.S.Q., E.N.S.W., E.V.
Stat. c. dense scrubs 10

Dark olive-green; black crest, breast; white side of throat,
centre of abdomen, tip-tail; f., smaller, duller. Insects.
Loud full note ends in a whip crack.

The Spotted and Chestnut-backed Ground-Birds are rare
und are very quiet and shy as they run back under the shade of
a bush. Thus, they are seldom seen, though they are very beau-
tiful in their richly-spotted plumage. Driving along mallee
roads, one sometimes sees these birds make a short, quick run
to cover. <A good name is required for them. Ground-Bird
is not very definite.

The rich brown Pilot Bird rarely flies, but keeps low down
in the dense tangles and undergrowths in country like that about
Ferntree Gully. It must be patiently waited for, as it is very
shy. It, apparently, values its services highly, for it often calls
**A-cuinea-a-week.”’

The larger Scrub-Robin which lives only in the interior flies
little, but, as shown in the figure, it has long legs, suitable for run-
ning. Its color is not the dark-brown suitable for dark scrubs,
but is the light-brown which matches the dead mallee twigs lying
so thickly on the ground under the scrub. We met the Scrub-
Robin on Eyre Peninsula, but it was difficult to get a second look

130 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

4 273*Gray-crowned Babbler, Chatterer (e), Cackler, Bar-
34 ker, Pine (Cat (e), Dog) Bird, Codlin-Moth-eater,
Hopper, Jumper (e), Yahoo, Happy Family, Happy
Jack, Twelve Apostles (e), Apostle-Bird (e), Poma-
torhinus frivolus (temporalis), E.A., S.A.
Stat. flocks, c. open timber 11

Dark brown; crown light-gray; brow white; throat, breast
white; tail tipped white; bill long black, curved; runs;

f., sim. Insects. Many peculiar notes, noisy.

at it. Almost as rare are the closely-similar Chestnut-rumped
and Red-rumped Ground-Wrens. Few will see these birds, as
they live only in the drier parts.

That interesting bird—the Coachwhip Bird—is far more often
heard than seen. Along the densely-scrubbed creeks of Eastern
Australia, the interesting whip-crack of this bird is very often
heard. An exact representative lives in West Australian scrubs.
I was surprised to hear, in several places lately, the Rufous-
breasted Whistler (Thickhead) called the Coachwhip Bird. It
has been found that both birds take part in the peculiar call
which has a loud crack very like that of a whip. This bird
dwells in the dense eastern scrubs, and uses its short wings but
little for flight. It was seen, however, recently at Sandringham,
a few miles from Melbourne.

The Australian Babblers are of interest from all points of view.
Their habits are peculiar; their calls are varied and usually

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 131

274 White-browed Babbler, Go-aways, Stick-Birds, P.
superciliosus, A. inland (exc. N. Ter., N.Q.).
Stat, flocks, c. open timber 8
Like 273, but smaller; crown dark-brown; f.,sim. Insects.
‘Most noisy bird I ever observed.’”’ (G.) Many notes.

275 Chestnut-crowned Babbler, P. ruficeps, N.S.W., V.,
S.A. (interior). Insects. Noisy.- Stat. c. timber 8.5
Like 273, 274, but crown, hind-neck chestnut; f., sim.
7 276*White-browed Field-Wren, White-lored Reed-Lark,
t Rush Warbler (e), Stink-Bird, Calamanthus albiloris,
INES. Ws, V, 9. A. Stat. c. grass, heath 65
Greenish-brown streaked black; face, brow white; throat
whitish streaked black; erect tail; shy; f., sim. In-
sects. Pretty song on bush-top.
277 Field-Wren, Field Reed-Lark, C. campestris, V., S.A.,
N.W.A. Stat. v.r. open plains 4.6
Upper ashy-brown streaked dark-brown; upper base tail
rufous-brown; side tail tipped white, banded black;
forehead rufous streaked dark-brown; eyebrow white;
under whitish streaked dark-brown; f., sim. Insects.
2 278*Brown Song-Lark (Black-breasted), Australian Sky-
2 lark, Harvest-Bird, Singing-Lark, Corn-Crake (e),
‘Cincloramphus cruralis, A. exc. C.A. Mig. c. crops 9
Dark-brown, upper feathers edged lighter; abdomen black-
ish; f., much smaller; paler; eyebrow, under whitish.
Insects. “Fine songster, ranks with the Skylark;”
sings flying like Skylark.
279*Rufous Song-Lark (Rufous-tinted), Rufous-rumped
Singing-Lark, Skylark, C. rufescens, A.
Mig. c. grass, crops 17.5
Upper brown, feathers edged lighter; upper base tail
rufous; brow, throat whitish; under brownish-gray;
side face darker; f., smaller; face not dark. Insects.
“Amongst the richest and sweetest of Australian bird
songs.” Sings flying like Skylark.

?

pleasant, and their large domed stick nests are common objects
along a country road. Usually seen in companies of from four
to a dozen, these birds work energetically and systematically.
They are entirely insectivorous, and so are of great value econo-
mically. They are tame, as I have watched a flock at work in
the gardens in the middle of a town such as Dunolly. They
occasionally visit orchards and attack the codlin moth pupae. They
are said never to squabble, and*so are called ‘‘Happy Family” or
“Happy Jacks.” Their names, however, are many. The com-
monest is, perhaps, “Catbird.” There is a “Catbird,’ a Bower-
Bird, in Queensland, so the use of that name should be discour-
aged. Babblers sometimes make six or seven nests, laying only in
one. The others are said to be shelter nests, or possibly play
nests.

132 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

F. 123. Troglodytidae, Wrens, 255 sp.—2(1)A., 18(17)O.,
10(10)P., 48(82) Ne., 194(183) Nl.

F. 124. Cinclidae, Dippers, Water-Ouzels, 19 sp.—5(2)O.,
11(8) P., 1(0) Ne., 6(5) NI.

F. 125. Mimidae, Mocking-Birds, Thrashers, 71 sp.—17(10)Ne.,
61 (54) N1.

F. 126. TURDIDAE (8), THRUSHES (Blackbird (Br.),Night-
ingale, Robin (Br.), Wheatear, Bluebird (Am.),
Redstart, HedgeSparrow), 588 sp.—48(44)A.,
167(117)0., 124(53)P., 192(163)E., 29(14)Ne,

132 (118) Nl.
1 279aBlackbird, Turdus merula, EHur., N. Afr., Egypt,
114 Syria, Persia, Azores, A. (introduced). Stat.c. timber 10

Black; bill yellow; f., dark-brown; breast reddish-brown
marked darker. Insects, snails, fruit. Songster.

That pleasing songster—the White-browed Field-Wren—is uni-
formly streaked with black both above and below. It is fairly
common, but is not often seen unless looked for. Dogs will fol-
low the scent of this bird, as they do that of a quail; so it is
sometimes called the Stink-Bird by sportsmen.

Now we come to two of the four native Skylarks. Who has
not, while lying on his back on the grass enjoying a rest in the
warm sunshine, felt pleasure at the beautiful song of the Rufous
Song-Lark as it soars singing away so high overhead? The

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 133

4 280*Australian Mountain Thrush (Ground), King Thrush,
13 Turdus (Oreocichla) lunulata, N.S.W., V., S.A.
Stat. ec. coastal scrubs, mt. gullies 10.5
Upper brown marked with black half-moons; under white
stained buff on breast, flanks, marked with black half-

moons; f., sim. Snails, insects, worms.
1 280aSong Thrush, 7. musicus, Eur., W. Asia, India, A.
24 (introduced). stat. ¢. gardens. . 9
Upper brown; breast yellowish spotted brown; throat,
abdomen white; f., sim. Snails, insects, worms.

Famous singer.
5 281*White-fronted Chat, Banded Tintac, Tang, Ringlet
5 (e), Clipper, Nun, Dottrel (e), Jenny-Wren (e),
Ballyhead, Gar, Ringneck (e), Epthianura albi-
frons, Bass St. Is., T., A exc. N. Ter.
Insects. Dull metallic ‘‘tang.” Mig. v.c. grass 4.5
Forehead, face, under, tip tail white; back gray; band on
chest, wings, tail black; f.,* duller, faint band on chest.

282*Crimson-breasted Chat (Tricolored), Saltbush Can-
ary (e), HZ. tricolor, A. exc. N. Ter. Mig. r. timber 4.3
Crown, base tail, breast, abdomen scarlet; face, back of
head, back dark-brown; tip-tail spotted white; throat,
under base tail white; f., duller. Insects.
283 Orange-fronted Chat, Saltbush Canary, H. aurifrons,
A. exe. N. Ter. Nom. r. open plains 4.3
Head, upper base tail, under golden-orange; back brown;
tip tail spotted white; chin black; f., duller. Grass-
hoppers, other insects.
F. 127. SYLVIIDAE (79), WARBLERS (Whitethroat, Black-
cap (Br.), Chiffchaff), 525 sp.—107(102)A.,
137 (84) 0., 108(22) P., 267(228)E., 1(0) Ne.

British Skylark often receives the credit for the harmony of
our four Skylarks. Two belong to this family, and two come
later with the Larks and Pipits. One is larger and darker on
the breast, hence the name Black-breasted Song-Lark. I saw
many of these birds, when examining the glacial deposits at Hal-
let’s Cove, near Adelaide. As there was a continuous chorus
of these fine songsters above the crops, the reasoa for the name
Harvest Birds was apparent.

The Thrush family (7Twrdidae) includes the British Song
Thrush, Blackbird, Nightingale, and many other famous songsters,
The Australian Mountain-Thrush is larger and more prettily
marked, but is not such a good songster as its European cousin—
the Song-Thrush. It, however, has one of its calls closely similar
to one of the calls of its more famous relative. It is a quiet,
shy bird, though I walked within five feet of one this morning as
it was busy digging up worms on the lawn in the Melbourne
Botanic Gardens. I left it at work pleased that my presence
had caused no feeling of fear in so beautiful and so shy a bird.
Its beautiful moss-covered nest is built even so early as July.

134 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

It flies little, preferring to keep near the dark scrubs, especially
the tea-tree scrub along the coast.

The Song-Thrush and Blackbird have been successfully intro-
duced, and they are common in suburban gardens. Their de-
lightful song makes richer the lives of busy city dwellers, though
their attentions to soft fruits are not always appreciated. For
Sweetness and fulness of notes, however, these introduced birds
cannot compare with our Harmonious Shrike-Thrush (315), de
servedly named harmonica by Latham, a British ornithologist.
The call of the latter bird, however, is not so continuous as that of
the introduced birds.

The four Australian birds known as Chats take the next sub-
family to themselves. The common Chat is known as a “Tang,”
“Nun. Yand= = fin-tac While the White-fronted Chat is very
common in the South, the beautiful Crimson-breasted Chat, with
its crimson cap and pure white throat, and the Orange-fronted
Chat, are found mostly in the dry interior, where they are known
as Salt-bush Canaries. A good common name is urgently re
quired for this Australian sub-family of birds. North calls them
Nuns; but that name is preoccupied, and is suitable only
for one of them. I was much interested last week (January,
1911) to see a male Whitefronted Chat feeding a fully-fledged
young Bronze Cuckoo. Two female Sparrows were also in at-
tendance, one of which fed the Cuckoo three times while I was
observing it. A female Bronze Cuckoo sat for some time by the
young one, but did not interfere, or offer to feed it. The Chat
returned the fifth time for the purpose of feeding the young
Cuckoo, when the passing of a motor-car broke up the party.
The young Cuckoo flew across the road and some distance on to
a bush, where it resumed its constant wheezing whine. It is
unusual to find birds so far apart as a Finch, like the Sparrow and
a member of the Thrush family, like the Chat, feeding the one
young Cuckoo. |

The Warbler family, Sylviidae, is a large one, found all through
the Eastern Hemisphere. One migratory species crosses Behring
Strait each year to summer in Alaska.

As no less than 79 Australian small birds have been grouped
in this family, it is of considerable importance to our bird lovers.
At the head of the family, we have an exact representative of the
Reed-Warbler of Europe in the delightful plain-brown songster
which charms all who frequent river sides. Its song is “‘louder
and more melodious than that of any of its European relations
except” the Reed-Warbler. It is a welcome spring visitor, and
can be heard on any spring or summer day in the Botanic Gar-
dens, or in any reed bed by stream or lake.

The next bird is the Australian representative of the Fantail-
Warblers (Cisticola). These birds are related to the Tailor-Bird.
Much has been written of the Tailor-Bird of India which so
cleverly sews leaves together to enclose its nest, but few know
we Lave a bird that does similar work when building its nest.

yn rl ana ade babe bl

oiler eb!

ct Acar ll i

lebanon cereal ett te

a- nenian mete

f

| Sees za

284 Aust. Reed-Warbler
285 ,, Fantail-Warbler
285 Grass-Bird

287

287 Speckled Warbler
288 Little Tit-Warbler
289 Brown Tit-Warbler

(135)

291 Striated Tit-Warbler
293 Yellow-tailed Tit-Warbler
297 White-browed Scrub-Wren

300 Superb-Warbler 302 White-winzed Superb-Warbler 312 Masked Wood-Swallow
300a = ,, (Female) 306 Bristle Bird - 313 Wood-Swallow
304 Emu Wren 311 White-browed Wood-Swallow 315 Gray Shrike-Thrush

(137)

aes

319 Australian Butcher-Bird
320 Yellow-breasted Shrike-Tit
321 Crested Bell-Bird

322 Golden-breasted Whistler
322a 55 a (Female)
323 Rufous-breasted Whistler
(139)

Soreness i

323a Ditto (F.)

326 Shrike

-Robin

327 Whiteface

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 141

Dr. Sharpe has decided that our bird is identical with an Indian ©
species, so we must take the Indian name—Golden-headed Fantail-
Warbler. This bird moults twice a year. At the autumn moult,
it obtains a long tail and a streaked crown. The four Australian
species described by Gould are now known to be but different
forms of the one species which undergoes seasonal change.

Speckled Jack, the Speckled Warbler (Little Field-Wren), is
a tame little bird with a pleasing song. Its chocolate-colored
egg used to be much valued in the days when schoolboys col-
lected eggs. It walks instead of hopping.

The Yellow-tailed Tit-Warbler (Acanthiza) is a member of an
Australian genus, which has been split up into 27 species, all of
which, except a New Guinea form, are restricted to Australia.
Some are pleasing songsters. The two-storied nest of the Yel-
low-tail is well known and is peculiar. What is the use of the
upper nest—for the male to rest in, to delude the cuckoo, or what?

These birds are not Tits (Paridae). They have been called
Thornbills by Mr. A. J. North. The name Tit-Warbler has been
adopted by the ‘‘names” sub-committee of the Royal Australasian
Ornithologists’ Union, pending the completion of the Australian
Check-List. The common White-browed Scrub-Wren is not a
Wren, but is a Warbler. He is the best known of the genus,
though even he is seldom seen. His dark-brown color leads
one to suspect a dark scrub as his dwelling place. Though com-
mon in places, he is seldom noticed, but if you sit down in a quiet
scrubby corner, his inquisitiveness will often impel him to run
almost over your feet. Some light spots on the shoulder and the
white eyebrow will assist you in identifying him. His mouse-
like run further assists in identification.

Amongst the glories of the bird world, the Superb-Warbler
stands high. His beautiful enamel-blue and black costume, and his
cheery, fussy song justify his name. He is generally accompanied
by four or five plain-colored mates, and is said to lose his beau-
tiful coat of blue each autumn, but the balance of evidence now
seems to be with Mr. Keartland and Dr. Horne, who claim that.
he gets the permanent beautiful coat late in life (that is, when
three or four years old), and does not lose it afterwards, except
for a few days at moulting time. But, being so conspicuous, he
soon falls a prey to one of his numerous enemies, of whom the
small boy with a pea-rifle is probably the worst. I, too fre-
quently, hear of these enemies of their country being caught with
three or four of these lovely little birds in their possession.
However, Bird Day in the schools did much good, and the next
generation of boy will probably have less of the savage in him.

The Emu-Wren, which has tail feathers like Emu feathers, is
easily recognized if seen. It is difficult to cause it to fly out
of the rushes round a swamp. The Bristle-Birds are Australian,
and are fairly common in some dense scrubs.

Grass-Wrens are not Wrens, but are placed in the Warbler
family. They are Central Australian birds. They seldom fly,
but “progress like a rubber ball’ with great swiftness. They

142 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

2 284*Australian Reed-Warbler, Reed-Bird. (Nightingale),
29 Water-Sparrow (e), Acrocephalus australis, Lombok,
H.A., S.A., 1. =vt. Eur. Reed-Warbler. Mig. c. reeds

Brown; head darker; under lighter; throat whitish; bill
long, pointed; f., sim. Insects. Rich melodious song.

1 285*Golden-headed Fantail-Warbler, Grass-Warbler (Ex-
51 iled), Corn (Barley) Bird, Cisticola exilis, Ind., For-
mosa ‘to A. (exe. C:A:), Kine Is, Stat. nr. 97ass, crops
Golden-buff; upper streaked blackish; tail 1.2in., blackish,
edged buff: f., crown streaked black. Winter* crown
streaked black; throat whitish; tail 1.9in.; f., sim.

3 286*Grass-Bird (Liftle Reed), Marsh-Warbler, Megalurus
10 gramineus, N.S.W., V., S.A., T. Stat. v.r. ftussocks
Upper brown streaked, lined blackish; throat} chest gray
faintly streaked black; tail reddish-brown; f., sim.
Insects. “Four or five plaintive notes.”

1 287*Speckled Warbler, Little Field-Lark (-Wren), Speck-

ul led Jack, Blood Tit (e), Jenny-Wren (e), Chthonicola

sagittata, H.A., S.A. Stat. r. grass

Under whitish boldly streaked black; head brown faintly

streaked white; back brown, feathers edged lighter;

tip-tail spotted white; f., sim. Insects. Singer.

26 288*Little Tit-Warbler (Yellow), Yeilow-breasted Thorn-

27 bill, Tomtit, Little Tit, Acanthiza nana, 8.Q, N.S.W.,

Vie Ag Stat. ce) trees

Upper dull olive-green; under yellow; tail grayish-brown,
black “band f.; simsis Insects. “-Digstizentizs:

289* Brown Tit-Warbler (Tit), Scrub Thornbill, Dwarf

Warbler, A. pusilla, H.A., S.A. Stat. c. scrub

Upper, wings brown; tail brown, banded black, slightly

tipped white; throat, chest spotted black and white;
flanks, abdomen buff; f., sim. Insects. Singer,

6.2

3.6

5.2

ct

3.9

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 143

290 Red-rumped Tit-Warbler (Tit), Rufous-rumped
Thornbill, A. pvyrrhopygia, N.S.W., V., S.A: (Cin-
terior). Stat. v-r. mallee. scrubs. 4

Upper pale olive-brown; forehead blackish-brown, fea-
thers tipped white; throat, chest mottled gray, white;
abdomen whitish; upper base tail rufous; tail olive,
black band, white tip; f., sim. Insects.

291*Striated Tit-Warbler, Striped Tit, Striped-crowned
Thornbill, A. lineata, H.A., S.A. Stat. c. timber. 3.7

Throat, chest whitish streaked black; head brown streaked
whitish; back olive-brown; flanks, abdomen yellowish;
tail black band; f., sim. Insects. Songster.

292 Chestnut-rumped Tit-Warbler (Thornbill), A. wropy-
gialis, A. exe. C.A., N. Ter. Stat. r. scrubs, forests 3.6

Upper brown; upper base tail rich reddish-chestnut; tail
brownish-black tipped white; under whitish; f., sim.

293*Yellow-tailed Tit-Warbler, Yellow-rumped Thornbill
(-Tit), Yellow-tail, Geobasileus, A. chrysorrhoda, E.A.,
SrAnd WA a Te Stat. v.c. gardens, timber 3.8

Upper olivebrown; base tail bright-yellow; under yellow-
ish-white; forehead black spotted white; cheeks, throat,
line over eye grayish-white; f., sim. Insects. Singer.

294 Buff-tailed Tit-Warbler, Buff-rumped Thornbill (Tit),
A. reguloides, H.A., S.A. Stat. c. open timber 4.3

Upper olive-brown; upper base tail pale yellow; throat,
chest white slightly marked brown; forehead feathers
tipped lighter; f., sim. Insects. Song.

10 295 Redthroat, Red-throated Scrub-Wren, Sericornis

16 brunned. N2SW.aN:; S5-G.. W.A: Stat. v.r. scrubs 4.5

Upper dark-brown; tail brownish-black tipped white;
throat rufous; under brownish-gray; f., sim. Insects.

“Fine song equal to that of any small bird,”

144 AN AUSTRALIAN. BIRD BOOK.

296 Yellow-throated Scrub-Wren, Devil Bird, S. bar-
bata, B.Q., E.N.S.W., E.V. Stat. r. coastal scrubs
Crown, upper brown tinged yellow; side of face, round
eye, ear black; white line over eye; throat yellow;
chest, flanks olive-brown; centre abdomen white; f.,
smaller; duller. Insects. Pleasing rich note.
297* White-browed Scrub-Wren (White-fronted), S. fron-
talis, H.A., S.A., Kent Group. Stat. c. wndergrowth
Upper dark-brown; throat white streaked dusky; brow
white; chest, abdomen light-yellow; flanks olive-brown;
small distinct white marks on shoulder: f., duller,
throat not streaked. Insects. Inward warble.
298 Large-billed Scrub-Wren, 8S. magnirostris, B.A.
Stat. v.r. tree-tops, coast, gully scrubs
Brown; rump rufous; about bill tawny; eye, long Dill
black; legs flesh-color; f., sim. Insects.
299 Spotted Scrub-Wren (Striated), S. maculata, V.,
S.A., Kangaroo Is., W.A. Stat. v.r. scrubby
Upper brown; tail black band tipped white; forehead, side
of face black; stripe above, very small patch below eye,
marks on edge of wing white; under grayish-white,
sometimes washed yellow; throat, chest grayish-white
spotted (striated) black; f., duller. Insects.
23 300*Superb-Warbler, Blue-Wren (-Bonnet, -Tit, -Cap,
23 -Head), Mormon-Wren, Cocktail, Malurus cyanoch-
lamys, H.A., S.A., Kangaroo Is. Stat. v.c. gardens
Crown, behind ear, upper-back enamel-blue; throat, chest,
hind-neck, lower-back black; tail deep-blue; f.,.* brown;
round eye reddish-brown; under lighter; bill reddish-
brown. Insects. “Animated song.” “Lovely bird.”
301 Black-backed Superb-Warbler (Wren), M. melano-

5.5

4.5

4.7

4.5

notus, H.A., C.S.A. (inland), Stat. r. scrubs 4.7

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD. BOOK.

145

Crown, under, upper-back, upper and under base tail beau-
tiful metallic blue; behind ear verditer-blue; side of
face, band on back, faint band across chest black; wing
green; tail greenish-blue; f., side of face, round eye
reddish-brown; upper brown; under whitish; wings
brown; tail green. Insects.

$02*White-winged Superb-Warbler (Wren), M. cyanotus

(leucopterus), A. (exc. N. Ter.). r. saltbush, plains

Above, below deep cobalt-blue; wings white; quills brown;
tail dark-blue; f., upper brown, under white tinged
brown. Insects.

303 Purple-backed Superb Warbler (Wren), WM. assi-

milis, A. Stat. v.r. scrubs

Crown, side of head, back purplish-blue; throat, chest, band
on upper back, rump black; chestnut-red patch inner
wing; rest wing brown; abdomen white; tail dark-
blue tipped white; f., brown; about eye rich chestnut;
under whitish; tail greenish-blue. Insects.

4 304*Emu-Wren, Stick-tail, Stipiturus malachurus, S8.A.,
4 E.A., W.A., f., throat brown. Insects. Stat. c. tussocks

Upper brown streaked rufous; tail feathers long loosely

webbed, erect; throat blue; abdomen brown; runs,
305 Mallee Emu-Wren, S. mallee, N.W.V.
Stat. v.r. Spinifex (Triodia)

Like 304, but forehead chestnut; throat, chest light pur-
plish-blue; abdomen grayish-brown.

4 306*Bristle-Bird, Sphenura brachyptera, N.S.W., EH.V.,

4 Insects. Rich, varied notes. Stat. v.r. undergrowth

Brown; throat, centre-breast lighter; shy; runs; f., sim.

307 Rufous Bristle-Bird (Rufous-headed), S. broadbenti,
W.V., S.A. (Otway Ranges to Mt. Lofty).

4.8

8.8

Rufous-brown; f., sim. Insects. Stat. v.r. dense scrub 10.5

146 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR.

10 308 Grass-Wren, Amytornis textilis, V., C.A., W.A.
10 Stat. v.r. plains, dense scrubs 6.2
Upper dark-brown striped white; under paler; flanks rust-
red; seldom flies; progresses like a rubber bail; tail
erect; f., sim. Insects.
309 Striated Grass-Wren (Black-cheeked), <A. striatus,
INGSoW.., We C.A.> WA, Stat. v.r. dense scrubs 6.8
Like 3808, but black stripe on cheek; plumage strongly
rufous; runs, seldom flies; f., sim. Insects.

are of the light tawny color that so well matches desert sands.
It is very difficult to get a second look at one, as it hides in the
grass and scrub, and almost refuses to be flushed. Sometimes it
nearly allows itself to be walked upon.

Fourteen of the 17 members of the Wood-Swallow family
are confined to the Australian region. The White-rumped
Wood-Swallow extends from Australia through the islands to the
Andaman Islands; another kind is found in India. Ceylon, and
Burma. Some kinds are migratory. They appear suddenly in great
companies, build a flimsy, careless nest in any spot high or low,
and soon have the young on the wing. They are the “Blue-Birds,”
“Summer-Birds,”’ or “Martins” of our youth. Some of these
birds have the remarkable habit of hanging in a cluster similar
to a great swarm of bees. Like Honey-eaters, they take honey
from the flowering eucalypts. The street trees of Bendigo were
alive with these birds in May, 1909. The Sordid Wood-Swallow

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 147

F. 128. Vireonidac, Vireos, Greenlets, 112 sp.—24(7)Nc.,
105(88) NI.
KF. 129. Ampelidae, Waxwings, Cedar-Bird, 10 sp.—1(0)O.,
2i(O) eo CO) NGS UCD INI
F. 1380. ARTAMIDAE (12), WOOD-SWALLOWS, Swallow-
shrikes, 17 sp:--15(14)A., 2(1)0., 1¢€1)#.
9 310 White-rumped Wood-Swallow (Swallow - Shrike),
16 Artamus leucogaster, Andaman Is., Mal. Arch.,
Papuan Is., A. Mig. r. timber 17.4
Head, neck grayish-black; back brown; tail, wing-quills
black; rump, breast, abdomen white; f., sim. Insects.
Plaintive note.
311*White-browed Wood-Swallow, Summer-Bird, Martin
(e), A. superciliosus, H.A., S.A., N.W.A.
Mig. v.c. timber’ 8
Slaty-gray; white eyebrow; abdomen rich chestnut; tail
tipped white; f., faint white eyebrow. Insects, honey.
“Sweet, clear whistling note.”
312*Masked Wood-Swallow, Bush (Blue) Martin (e), A.
personatus, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A., N.W.A.
Mig. c. timber 8
Dark-gray upper; pure white edge to jet-black throat
patch; under gray; tail tipped white; f., duller. In-
sects.
313*Wood-Swallow (Sordid, Dusky), Jacky-Martin, Mar-
tin (e), A. tencbrosus, A., T., Bass St. Is.
Part-Mig. v.c. timber 7.3
Smoky vinous-gray; wing-quills black; white line in edge
of wing; tail tipped white; bill blue tipped black; f.,
sim. Insects.
KF. 181. Vangidae, 12 sp. E. (Madagascar).

is partly migratory, and lives in small companies. Most towns
in Southern Australia have a company of these birds in the
neighborhoud. One such company lives in the Domain, near the
entrance to the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

These tame woodland birds, admirable in their graceful wheel-
ing and floating flight, destroy numbers of destructive insects.
Occasionally, a company has discovered that a good food supply
can easily be obtained close to a beehive. Thus rarely they do
a slight amount of harm, but the balance is overwhelmingly in
their favor.

Family 132—Wood-Shrikes—contains two of the best known of
Australian birds, for they are to be found about almost every
town and city, as well as in the country. The well-known Magpie-
Lark has but one close cousin in the world, a New Guinea bird.
Its mud nest is familiar to country boys. It is notable that, ex-
cepting Swallows, only two other Australian birds build a mud
nest. These birds, the Apostle-Bird and the White-winged
Chough, are mentioned later. Its dainty, well-kept plumage ren-
ders the Magpie-Lark one of the most graceful of birds. Its

148 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

F. 132. PRIONOPIDAE (11), WOOD-SHRIKES, 95 sp.—
55(55)A., 15(15)0., 25(25) EB.
1 314 Magpie-Lark, Murray (Little) Magpie (e), Mudlark
2 (e), Soldiers, Peewee (e), Peewit (e), Pugwall,
_ Grallina picata, A., T. (acc.).
Stat. v.c. (near water) open, timber 10.5
Black and white; slender stilt-likelegs; throat white (f.),
black (m.); mud nest. Insects, pond-snails. ‘‘Pee-wee.”
flight is ‘unlike that of any bird known to me.” (Gould.) “It
flies in a straight line, with a heavy, flapping motion of the
wings.” Its loud call is responsible for the name of Pee-wee,
a common name for a European Plover; its black and white color-
ing for the vernacular name—Magpie-Lark.

This bird is of great value, as it consumes large quantities of
pond snails, the necessary host of the early stages of the liver
fluke. Exterminate the pond snails, and immediately the liver
fluke is completely destroyed, and all future loss from its ravages
is saved to the pastoralists. In 1846, fluke caused a loss of
£10,000,000 in England alone, so it is a serious pest, and may yet
prove a very expensive one to Australia.

This bird’s scientific position is disputed. It has been classed
with Crows and with Thrushes. Gould placed it by itself. Dr.
Sharpe has, however, placed it in the family Prionopidae. Its
vocal organs are anomalous, and it may be that its position is not
finally settled yet.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 149

10 315*Gray Shrike-hrush (Harmonious), Gray (Native)
10 Thrush, Pluff, Mourner, Colluricincla harmonica,
H.A., S.A. Stat. c. timber 9.5
Gray; back umber-brown; face whitish; under lighter;
f., throat streaked dusky. Insects. Powerful swelling
harmonious note.
F. 133. Aerocharidae, 1 sp. E. (Madagascar).
F. 184. LANIIDAE (42), SHRIKES, 313 sp.—134(132)A.,
36(22)0., 33(10)P., 140(127)EB., 6(6)Ne., 1(1)NL
5 316 Black-backed Magpie, Piping Crow-Shrike (Varied),
5) Organ (Flute) Bird, Singing White Crow (e), Gym-
norhina tibicen, B.A., S.A., W.A. Stat. v.c. open 17
Black; hind-neck, upper under base tail, patch on wing
white; f., grayish instead of white. Insects. ad BY)
describe the note of this bird is beyond the power of
my pen.” (Gould.) ‘Wonderfully modulated whistle
. . . « unequalled among European birds.” (Alfred
Russel Wallace).
317 White-backed Magpie (Crow-Shrike), G. leuconota,
N.S.W., V., S.A., C.A., W.A. Stat. v.c. open 18
Upper white, except head, tip-tail, wing-quills black; under
black; f., back gray. Insects. Glorious carol, see 316.
8 318 Black-throated Butcher-Bird (Crow-Shrike), Crac-
11 ticus nigrigularis, A. exc. N. Ter.
Stat. v.r. timber 13.5
Head, neck, chest black; hind-neck, centre-wing, rump,
under white; tail black, side tipped white; f., sim.
Insects, mice. One of the best of songsters, rich notes.
319*Australian Butcher-Bird (Shrike), Collared Crow-
Shrike, Derwent (Tasmanian, Whistling) Jackass,
Durbaner, C. destructor, H.A., S.A., W.A.
Stat. v.c. timber 11.2
Head, neck black; back gray; side hind-neck, upper base
tail, patch on wing white; under grayish-white; f.,
duller. Insects, mice, birds. Fine song (autumn);
rich notes.

Placed by Sharpe in the same family are the Shrike-Thrushes,
strictly Australian birds. The glorious ‘‘powerful swelling
notes” of our common bird caused Latham to bestow the well-
deserved name harmonica on it. Yet there are some who talk
of Australia as a land of songless birds. This falsehood seems
to have had its origin in a note written by Caley, who, about
1825, collected near Sydney, for the Linnean Society of London.
As quoted by North, he said, ‘‘They (Superb-Warblers) are good
songsters, and, I may say, almost the only ones in the colony.”
Fortunately, the Harmonious Shrike-Thrush is becoming com-
mon and tame about school grounds and most towns. It is
occasionally to be heard in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens.

Family 134 contains the famous Shrikes, those birds which are
said to keep a butcher’s shop. Not being ‘birds of prey,” they

150 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

3 320*Yellow-breasted Shrike-Tit (Yellow-bellied, Frontal,
3 Crested), Falcon-Shrike, F'alcunculus frontatus, E.A..,
S.A. Stat. r. timber 17.5
Upper green; crest, throat, line through eye black; patch
above eye, patch below eye white; under bright-yellow;
strong hooked bill; f., throat green. Insects. Musical
notes.

do not hold their prey in their feet, so they fasten it in the fork
of a tree, or on a thorn. Then they proceed to eat it, or leave it
until they are hungry. Our Shrike or Butcher-Bird has the same
habit.

The Australian Butcher-Bird has a rich, mellow, flute-like note,
which is more frequently heard in autumn. Some consider his
one of the best of bird-notes. His strongly-hooked bill renders
him a terror to small birds, including caged Canaries.

That glorious songster, the Australian Magpie, is placed in this
family. These Australian songsters are now divided into five
closely-similar species, all possessing the same rich carol. The
Tasmanian bird was formerly called the “Organ-Bird.” This Aus-
tralian musician is responsible for the European epigram of
“white Crows that sing.” These birds are not Crows, nor are
they white, but they sing, so that Alfred Russel Wallace has de-
clared that no European songbird can equal them. Gould
found it impossible to describe their “carol,” and regretted that
“his readers could not,” as he had done, ‘‘listen to the birds in their

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 151

1 321*Crested Bell-Bird, Oreoica cristata, A. Stat. c. timber 9
1 Upper brown; top of head black, side-head gray; white on
face, throat; black from eye to black chest band;
abdomen white tinged sandy-buff; f., duller. Caterpil-
lars, insects. Bell notes, ventriloquist.
20 322*Golden-breasted Whistler, White - throated Thick-
88 head, Thunder-Bird, Cutthroat, Coachwhip-Bird (e),
Pachycephala pectoralis (guttwralis), H.A.
Stat. c. timber 7
Throat white; black head, band on chest; outside black
band, under golden-yellow; back olive green; f.,*
brown; throat whitish faintly streaked dusky. Cater-
pillars, insects. Fine songster, many melodious calls;
whip-like smack ends one of notes.
323*Rufous-breasted Whistler (Thickhead), Little Thrush,
Ring Coachman, Coachwhip-Bird (e), P. rufiventris,
BSAC eh SAGs eras OW GAs Stat. c. timber 6.7
Upper gray; throat white; head blackish; black side of
neck, band on chest; rest under light rufous-brown;
f..* upper brownish-gray; throat white streaked black-
ish-brown; rest under buff; breast, sides streaked
blackish-brown. Insects, caterpillars, wild berries.
Famous songster; whip-like smack at end of one of its
calls.
324 Red-throated Whistler, Gilbert Thickhead, P. gilberti,
N.S:W..;, V2, S.As, -W-A. Stat. .v.r. timber. 1.2
Dark-gray; black before eye; throat dull rust-red; under
gray; f., no black on face; throat gray. Insects.
Clear whistling note.

native wilds.” Their early morning carol lives in the memory.
The Australian Magpie is not related to the European Magpie,
which is a member of the Crow family (164), but is a glorified
Butcher-Bird. However, it would be a difficult matter to displace
the name magpie for the Australian bird.

In the same family, though in the next sub-family, are some
peculiar Australian birds. The two Shrike-Tits are found one in
Eastern Australia and the other in Western Australia. Gould
said feelingly—he was nipped by one—that “no bird of its size
has stronger mandibles.” It is to be seen in the Melbourne
Botanic Gardens, tearing off bark as it seeks for insects.

The Crested Bell-Bird is restricted to Australia. Being a per-
fect ventriloquist, it is very difficult to locate it. Some of its
notes are bell-like, and have misled those seeking horses. I met
it frequently in the Mallee and in the Maryborough and Ararat
districts. It often hopped out on to the road on frosty mornings.
It is one of Australia’s singular and interesting irds.

Those badly-named, but often attractive, songsters—the Thick-
heads (now called Whistlers)—are placed next. Highty-eight of
these birds are known from the Australian region, though but
twenty occur in Australia itself and Tasmania. On account of

152 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

325 Olive Whistler, Olivaceous Thickhead, P. olivacea,
N-SUW.2,, Vg L.;) Bass-ot.. Is: Stat. r. humid scrubs 8
Olive brown; head dark-gray; throat whitish marked
brown; faint gray band across chest; under reddish-
brown; f., no band on chest. Insects. “Liquid,
whistling note.”
6 326*Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin, Yellow Robin (e),
8 Wild Canary (e), Hopsaltria australis. N.S.W., V.
Stat. c. timber 5.3
Dark-gray; upper base tail olive-yellow; throat grayish-
white; under bright yellow. Tame, perches on side of
sapling; f., sim. Insects. Piping note often repeated.

the difficulty of skinning these birds, they were given the
name Pachycephala. It is unfortunate that the literal transla-
tion—thick head—was the name used by bird people for these
beautiful singers. It is now proposed to change the name to
Whistler. Strange to say, we have not heard a good local name
for these attractive and often gorgeous birds.

To complete this interesting sub-family, we have the Yellow-
breasted Shrike-Robin—a confiding favorite, found in most dark
scrubs. Its single, often-repeated, piping note is responsible for
its name, Hopsaltria, ‘““Psalm of the Dawn.”’’ This delightful
forest-dweller frequently perches sideways on a sapling. Six kinds
are known from Australia, and two more from adjacent islands.

In Family 135—Titmice or Tits—Australia has but five repre-

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 153

F. 1385. PARIDAE (5), TITMICE, Tits, 206 sp.—5(5)A.,
55 (48) 0., 88(78)P., 32(32)E., 34(28)Ne., 8(5) NI.
4 327* Whiteface, White-faced Titmouse (Squeaker),
“ Aphelocephala (Xerophila) leucopsis, §.Q., N.S.W.,
Ven SAS OA, W.A... (interior):
Stat. small flocks, c. plains 4

Upper olive-brown; forehead, face white; under pale-buff;
tail tipped white; f., sim. Small seeds. Sweet

chirping notes.
F. 136. Chamaeidae, Wren-Tits, 3 sp. Ne. (W.U.S.). The
only family of birds restricted to the Nearctic Re-

gion.

F. 137. Regulidae, Gold-crested Wren, Fire-crested Wren,
Kinglet, 20 sp.—6(5)0O., 9(7)P., 1(0)E., 4(2)Ne.
4(2)NI1.

F. 138. SITTIDAE (8), NUTHATCHES, 60 sp.—12(11)A.,

ZA Gls Oso 18 CLG P.-C Es, 0 Cr) Nex 3'Ge)NiI,
8 328*Orange-winged Nuthatch (Tree-runner, Bark-pecker),
10 Woodpecker (e), Neositta (NSittella) chrysoptera,
H.A., S.A. Stat. r. open forest 4.5
Head brown; upper gray streaked black; wing dark-
brown with rich rufous band; upper base tail white;
tail black tipped white; under gray; under base
tail white barred brown; bill sharp slightly upturned;
f., head darker. Insects. *“Chip-chip.”’

329 Black-capped Nuthatch (Tree-runner, Bark-pecker),
Woodpecker (e), N. pileata, N.S.W., V., S.A., C.A.,
IW ALIN We A: Stat. r. open timber 4.7
Grayish-brown; upper base tail white; cap black; quills
blackish-brown with rich rufous band; tail black tipped
white; forehead, stripe over eye, under white; thighs
blackish-brown; f., head, face, hind-neck black. In-
sects.

sentatives—the peculiar Wedgebill, “Kitty-lin-tof,’ and the four
Australian “Whitefaces.” The Whiteface is “lively, with sweet
chirping notes.” Its former scientific name (Xerophila) means
“dry lover,’ for it is found mainly in the drier parts.

The European Tits belong to this family, so it is not desirable
to use the name “Tit”? for the Australian birds of the genus
Acanthiza, for they belong to the Warbler family (Sylviidae), and
not io the Tit family (Paridae).

The Nuthatches of the Old World and America are represented
by closely-related birds, with somewhat similar habits, in Aus-
tralia. These run spirally down a tree-trunk, searching every
crack or piece of bark. TEHight of these birds occur in Australia.
Latham called them Nuthatches. It is now proposed to return
to this name, as it is used for the British, Indian, and North
American birds of this family (Sittidae).

The male Black-capped Nuthatch (Tree-runner) is true to
name, but the female has the head and hind-neck black, instead

154 : AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

F. 189. CERTHIIDAE (8), CREEPERS, 39 sp.—10(10)A.,
13:(12)'O:5 9:08) PGE. 5 (4 Ness (2) NEE
9 330*Brown Tree-Creeper, Woodpecker (e), Climacteris
10 picumna, H.A., S.A. vt. Eur. Creeper.
Stat. c. open timber 17.2
Crown blackish-brown; line over eye buff; throat buff with
few blackish spots; upper brown; wings banded buff;
under grayish-brown; flanks striped white; f., throat
chestnut spots. Insects. Sharp piercing cry. Creep
up a tree.

of a black cap only. Nuthatches are not found in Tasmania.
Possibly Bass Strait was formed before they reached Southern
Victoria. Thus bird-study supports the geographer and ethnolo-
gist when they declare that Bass Strait is of comparatively remote
formation. As the Tasmanian blacks were ignorant of boats,
they evidently reached Tasmania before Bass Strait was formed.
They are a more primitive type than the Australian blacks, who
were improved by later influxes of more _ highly-developed
Caucasians.

Many country dwellers will not admit that there is no Wood-
pecker in Australia, but it is a fact, nevertheless. Our so-called
“Woodpecker” is the Tree-Creeper. It never chisels mortice-holes
in a tree to get out a grub, as the true Woodpecker does. These
birds occur all over the continent, and are often to be seen alight-
ing on the side of a tree or fence post and then running up

AN AUSTRALIAN LIRD BOOK. 4 155

331* White-throated Tree-Creeper, Woodpecker (e), @C.
scandens, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., T. Stat. c. forest 6.5
Crown sooty-black; back olive-brown; buff band on wing;
throat, centre-abdomen white; flanks brownish-black
striped white; f., orange spot below ear. Insects.
Shrill piping cry. Creeps wp.
332 Red-browed Tree-Creeper, C. erythrops, 8.Q., N.S.W.,
V., WA. Stat. v.r. rough barked trees’ 6
Back brown; head blackish-brown; forehead marked dusky-
gray; rump, tail gray; buff band on wing; face, stripe
above eye rust-red; throat white; under grayish-brown
striped white; f., face brighter; throat rust-red, striped
white. Insects. Creeps up.
333 White-browed Tree-Creeper, C. superciliosa, Q.,
NLS. W.,. Ve, o-A:, C.A., W.A. Stat. v.r. timber 5.7
Upper brown; wings rich fawn band; broad white stripe
over eye; under grayish-brown; abdomen striped
white; f., narrow line rust-red above the white eye-
brow; tail washed with gray. Insects. Creeps up.
F. 140. ZOSTEROPIDAE (14), WHITE-EYES, Silver-eyes,
171 sp.—8&3(80)A., 38(34)0., 4(3)P., 50(50)E.
13 334*White-eye (Silver, Ring, Glass-), Blight-Bird (Spec-
157 tacled-), Grape-eater, Silve, Tauhou, Zosterops coeru-
lescens, H.A., S.A., T., N.Z., Chatham Is.
Stat. v.c. open gardens 4.5
Crown, wings, tail olive; back dark-gray; white ring round
eye; throat, centre-abdomen, under base tail whitish;
flanks chestnut-brown; sometimes throat, side-head yel-
low; f., Sim. Insects, fruit. Pretty lively song.
335 Gray White-eye, Z. bowiae, V. (Marong). One speci-
men only. Mathews now says it is 334.
Like 334, but gray instead of olive, abdomen darker.

spirally to the top. They soon fly off to another tree, alighting
lower than the place they started from. ‘The bright-brown band
on the wing is conspicuous as they fly. Their lively notes
brighten a country drive.

The White-eye is one of a large genus, for no less than 157
species have been accepted by Dr. Sharpe. However, one of the
rarest of these was a Victorian species. It was based on one
specimen, a female, taken at Marong, near Bendigo. It was said
to be slightly different from the common White-eye. Hence Dr.
Horne, of Clifton Hill, one of our most enthusiastic bird-lovers,
created a new species, and named it in honor of his niece, Miss
Bowie, who is a favorite with all the birds in Dr. Horne’s exten-
sive aviaries. White-eyes are found from Africa and Madagas-
car to India and Japan, and from Australia out past New Zealand.

Our common White-eye is one of the interesting birds of the
world at the present time, for it is showing that man is not the
only animal with a colonizing instinct. It was unknown in New
Zealand until, in 1856, it was first recorded, The Maoris, keen

156 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

Nature-students, who have a name for every native animal and
plant, called it the ‘‘Stranger.” Its presence has been accounted
for by some authorities as being due to the fierce winds that
accompanied Black Thursday having blown it over from Aus-
tralia. However, not satisfied with spreading throughout New
Zealand until it is said to be the commonest bird there, it has
spread out to Chatham Island, and a flock was reported recently
a considerable distance from the coast, apparently looking for
fresh fields, or rather islands, to colonize. It is a well-known
city dweller. Though it destroys grapes and other soft fruits,
it also so completely destroys aphides that it is appropriately
called the Blight-Bird. Again, the balance is strongly in its
favor, for it is probably but taking fair toll of that which will
probably not have reached maturity but for its labors, and the
laborer, even if a bird, is worthy of his hire.

A bird’s color usually affords it protection from its natural
enemies. These are mainly birds of prey flying overhead.
Thus, speaking generally, protective coloration applies only to the
upper surface, so that a white throat or under surface does not
necessarily render a bird conspicuous to its natural enemies.

Again, a bird may be very conspicuous when seen away from
its natural surroundings, but the concealment may be perfect
under natural conditions. It has been already mentioned that
the gorgeous Blue Mountain Lorikeet was very difficult to discern
in its native sugar-gums. A tiger is said to be invisible at a
distance of ten yards in a jungle; the black stripes being similar
to the shadows of the bamboos, and the light bands to the
sunlight between the vegetation.

The White-eye and Tree-Creepers just noticed may be considered
protectively colored, for they are difficult to see in a tree. Still,
the brown patch on the wing of the Tree-Creeper is conspicuous
as it flies. Alfred Russel Wallace, the great evolutionist, sup-
plied a good explanation, when he regarded bright wing bands,
white rump, and white-tipped tail, as “warning colors.” An
enemy is, perchance, perceived by a bird. This individual flies
away quietly; others see the bright wing patch disappear,
and they seek shelter as quickly and quietly as possible. This is
often a great advantage, for, in many cases, all reach safety, pos-
sibly, before the enemy has seen one of them. If the first bird
had given an alarming call, it would have warned the enemy too.

It is noteworthy that these bright markings on the upper sur-
face are, usually, not visible when the bird is at rest. The white
wing patch folds in, the white rump is covered, while, in a white-
tipped tail, it is usual for the two centre feathers to be plain
throughout (see illustrations of species 313 and 329). The tail
is folded, and the white tips are covered by the two non-white
centre feathers. The introduced Indian Turtle-Dove, common
about nearly every city in Australia, shows the spread-out, white
tipped tail splendidly when flying. The bird itself is barely
visible if it settles in the shade or on the soil. The Indian Myna
a city bird, has both white wing-patch and whitetipped tail.

.

t

p

ki
328 Orange-winged Nuthatch

339 Brown Tree-Creeper
331 White-throated Tree-Creeper

334 Wil Le-eye

336 Flower-pecker

336a_—SC,, (Female)
(158)

337 Red-tipped
340 Spotted
341 Golden-rumped

ie

Diamond-
bird

é
342 White-naped Honey-eater

345 Striped Honey-eater
346 Sanguineous Honey-eater

347 Black Honey-eater
348 Spinebill
351 Painted Honey-eater

(160)

&
s

4

349 Tawny-crowned —-
350 White-fronted t Hone)
353 Regent

365

358

di :

355 Yellow-eared 358 White-eared 363 White-plumed ) ‘
356 Singing pene - 359 Yellow-tuftea | Honey- 364 Crescent j Bone ;
357 Yellow-faced ©*"€T_- 362 Yellow-plumea ! &8ter 365 White-bearded eater

(162)

}
}
i
&

es 3 *
360 Helmeted ! Honey - 368 Noisy Miner 372 Spiny-cheeked } Honey-
366 White-cheeked ! eater 376 Wattle -Bird 373 Blue-faced eater
367 Bell-Miner 374 Friar-Birl

(164)

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 165

This explanation is also applied to other wild animals; thus
many Deer have the white patch on the hind quarters. Other
Deer, seeing this warning signal displayed in flight, immedi-
ately make for safety. Similarly, Wallace has explained the
white tail of a Rabbit.

The Skunk also has this white patch on the hind quarters, but
here a different explanation is required, for the Skunk does not
trouble to run away when a possible enemy appears. The bright
color is here regarded as an “advertizing color.” The Skunk has
other means of protection, and he is labelled dangerous or objec-
tionable, just as our one poisonous Spider is plainly labelled
dangerous by means of a red stripe. An inexperienced enemy
may rush at the Skunk, but the means of protection enjoyed
by it effectively protects it, and the enemy retires.

It is a rule recognized by collectors that conspicuous animals
have generally some effective means of protection, and they are
best left alone, or at least taken with caution. This is readily
understood when it is considered that a young, inexperienced
chicken will rush at a brightly-colored caterpillar. He then
retires, endeavoring to get rid of the objectionable taste.
For the future, he avoids brightly-colored animals. Thus the
bright color is an obvious advantage to its possessor, as it saves
a dangerous peck. It is also an advantage to its enemies, for it
saves them an unpleasant experience. We are told the Parrot
is the only bird with a sense of taste, but it seems that the chicken
possesses one also.

Still another phase of color is shown by Diamond-Birds, where
three species have a yellow spot, a red spot, or an orange spot
respectively on the wing. It is also shown by the Red-breasted
Robins. One has a white forehead, one a white cap, and the
third a red cap. These colored patches are considered to be
recognition marks, so that a bird can recognize its mate, or a
bird of its own kind, readily and with certainty.

That rarely-seen, but beautiful, bird, the Mistletoe-Swallow, is
fairly common. From several points of view, it is of great
interest. Ranging from India, through Malaysia, to Australia,
it did not reach Tasmania. Possibly Bass Strait was formed
before this bird reached Southern Victoria. Interesting, also, is
the fact that no mistletoe is found in Tasmania. This bird is
closely associated with the mistletoe, for, wherever you find it,
you find the mistletoe. It furnishes another example of those
interesting partnerships between animals and plants. It is not
related to Swallows, but while it sits on a bough, its external
form somewhat resembles that of a Swallow. Its nest is one of
the most beautiful of all nests—a finely-felted, domed structure,
often suspended in a clump of mistletoe. This bird has a
long-continued, pretty, animated song, which is seldom heard, for
it is low, and, as the bird is high in the tree-tops, it might be
inaudible; but the main reason is probably that our ears are not
attuned to pick out these fine songs. It is said that Tyndall
found the insects on the Alps almost deafening, while his com-

166 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

a ee

F’, 141. DICAEIDAE (11), FLOWER-PECKERS, 112 sp.—
57(57)A., 56(56)O0.
1 336*Australian Flower-Pecker, Mistletoe-Bird (-Swallow),

74 Dicaeum hirundinaceum, A. Stat. c. treetops 3.5
Black glossed steel-blue; throat, breast, under base tail
scarlet; abdomen white, black patch down centre;
flanks dusky; f.,* throat, centre-abdomen buff: under
base tail pale scarlet. Honey, pollen, fruits, insects.
Pretty, feeble song.

panions heard nothing. So it is with the high-pitched call of a
Bat. Have you heard one? Few have.

The Mistletoe-Swallow should be called the Australian Flower-
Pecker, for it is our one representative of a large genus, best
developed in the Indian Region.

Placed at present in Family 141 with the little Mistletoe-Bird
are the Diamond-Birds of Australia, the plumage of our common
kind of which is “so variegated and beautiful as to render
description impossible.”

The Diamond-Birds are restricted to Australia. Though they
are found mainly in high tree-tops, whence they prettily and con-
tinuously call “wit-e-chu” and “wit-loo,’’ some usually nest in a
bank of earth. The bank of a dam, the side of a creek, and the
earth suspended on the roots of a fallen tree are favorite places.
Some people find the continuous, musical note annoying, and have
named the Diamond-Bird the Headache Bird. Others find it

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 167

10 337*Red-tipped Diamond-Bird (Striated, -Pardalote), Wit-
10 tychu, Pickwick, Chuck-e-chuc, Pardalotus ornatus,
5.Q;, N.o.We, V., 5-A:;, W.A: Stat. c. treetops, scrub 4.2
Crown, wings, tail black spotted, lined white; back gray;
rump brown; throat yellow; red spots side of wing,
yellow stripe from bill above eye joins white stripe to
nape; centre-abdomen white; flanks pale-brown, tinged
yellow; f., sim. Insects. ‘‘Wit-e-chu.”
338 Orange-tipped Diamond-Bird (Ramsay, -Pardalote), P.
assimilis, E.A., C.A. Stat. v.c. treetops, timber 4.3
Like 337, but upper paler; orange spots on wing; as a rule
only one feather in the wing edged with white; Gould
thought it the young of 337; f., sim. Insects. ‘“‘Wit-e-chu.”’
339 Yellow-tipped Diamond-Bird, Allied Pardalote, P. affi-
mis. YOvA.. 5: A., C., Bass St. Is: Stat. c. timber 4.3
Like 337, 338, but yellow spot on side of wing; head black,
striped white; yellow stripe from bill joins white stripe
above eye; back grayish-brown; upper base tail olive-
brown; tail black, tip spotted white; throat yellow;
centre abdomen white; flanks buffy-brown; wings black,
tipped white, a few feathers lined white; f., sim. In-
sects. ‘“Witloo.” ‘Sleep, Baby.’’

340*Spotted Diamond-Bird (Pardalote), Diamond Dyke
(Ground), Ground-Diamond, Diamond Sparrow (e),
EaDUNnCLOTUS. .L., “A. (exe. NAc, CA).
Stat. v.c. timber 3.3
Head, wings, tail black, spotted white; white stripe above
eye; back grayish-brown, marked buff and black; upper
base tail crimson; throat, under base tail rich yellow;
abdomen fawn; f., duller; head yellow spots; throat
whitish. Insects. ‘Sleep, Baby.” “Sweet Dick.’’
341*Golden-rumped Diamond-Bird, Yellow-rumped Parda-
lote, P. xanthopygius, N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A.
f., duller. Insects. Stat. r. timber 3.5
Like 340, but upper base tail golden-yellow; throat, under
base tail golden-yellow; rest under’ buffy-white.

entertaining, and syllabize it as ‘‘Sweet Dick,” or “Sleep, Baby.”

Three of these birds are recognized by a small, bright spot on
the side of the wing. In one this spot is said to be red, in
another it is orange, and in the third yellow. However, Gould
said the young of the Red-tipped had the orange tip, and later
investigation seems to be supporting his view, for the Orange-
tipped is possibly not a different species, but only a phase of
the Red-tipped. One of our bird observers, Mr. F. Wilson, has
lately recorded finding the nest of a pair of Pardalotes, of which
one was red-tipped and the other orange-tipped. The Yellow-
tipped is said to be the commonest bird in Tasmania. These
birds are plentifully spotted, “spotted like the pard,’ hence the
name Pardalote, Panther-Bird, or Diamond-Bird.

The most characteristic family of birds of the Australian region ~

168 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

Ff. 142. NECTARINIIDAE (1), SUN-BIRDS, 234 sp.—
860383) AL, (71174) 0:, 201) P:, 123 (122) 8:
F. 143. Promeropidae, Promerops, 2 sp. E. (S. Afr.).
KF. 144. MELIPHAGIDAE (88), HONEY-EATERS, Honey-
Suckers (-Birds), 251 sp.—250(250)A., 1(1)O.
11 342*White-naped Honey-eater (Lunulated), Blackcap,
11 Melithreptus atricapillus, $.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., Kent
Group. Stat. ‘v.c. timber 5.5
Upper yellowish-olive; quills brown; head, hind-neck
black; narrow white band on nape; under white; naked
patch about eye orange-scarlet; f., sim.; young no black
cap. Tame. Honey, pollen, insects. Peevish, half-
whistling note.

is the Honey-eaters. Flowering eucalypts and other myrtaceous
plants, with their honey-bearing flowers and usually inedible
fruits, are the characteristic Australian trees; so are these birds,
depending so largely on the honey of these brilliant flowers and
the insects which visit them, the characteristic Australian birds.
The Honey-eaters form a very large family, and are found
throughout the Australian region as far as New Zealand and
away to the Sandwich Islands, which, zoologically, belong to Aus-
tralia. Strange it is that only one species should have spread to
the west across Wallace’s line to the island of Bali. These birds
are provided with a brush tongue, which is used in brushing up
honey from the flowers. They have usually a long, slender, curved

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 169

343 Black-chinned Honey-eater (Black-throated), M. gula-
ris, H.A., S.A., W.A. Stat. r. timber 6.7
Upper olive-yellow; head, nape black; whitish band on
nape joins white band up to eye; sides of throat white,
centre blackish; chest grayish; sides creamy; centre-
abdomen white; naked skin about eye turquoise-blue;
f., sim. Honey, insects, seeds. Sweet song.
344 Brown-headed Honey-eater (Short-billed), M. breviros-
tris, H.A., S.A., W.A. Stat. r. timber 5.7
Greenish-olive upper; quills brown; head, nape dark-
brown; whitish band on nape continued as brownish-
white band on head; under creamy; bare skin about
eye greenish-blue in winter, dull yellow (delicate flesh-
tint) in summer; f., sim. Honey, insects. Rough,
rattle-like note.

1 345*Striped Honey-eater (Lanceolated), Plectoramphus
i lanceolatus, E.A., S.A., W.A. (inland).
Stat. r. timber 8.8
Upper grayish-brown, striped blackish-brown; wing-quills
brown, edged lighter; throat white; under, upper base
tail white; black marks side of neck, flanks. Honey,
insects. Cheerful, loud whistle, “Chirp, chirp, cherry,

cherry.”
6 346*Sanguineous Honey-eater (Blood), Humming-Bird
52 (e), Blood-Bird, Myzomela sanguinolenta, H.A.
(coastal). Nom. r. thick bushes, heath 4.3

Head, neck, breast, back, upper base tail rich shining
scarlet; side-face, wings, tail black, wings lined
lighter; abdomen buff; f., light brown, lighter below.
Pollen, honey, insects. Beautiful song.

347* Black Honey-eater, M. nigra, A. exc. N. Ter. (inte-
rior). Mig. v.r. plains 4.4

Black; side abdomen, under base tail white; f., brown;
under dull-white; breast marked dark-brown; under
base tail white. Insects. Plaintive song.

bill, suitable for exploring flowers. Their feet are well deve-
loped and strong, for they are used while hanging in all sorts of
positions as the flowers are explored. No less than eighty-eight
Honey-eaters are found in Australia, but they are often restricted
to very limited areas, so that no district would contain many
kinds of these birds. Many are well known, though not by the
name Honey-eater. Who does not know the harsh note of the
Wattle-Bird (Wattled Honey-eater)? Again, who does not often
meet the Noisy Miner (Garrulous Honey-eater), a bird that makes
such a fuss when a snake appears that he is sometimes called the
Snake-Bird? Is there a city boy who does not know the Greenie
(White-plumed Honey-eater) ? Some of the Honev-eaters are
amongst the most beautiful of birds.

The Regent (Warty-faced) Honey-eater is a glory, and is often
figured in British books as one of the world’s beautiful birds.

170 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

4 348*Spinebill, Spinebill Honey-eater, Humming-Bird (e),
4 Cobbler’s Awl, Acanthorhynchus tenuwirostris, E.A.,
S.A.) i, Bass-St. is. Stat. c. Banksias, heath
Crown, line to crescent on side of chest, wings, tail black;
chest white, chestnut-brown patch on throat; back
brown; abdomen light chestnut-brown; outer tail
tipped white; eye scarlet; f., duller. Insects, honey.
Monotonous strong call.
4 349*Tawny-crowned Honey-eater (Fulvous-fronted), Gli-
12 ciphila melanops (fulvifrons), S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.,
W.A., T., Bass St. Is. Stat. c. sandy, heathy
Upper ashy-brown; crown tawny, blackish line from bill
past eye down side of breast; buff spot behind ear;
throat, abdomen white. Insects, honey. Plaintive notes.

350*White-fronted Honey-eater, G. albifrons, N.S.W., V.,

S.A., W.A., T. (inland). Stat. ec. dry scrubs

Upper grayish-brown; crown, throat black; forehead, be-

hind ear white; abdomen white, streaked dark-brown.
Insects, honey. “Tink-tink.’’

1 351*Painted Honey-eater, Entomophila picta, N.S.W., V.,

a) S.A. (inland). Stat. v.r. plains

Upper black; band on wings, side tail yellow; tip tail

white; abdomen white, faintly streaked brown; f.,

smaller. Insects.

1 352 Pied Honey-eater, Certhionyx variegatus, N.S.W., V.,

lk S.A;, C.A., W.A., N.W.A. Stat. v.r. dry scrubs

Black and white; head, throat, back, wings, tip-tail black;

rest white; f., light-brown upper; under whitish, throat

butty, streaked dark-brown. Pollen, honey, berries.

1 353*Regert Honey-eater (Warty-faced), Turkey - Bird

1 (Mock Regent), Flying Coachman, Meliphaga phry-

gia, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A. Nom. flocks r. eucalypts

6.5

5.7

5.5

6.5

9.2

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOR.

One of the most beautiful of birds; see colored plate;
richly contrasted black and yellow; warty patch about
eye; pugnacious; f., sim. Ringing ‘“‘Clink-clank.”’

27 354 Fuscous Honey-eater, Ptilotis fusca, S.Q., N.S.W., V.,
53 (exc. dry parts). Stat. c. open forest

Grayish-brown, quills dark-brown, edged yellow; a circle
blackish feathers round 2ye; pale yellow ear tufts;
under whitish, chest faintly streaked brownish; f.,
smaller. Insects, honey.

350*Yellow-eared Honey-eater (Lewin), P. chrysotis, E.A.
Stat. c. humid scrubs
Upper olive-green, under lighter; large bright yellow
ear tufts; gape straw-white; about eye blackish. In-
sects, honey. Quavering whistling notes.
356*Singing Honey-eater (Large-striped), P. sonora, A.
exc. extreme N. Stat. c. forest, scrub
Upper brown; black stripe through eye to side of neck;
faint yellow band below black stripe; bright yellow ear
patch, behind this a small white patch; throat whitish;
under gray, faintly streaked blackish; f., sim. In-
sects, berries. Loud calls.
357*Yellow-faced Honey-eater (Yellow-gaped), Chick-up,
Love-Bird (e), P. chrysops, E.A., S.A. Stat. c. serub
Ashy-brown; two black lines along side of face, bright
yellow band between these to ear tufts; spot of white
behind ear; throat grayish-white; chest ashy-brown;
f., sim. Insects, honey. Strong musical call.
358* White-eared Honey-eater, P. leucotis, S.Q., N.S.W.,
Ven NV CAG Stat. c. scrub, timber
Fine, showy bird; upper, abdomen yellowish-olive; head
dark-gray; throat, chest black; ear patch pure white;
f.. smaller. Insects. Loud ringing note.

6.2

7.5

6.8

8

172 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

359* Yellow-tufted Honey-eater (Golden-tufted, Black-faced,
Spectacled), Yellow-Whiskers, P. melanops (aurico-
MtS), 5:@:, IN.S:W., V. Stat. c. eucalypts

“One of the most beautiful of birds,’’ crown olive-yellow;

throat, about ear bright yellow; black from bill, round
eye above ear; upper dark-brown; under yellow; f.,
smaller. Insects, honey. Varied, high-pitched notes.
360*Helineted Honey-eater, P. cassidix, V. Stat. r. forest
“This splendid’? Honey-eater; greenish-black; head black;
crown, ears, under yellow; tail tipped white; about eye
black; f., smaller, paler. Insects.

361 Wattied-cheeked Honey-eater, P. cratitia, V., S.A.,

W.A. Stat. r, eucalypts
Crown gray; upper olive-green; tail, wings brown; about
eye, ear black; narrow yellow line below black; from
bill to side of neck naked lilac skin; under olive yel-
low; f., smaller. Pollen, honey.

362*Yellow-plumed Honey-eater (Graceful), P. novae-hol-
landiae (ornata), N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A. c. scrub
“Blegant bird;” upper olive-brown; under grayish-white,
streaked brown; yellow ear-tuft; f., sim. Honey, in-
sects. Loud ringing note.
363*White-plumed Honey-eater, Greenie, Linnet (e),
Chickoowee; Ringeye (e), Ringneck (e), Australian
Canary (e), P. penicilluta, H.A., S.A., W.A.
Loud ringing notes; ‘‘Chick-oo-wee.” Stat. v.c.gardens
Grayish-brown, tinged olive; under light yellowish-brown;
long white ear plumes, sometimes not seen until the
head is moved; f., smaller. Insects, pollen, honey.
5 364*Crescent Honey-eater (Horseshoe, Tasmanian), Egypt,
6 Meliornis pyrrhoptera (australasiana), N.S.W., V.,
S.A... °F. Stat. c. forest, heath

7.8

8.5

6.5

6.7

6.2

ft
1

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

Upper dusky black; black bar each side of breast; under
white; flanks dusky; wings, tail marked golden-yellow;
side-tail spotted white; f., dusky-brown, faint yellow
on wings and tail. Loud varied calls, “Egypt.”

365* White-bearded Honey-eater (New Holland), Yellow
Wings, M. novae-hollandiae, S.Q., N.S.W., V.,SA., T.
Stat. v.c. scrubby, Banksias
Blackish-brown, marked white; much yellow on wings;
tail black, margined yellow, tipped white; line side of
nape, cheeks, behind ear white; f., sim. Insects, honey.
366* White-cheeked Honey-eater, UM. nigra (sericea), 8.Q.,
IN-b: W.,. V., W.A. Stat. r. scrub, undergrowth
Like 365, but forehead white; large tuft of white plumes
on side of head; tail not tipped white; f., smaller. In-
sects, honey. Clear double whistling note.
367* Bell-Miner, Bell-Bird, Manorina melanophrys, E.A.
f., sim. Insects. Bell note, ‘“‘Tink.’’ Stat. r. dense gullies
Olive-green; bright yellow patch between eye and bill;
small red patch behind eye; forehead, about eye black.

173

i fpr

4 368*Noisy Miner, Garrulous Honeyeater, Snake-Bird, Cherry-

4

eater, Soldier, Micky, Squeaker, Myzantha garrula,
HeAS weAics. Le Stat. v.c. open forest
Gray; marked whitish on hind-neck, marked dusky-gray
chest; crown, about eye, ear, chin black; wing tinged
yellow; tail tipped white; legs, bill, skin behind eye
bright yellow; f., smaller. Insects, fruit, honey. Noisy.
369 Yellow-throated Miner, M. flavigula, H.A., S.A., C.A.
W.A. (inland). Stat. r. timber
Gray; hind-neck marked whitish, chest marked brown;
rump, tip tail white; naked space behind eye; forehead,
throat, bill, legs yellow; a little olive-yellow on wing,
base-tail; f., smaller. Insects, honey.

10

10

174 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

2 370*Wattle - Bird, Red Wattle-Bird, Gill-Bird, Wattled
2 Honey-eater, Mutton-Bird (e), Acanthcchaera carun-
culata, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A. Stat. c. timber 14.5

Brown streaked, lined white; red wattle jtin.; whitish

below eye, between shoulder and gill; wing quills and

tail tipped white; centre abdomen yellow; f., smaller.

Insects, honey. ‘‘Kwock, kwock;” “Up with the rag.”
Many curious guttural notes.

The Helmeted Honey-eater is very rare, and is probably con-
fined to the deep forests of Gippsland. It is one of the most
splendid of Honey-eaters.

That active city-dweller, the Greenie, is found in almost every
large eucalypt that happens to be in flower. It is pugnacious. AS
it busily brushes honey from the flowers, or catches an insect on
the wing, the white ear plume can be seen. Otherwise, it has not
conspicuous colors. Its lively call of ‘‘chick-oo-wee”’ adds some
thing to life for the busy city toiler.

Now come the Miners. The Noisy Miner is known to nearly
everyone. It is a common visitor to school grounds at lunch
time, and is a noisy bird that is little loved by sportsmen, for it
persists in alarming all game within reach. A second Miner is
famous as the Bell-Bird, better Bell-Miner. The tinkling notes,
‘ike silver bells from a distant shrine,” must be heard in a deep
fern gully to be appreciated fully. The green birds are seldom

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 175

2 371 Brush Wattle-bird, Mocking-Bird, Mocker, Cookay-
2 cock, Anellobia chrysoptera (mellivora), 8.Q., N.S.W.,
Vie Se Abe uk. Stat. c. timber 12
Brown, lined white; quills lined, tipped white; tail tipped
white; throat whitish; no wattle; f., smaller. Showy,
pugnacious, many curious notes.

1 372*Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater, Acanthagenys rufigularis,
1 A. Nom. c. timber, scrub 10
Upper dusky-brown; white spiny feathers, below eye to ear;
throat, chest rufous; abdomen whitish, streaked dusky-
brown; tail tipped white; f., sim. Insects, honey.
Many peculiar loud notes, a plaintive trill.
3 373*Blue-faced Honey-eater, Banana-Bird, Blue-eye, Ento-
3 myzon cyanotis, E.A., S.A. Stat. c. timber 12
Attractive, beautiful; upper golden olive-green; head,
hind-neck black; throat dusky; line on hind-neck, side
throat, under white; about eye blue; f., sim. Insects,
honey. Loud monotonous call.
3 $74*Friar-Bird, Monk, Leatherhead, Four-o’-clock, Pim-
8 lico, Poor Soldier, Yropidorhynchus corniculatus,
E.A., S.A. Insects. Nom. c. open forest, orchard 13.2
Head naked, ink-black; knob on bill; brown; tail tipped
white; silver-white lanceolate feathers on throat; f.,
sim. Noisy, “Tobacco-box,”’ ‘“‘four-o’-clock.” Fruit.
2 $375*Yellow-throated Friar-Bird, Little Leatherhead, Phi-
by eee lemon citreigularis, N. Ter., H.A., S.A., N.W.A.
Nom. r. timber i10
Upper brown; under pale brown; throat yellow (young),
white (adult); the colored plate shows a young bird;
the adult loses yellow on throat, black on face, grayish
marks on back, and becomes ‘‘one of the plainest of
birds’; f., similar to adult male. Insects, berries,
honey. ‘*Five-o’-clock.”
F. 145. Mniotiltidae, American Warblers, 231 sp.—2(0)P.,
80(12)Ne., 219(151)NI1.
F. 146. Drepanididae, Sandwich Island edie Say 40 sp. ze

seen. Kendall has immortalized this bird in his beautiful poem,
“‘Bell-Birds.”

The Wattle-Bird is known to all. It is a pugnacious bird, and
has a rough, disagreeable note. It has a small wattle of naked
red flesh hanging at the side of the neck, hence the name. The
bold, pugnacious Brush Wattle-Bird is not so well known, though
its notes are even more remarkable. Both birds to-day are com-
mon in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens on the flowering plants in
the “Australian” section.

The Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater is said to be a rare bird, but
there is probably not a park about Melbourne but has some of
these at present, as well as all through the winter. It is some
what similar in build and habits to the Wattle-Birds, but is an
elegant and attractive bird, with many peculiar notes.

176 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

——— >

F. 147. MOTACILLIDAE (2), Pipits, Wagtails, 107 sp.—
TCG) AG 32 (6) 0. ba(il2) RP. 4932) ee Ges

11(9) NI.
1 376*Australian Pipit, Ground-Lark, Anthus australis, A.,
55 Po vit. Bur, Pipit: Part-Mig.. V.c:, grass 4

Upper dark-brown, feathers edged lighter; buff stripe
above eye; under white streaked dark-brown; most
streaked on chest; outer-tail white; f., sim. Insects,
small seeds. Sometimes soars singing melodiously.

F. 148. ALAUDIDAE (4), Larks, Skylark, Horned-
Larks, Shore-Larks, 224 sp.—6(6)A., 45(29)O.,
CIC4S)IPL 10S (99), AS GONE: AGNI:

The Blue-eye (Blue-faced Honey-eater) is a conspicuous bird
in country districts. He is noisy, and is handsomely attired.
His nesting habits are peculiar, for he often builds in the deserted
nest of a Babbler.

The remarkable Friar-Bird has a naked, dark-blue head, and is
an “impudent and daring” bird, that does not hesitate to steal
fruit. Its loud call has been variously interpreted as “Four
o’clock,”’ ““Pimlico,” or “Tobacco-box.” This bird has a hump on
its long curved bill. The Yellow-throated Friar-Bird, when
young, has yellow on the end of the throat feathers, and has no
hump on the bill. It is a summer visitor to Southern Australia.

The well-known Ground-Lark, or Australian Pipit, is the Aus-
tralian representative of the cosmopolitan family (147) of Pipits.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 7

1 $76aSkylark, Alauda arvensis, Eur., N. Afr., V. (intro-
12 duced). Miz. c. grass 7
Upper warm-brown mottled, streaked darker; stripe over
eye lighter; throat, chest brownish-buff, streaked
brown; abdomen yellowish-white; f., smaller. In-
sects, seeds. Sings soaring; famous songster.

4 377* Bush-Lark, Horsfield Bush-Lark, Skylark (e), Mirafra

45 horsfieldi, E.A., W.A. Staton, Orass 5.3
Like 376, but plumper, shorter; bill stouter, almost finch-
dike: -f., sim. Insects, small seeds. Sings melodi-

ously soaring, also on moonlight nights; “one of our
most pleasing songsters.’’
F. 149. Catamblyrhynchidae, 2 sp. Nl. (Peru).
F. 150. Fringillidae, Finches, Grosbeak, Bullfinch, Bunting,
Cardinal (Am.), Crossbill, Chaffinch, Linnet, Red-
poll, Canary, 1087 sp.—129(83)O0., 202(138)P.,
107(96)E., 191(125)Ne., 529(474)N1.
1 377AGreenfinch,Green Linnet, Ligurinus chloris, Europe to
10 Persia, V. (introduced). Stat. c. fields, gardens’ 6
Upper olive-green; golden-yellow eyestripe; tail yellow
base, black tip; wing dark-brown, lined bright yellow;
under greenish-yellow, darker on flanks; f., much duller.
Seeds. “One of the prettiest of British songsters.’’

1 377eGoldfinch, Thistle-Finch, Carduelis carduelis, Europe,
11 Canary Is. to Egypt, to Persia, Siberia, V. (intro-
duced). stat. “vic. flelds 95
Crown black; face, chin red; behind eye, throat, under,
upper base tail white; bright yellow on wings; f., sim.
Thistle seeds, insects. Loud, sweet song; “‘twit-it.’’
2 377cTree-Sparrow (Mountain-), Passer montanus, Eur.,
56 N. Asia, A. (introduced). Stat. r. trees 5.6
Like 3877p, but head, nape chestnut; black ear patch in
centre of a large white patch; two white bars on side
of wing; shier; f., sim. Seeds, insects. Chirps.

Even New Zealand has its representative of this family. The
Wagtails of Britain and North America belong to this family,
whereas the so-called Australian Wagtail is a flycatcher. Like
the other members of its family, our Ground-Lark, or Pipit, some-
times sings beautifully as it soars.

The Skylark of Britain comes in the next family (the
Alaudidae), which is almost cosmopolitan. This beautiful song-
ster, singing at Heaven’s gate, pours forth a flood of melody. The
man who has these delightful songsters on open land near his
home is indeed fortunate. Australia has its representative of
this family—the Bush-Lark, a bird so remarkably like the Aus-
tralian Pipit in external appearance that it is well-nigh impos-
sible to distinguish them in the field. The Bush-Lark, however,
is “shorter, plumper, and has a stouter bill.” It further has a
peculiar, greatly undulating flight. It mounts up, then sinks,
then mounts, and so on alternately, ‘‘singing all the time very

178 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

377DHouse-Sparrow, P. domesticus, Eur., Siberia, A.
(introduced). Stat. v:¢. houses) 5
Crown, nape bluish-gray; behind eye, side neck broad
chestnut band; upper brown; one white bar on wing;
cheeks, throat black; under whitish; f., duller; darker
below; no black throat. Seeds, insects. Chirps.
F. 151. Coerebidae,Honey-Creepers,93 sp.—1(0)Ne.,93 (92) NI.

F’. 152. Procniatidae, 1 sp. NI.
F. 158. Tanagridae, Tanagers, 424 sp.—6(0)Ne., 424(418) NI.

F. 154. PLOCEIDAE (23), WEAVER-FINCHES, 487 sp.—
59(56)A., 41(387)0., 1(0)P., 391(391) E.

melodiously, but with a weaker strain than that favorite bird”
(the British Skylark).

Four introduced Finches have succeeded in establishing them-
selves in Southern Australia. The Greenfinch is spreading,
though slowly. A specimen was recently sent in from Horsham,
in Western Victoria. The Goldfinch, ‘‘one of the prettiest birds
in Britain,’ is spreading rapidly. It is often to be seen on
thistles, for it destroys their seeds.

The Tree-Sparrow is rare as yet, but the House-Sparrow is
already a serious pest, though probably he has not been valued
highly enough as a weed destroyer. However, it was a pity early
colonists did not take notice of Gould’s protests and warnings, for
possibly the greatest harm introduced birds do is the displacing
of native birds.

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 179

1 378*Spotted-sided Finch, Diamond-Sparrow (e), Java-
1 Sparrow (e), Stagonopleura guttata, S.Q., N.S.W.,
Ve, 0S:A: Stat. c. grass 4.6
“Showy, attractive;” crown gray; back, wings brown;
rump, bill, eye red; sides, chest-band, tail black; sides
spotted white; throat, centre abdomen white; f., sim.
Grass-seeds.
379*Firetailed Finch, Firetail, Zonaeginthus bellus, §8.Q.,
NeS iW Ve. SA. TT: Stat. r. grass 4.6
Upper olive-brown, finely-barred black; under gray, finely-
barred black; rump, bill scarlet; about eye black; f.,
sim. Seeds.

380*Chestnut-eared Finch (Zebra), Taeniopygia castano-
tis, A. (interior). Nom. small flocks, v.r. plains 4.2

Upper brown; rump white; upper base tail black, with
three white spots; cheeks chestnut; throat, chest gray,
barred black; black band on chest; abdomen white;
flanks chestnut, spetted white; feet, bill orange; f.,
throat, chest gray, fringed brown; abdomen yellowish-
brown. Grass-seeds.

381*Plum-headed Finch (Diadem, Plain-colored), Aidemo-
syne modesta, S8.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.
Stat. small flocks, r. grass 4.6
Crown deep purple; bill, between eye and bill, spot on
chin black; upper brown; wings spotted white; side-
tail tipped white; under white barred brown; f., no
black on chin. Seeds.
382* Red-browed Finch (Temporal), Redhead, Redbill
(e), Sydney Waxbill, #gintha temporalis, H.A., S.A.
Stat. small flocks, r. grass 4.5
Bill, patch over eye, rump crimson; crown gray; upper
olive-brown; under lighter; f., sim. Seeds.
F. 155. Icteridae, Bobolink, Cowbird, Blackbirds (Am.),
Oriole (Am.), Redwing (Am.), 185 sp.—35(15)Ne.,
170 (150) N1.
F. 156. Sturnidae, Starlings, Grackles, 60 sp.—2(1)A.,
A2\(28) O.,. 29 (14) P.,. 201) EB:

bo bo

|

me

Le )

Gould placed the Australian Finches in the same family as the
Sparrow—the Fringillidae—which includes also the Linnet and
the cage Canary. Most writers now put them in with the
Weaver-Birds or Weaver Finches (family Ploceidae). Twenty-
three Finches have been recorded from Australia. All have the
well-known Finch bill, adapted for shelling seeds, and all are
seed-eaters, though some occasionally take inseets in addition.

The Spotted-sided Finch is true to name, as a glance at the
illustration shows. The rare Fire-tail is beautifully and closely
banded below, while the Chestnut-eared Finch is panded on the
throat and chest. The Plum-headed Finch has a deep crimson
forehead, and is banded below.

The Red-browed Finch is often called the “Firetail,’’ for it

180 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

has the red rump as well as the red brow and bill, but the under
surface is not banded. These birds usually build a very large
nest, which has been compared to a “stocking hung by the toe,
seas the eggs are laid in the heel, and entrance is gained through
the leg.”

The introduced Starling has firmly established itself, and is
extending its range rapidly. Incredible numbers gather at
lagoon-sides to roost in the reed-beds.

This bird is a favorite with farmers and graziers, but orchard-
ists view its rapid increase with alarm. It is possible, as Mr.
C. French, Government Entomologist, has pointed out, that the
Starling will yet prove a more expensive pest than the Rabbit.

Starlings, at least, upset the balance of nature, for, by occupying
all available nesting sites, early and late, they displace the native
birds. Kingfishers, Parrots, and other birds that nest in hollows
are thus being driven away from their old haunts.

The Australian Oriole is a member of the family of true Orioles.
The Fig-Birds of Queensland towns are closely related. The
members of this family are restricted to the Eastern Hemi-
sphere. Our Oriole is an interesting migrant which visits even
cities. Its beautiful hanging, cup-shaped nest woven amongst
the twigs at the end of a leafy bough is a clever piece of work.
Its note is melodious and varied. It often calls ‘“o-ree-ee-o-ole.”
It is also fond of mimicking other birds.

The Baltimore Oriole, or Golden Robin, is properly not an
Oriole, but comes in a related family—the Icteridae—which con-
tains American birds somewhat similar to Orioles. The Aus-
tralian bird, as shown by the colored illustration, has not the
conspicuous golden and black plumage of the European bird.

The Spangled Drongo is the Australian representative of a
family of birds spread from Africa, Madagascar, and India up
to Japan, and through the islands to Australia. They are a
characteristic feature of Indian ornithology, for they are found
everywhere in that country. The one Australian bird is a
migrant, and seldom reaches Southern Australia. Like other
Drongos, it is a glossy black, has a long, forked tail, is a good
mimic of other birds’ calls, and is also a vicious fighter. It is
exceedingly active, and has a disagreeably harsh, cackling, and
creaking whistle. It will drive away even hawks and crows.

After the Shining Starlings of Queensland, come the mar-
vellously-beautiful Birds of Paradise—‘‘God’s Birds.”

These unique birds are found only in New Guinea, Papuan
Islands, Molucca Islands, and the rich, tropical coast scrubs of
Eastern Australia. One, the Riflebird, is found even down to
North-Eastern New South Wales.

The Federal and State Governments are doing excellent work
in protecting our beautiful birds, and are giving what seems
to be a really efficient protection, so that some of our birds which
possess the fatal gift of beauty in an extreme degree will pro-
bably survive for some time yet. Collectors as well as plume
hunters should be compelled to keep hands off our exquisite birds.

ty Mare nE

FNP N STEELS IRIE RN Nm eR AEE TR TY PTO: RET rE 1

Jectomenermtemyeeniete

375 Yellow-throated Friar-Bird 378 Spotted-Sided Finch
376 Australian Pipit 379 Firetailed Finch
377 Bush-Lark 380 Chestnut-eared Finch

(181)

38{ Plum-headed Finch
382 Red-browed Finch
383 Olive-backed Oriole

ij
i

384 Spangled Drongo 386 Spotted Bower-Bird 392 Picd Bell-Magpie
385 Satin Bower-Bird 390 Apostle-Bird 394 Grey Bell-Magpie
385a ,, a (Female) 391 White-winged Chough

(183)

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 185

Mr. A. J. North, C.M.B.0.U., the ornithologist of the Aus-
tralian Museum, Sydney, and one of the greatest of living Aus-
tralian ornithologists, has declared that ‘‘without exception, the
bower-building birds of Australian are the most extraordinary and
interesting group of birds found in the world.”

These wonderful birds construct, apart from their nests, play-
houses—structures that ‘‘are perfectly anomalous in the architec-
ture of birds.’’ Gould considered the accounts of the “extra-
ordinary habits” of the Bower Birds “as some of the valuable and
interesting portions” of his work. Though the bird was known
before Gould’s time, its “extraordinary habits had never been
brought before the scientific world until I (Gould) had the grati-
fication of publishing an account of them after my return from
Australia.”

This month I had the gratification of seeing the Satin Bower
Birds playing about a perfect bower within one chain of a country
school, and within one yard of a busy roadside. The birds have
quite made friends with the school children. They have helped
themselves to the blue flowers from the school garden, pieces of
blue paper, and even a blue hair ribbon, besides blue parrot’s
feathers. These are used to decorate this very interesting play-
house.

Unfortunat-:ly, Satin Bower Birds are mainly fruit-eaters, and
so will possibly do some damage, but they are amongst the
wonders of the world, and it is hoped all will hesitate to shoot
them, “for their highly-decorated halls of assembly must be re-
garded as the most wonderful instances of bird-architecture yet
discovered.” The male gets his beautiful blue-black coat after
he is seven years old.

Many of the schools of South Gippsland can show Satin Bower-
Birds regularly in attendance at lunch-time to gather the crusts.
We have destroyed their native fruits, and should submit to some
slight loss to enable young Australians to become familiar with
the “most interesting group of birds” in the world.

The members of the Crow Family—the Corvidae—were con-
Sidered the most highly-developed of birds—the most highly
organized,so far as structure was concerned, and the mostintelli-
gent. However, Sharpe has erected the seven Australian Bell-
Magpies (Streperas) into a family which, in his Hand-List of
Birds is placed at the top of the bird tree.

In the Crow Family many well-known birds are placed. The
Jays, Magpie, Daws, Rooks, and Nutcrackers of Europe are not
represented in Australia. The Crows and the Raven, however,
are represented by closely-related birds.

It is important to tell the difference between the Australian
Crow and the Australian Raven, for, we are told, the Crow is
all that is good, while the Raven is the reverse.

The ornithologists say it is easy to tell the difference. Just
examine the down, say, on the neck. It is white in the Crow,
but dusky in the Raven. Unfortunately, the birds will not
always wait to permit an examination of the down

186 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

1 382aStarling, Sturnus vulgaris, Eur., N. Afr., Asia, A.
23 (introduced). Nom. v.c. open 8.5
Glossy-black, with metallic reflections; upper feathers
tipped buff, under tipped white; light tips lost in sum-
mer; bill lemon-yellow summer, blackish winter; f.,
sim. Insects, caterpillars, fruit. Wheezing, whining
notes. Mimic. :

The eye is often mentioned, but hazel-eyed birds have become
white-eyed. However, the Raven has lanceolate feathers on the
neck, and a rougher, unmusical voice. |

The Raven seems the more common bird, though most people
will tell you there are no Ravens in their district.

The Apostle-Bird (Gray Jumper), and the White-winged Chough
are two of Australia’s “anomalous birds.” Both go in flocks,
so each has been called the ‘‘Twelve Apostles.” However, the
name has become attached to the Gray Jumper.

The White-winged Chough has no close relative in the world;
possibly, the Chough that nests in the cliffs of Cornwall is nearest
to it.

The Bell-Magpies (Streperas), perhaps better known as Black
or Gray Magpies, are now receiving much notice, because of their
position at the head of the bird-world. They are restricted to
Australia, Tasmania, and Lord Howe Island. A good name is
required for these birds, for, of course, they are not Magpies,
though they have a white-tipped tail, and there is usually white

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 187

1 382sCommon Myna_ (Indian, Calcutta), Acridotheres
3 tristis, India, Afghanistan, V. (introduced).
Stat. v.c. houses 10
Head, neck black; upper brown; under rich vinous-brown;

tip-tail, large patch on wing white; about eye, bill, legs
yellow; f., sim. Insects, fruit. Many notes.

F, 157. EULABETIDAE (2), SHINING STARLINGS, 139 sp.

—51(51)A., 20(20)0., 1(1)P., 67(67)E.
F. 158. Paramythidae, 1 sp. A. (N.G.).
EF. 159. Buphagidae, Oxpecker, Rhinoceros-Bird, 2 sp. EH.

F. 160. ORIOLIDAE (4), ORIOLES, Fig-Birds, 70 sp.—
27(27)A., 29(26)0., 8(0)P., 15(14)E.
1 $838*Olive-backed Oriole, Green Thrush (e), Mimetes sagit-
12 tata (Oriolus viridis), E.A., N.W.A.
Stat. r. open forest 11.5
Upper yellowish olive-green; wings, tail brown, tipped
white; under whitish, streaked black; bill flesh-red;
eyes scarlet; variable in color; f., sim. Insects, fruit.
““Or-ree-ee-oale.”’ Mimic.
KF. 161. DICRURIDAE (1), DRONGOS, 73 sp.—24(23)A.,
39(88)0., 11(11)E.
1 384*Spangled Drongo, Drongo-Shrike, King-Crow, Dicru-
29 ropsis (Chibia, Dicrurus) bracteata, N.G., N. Ter.,
ii.A., N.W.A., T. (acc.). Nom. r. timber 12.2
Black glossed, spotted green; spotted white under wing;
f., sim. Insects. Noisy, harsh peculiar notes.
F’. 162. PARADISEIDAE (4), BIRDS OF PARADISE, Rifle
Bird, 70 sp. A.
F. 163. PTILONORHYNCHIDAE (11), BOWER-BIRDS, Re-
gent-Bird, Cat (Gardener) Bird, ot-Sp: A.
1 385*Satin Bower-Bird, Satin Bird, Ptilonorhynchus v10-
1 laceus, H.A. Stat. r. coast-scrubs, mt.-gullies 12.5
Lustrous blue-black, with black centres to feathers;
f..* upper grayish-green; quills dark-brown; tail
golden-brown; under yellow, washed bluish-green,
marked blackish-brown; young male up to 3 years sim.
to f. Gets fully adult blue-black after 7 years of
age. Fruits, berries, insects. Many notes, mimics.

in the wing, and about the base of the tail. They are fine, large
birds, with a variety of notes.

This concludes a necessarily brief outline of the classification
of the Birds of Australia, and, incidentally, of the birds of the
world, for, while the Emu is one of the most primitive of birds
placed right at the foot, the Bell-Magpies (Streperas) are placed
at the very summit of the avine tree.

Australians! Realize that you live in a land favored far beyond
most as regards birds, and that you have a duty to perform in
preserving aS many as possible of these unique, interesting, and
valuable forms for posterity. Teachers! Your influence is more
potent than all the legislation. Bird lovers already freely

j88s AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK,

5 $86*Spotted Bower-Bird, Cabbage-Bird, Chlamydera ma-
6 culata, E.A., S.A. (inland). Stat. v.r. dry scrubs
Upper dark-brown spotted buff; rose-lilac opalescent
plumes on nape; tail tipped buff, white: abdomen pale
creamy-buff, flanks barred dusky brown; f., no rose-

lilac plumes. Varied, harsh, plaintive notes, mimics.

F. 164. CORVIDAE (5), CROWS, Rook, Raven, Jackdaw,
Magpie (Br.), Jay, Nutcracker, Chough, 274 sp.—
21 (25) A;,. 7358) O., 69053) PB: 1509) He 4335) Nex
73 (65) NI.
3 887 Hazel-eyed Crow, Corvus coronoides, A. *
63 Nom. c. open, timber
Black glossed with purple; white down; hazel eyes; f.,
smaller. Insects, carrion, fruit, not lambs.
888 Small-billed Crow, C. bennetti, W.N.S.W., V., S.A.
Like 387, but smaller; bill small; eye white; f., sim.

12

20

Insects, carrion. “Car” repeated. Stat. v.r. plains 18.5

389 Australian Raven, Crow (e), C. marianae (Corone aus-
ERIS) eee Le Nom. v.c. plains, timber
Black glossed purple; throat feathers lanceolate, tinged
green; down dusky-gray; eyes white; f., smaller,
lanceolate feathers not so well developed. Locusts,
caterpillars, omnivorous, destructive. “Loud, deep
Gwar-gwar, varied with shrill, high-sounding Korr-
Korr” (North).
1 $90*Apostle-Bird, Gray Jumper, Tweive Apostles, Struthi-
ul dea cinerea, N. Ter., E.A., S.A. (inland).
Stat. small flocks, r. open timber
Gray; wings brown; Dill, legs black; eye white; f., sim.
Mud nest. Insects. Incessant chattering.

20

13

AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 189

1 391*White-winged Chough, Black Magpie (e), Jay (e),

1 Apostle-Bird (e), Corcorax melanorhamphus, }B.A.,
S.A. Stat. small flocks, c. timber 16

Sooty black, white on wing only; eyes red; f., sim. Mud

nest. Insects, fruits, seeds. Low, mournful whistle.

F. 165. STREPERIDAE (7), BELL-MAGPIES, Streperas,

Crow-Shrikes, 7 sp. A.

7 392*Pied Bell-Magpie ( Crow-Shrike), Currawong, Mutton-

mu Bird (e), Strepera graculina, E.A., Lord Howe Is.
Nom. r. timber 18.5

Black; white patch on wing, upper base tail, under base

tail, tip tail; eye yellow; f., smaller. Berries, fruit,

insects.
393 Black-winged Bell-Magpie ( Crow-Shrike), S. melan-
optera, V., S.A., Kangaroo Is. Stat. v.r. scrub 19

Black, white tip tail, under base tail; f., smaller. Insects.
394*Gray Bell-Magpie ( Crow-Shrike), Gray Magpie, Rain-
Bird, Squeaker, S. versicolor (cuneicaudata), EH.A.
Stat. v.c. timber, orchard 19
Gray; white on wing, tip tail, under base tail; eye orange;
f., sim. Insects, fruit. Loud, ringing notes. ““It’s-
going-to-rain.’’ “Two and two are four.” Cree-e-
ling, cree-e-ling.
395 Sooty Bell-Magpie (Crow-Shrike), Black Magpie (e),
S. fuliginosa, E.A., S.A., T., Bass St. Is.
Stat. r. timber 18
Sooty black; white in wing, tip tail; eye yellow; big bill
black; f., sim. Insects, fruit.

190 AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK.

acknowledge the fundamental change that has come over the
schoolboy since the introduction of nature-study, and they look
to you with confidence to extend greatly the good work of
cultivating an interest and a pride in things Australian, for this
interest will eradicate the once almost-universal, but now rapidly-
disappearing, desire for slaughter of anything wearing a feather.

If women could be persuaded to come in line with the once
destructive schoolboy in this respect, the bird lover and the well-
wisher of his country would have further cause for gratification,
and our beautiful birds a further enjoyment of a useful, indeed,
often a necessary life, one necessary to the welfare of the agri-
culturist and the pastoralist, as well as of all dwellers in this
fair, sunny land of ours.

Australians! Your wonderful Lyre-Birds, your marvellous
Bower-Birds, your gorgeous Birds of Paradise, your Mound-
Builders, your fiute-noted Magpies, your charming Whistlers, your
beautiful and intelligent Cockatoos, your glorious Parrots—
the pets of the bird world—-your Superb-Warblers, your
varied, valuable, and attractive Honey-eaters, and your giant
Laughing-Kingfisher are here for your enjoyment and apprecia-
tion. No other people has your privilege of knowing these birds
in their native state. On the other hand, you enjoy most of the
privileges of dwellers in other lands, in addition to your own, for
“every widely-spread family of birds but two is found in Australia.
The only notable absentees are Vultures and Woodpeckers.” Be
proud of your heritage, and pass it on uninjured. Though that,
alas! is not possible, yet you may pass on at least the remnant
that still survives the ‘‘blessings and advance of civilization.”’

NOTE.

Having obtained the approximate length of a bird, look for “it on the following
pages. Compare the bird before you with the half-tone and colored illustrations,
and, if necessary, the written description :—

3-5 inches.. Pages 14, 121, 123, 124, 131, 133, 142-145, 153, 155, 166, 167, 169, 179.

5-7 inches.. aS 13, 15, 22, 23, 26, 27, 44, 49, 89, 110, 111, 120-125, 127, 129, 131,
142, 144-146, 151, 152, 155, 168-172, 177, 178.
7-9 inches.. ne 13, 15, 17, 18, 27, 31, 42, 48, 45, 47-49, 89, 102-107, 109, 125,
129, 131, 145, 147, 150-152, 154, 169-173, 176, 177, 186.
9-11 inches.. oc 17, 18, 24, 25, 31, 40, 43, 44, 49-51, 61, 102, 103, O07, 09;
127-129, 131-188, 145, 148, 149, 151, 170, 171) 173) ioe
11-13 inches.. op 28-30, 34, 48, 46, 49, 80, 82, 83, 93, 101, 102, 105, 107, 109, 180,
149, 175, 187, 188.
13-15 inches.. on 17, 18) 23) 25, 28) 29; 35, 43; 45,47, (80) 83) 985-88 eolrenon.
100, 101, 103, 107, 126, 127, 149, 174, 175, 188.
15-17 inches.. 6 18, 23, 28, 29, 45-47, 64, 65, 67, 73, 82, 85, 87, 91, 93, 189.
17-20 inches.. 5p 16, 23, 25, 27, 28, 35, 40, 41, 43, 61, 63, 65, 67, 73, 82, 83, 91,
93, 104, 105, 149, 188, 189.
20-23 inches.. 06 35, 41, 45, 51, 61, 63, 66, 67, 72, 73, 81, 91, 188.
23-25 inches.. D 13, 25, 41, 45, 60, 61, 65, 69, $1, 82, 84, 85, 90, 111.
25-30 inches. . 30 25, 83, 41, 53, 60, 65, 67, 69, 89, 112.
30-35 inches. on 29, 32, 33, 53, 60, 63, 69, 71, 81.

Over 35 inches » 12, 381, 32 51, 52, 62, 68, 70, 71, 81, 112.

191

INDEX (Colored Plates).

Frontispiece.

2 Mallee-Fowl

3 Stubble Quail

4 Brown Quail

6 King Quail

8 Painted Quail
{{ Plain Wanderer
14 Diamond Dove

16 Bronzewing Pigeon

Page 19

2! Pectoral Rail

22 Aust. Spotted Crake
26 Black Moor-Hen

27 Bald Coot

30 Hoary-headed Grebe
67 Crested Tern

71 White-faced Ternlet
72 Silver Gull

73 Pacific Gull

Page 38

81 Black-breasted Plover
87 Black-fronted Dottrel
102 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

106 Australian Snipe

107 55 Painted Snipe
109 Southern Stone-Curlew
119 White-fronted Heron
123 Nankeen Night Heron
125 Australian Bittern

Page 55

128 Cape Barren Goose

129 Maned Goose

131 Plumed Whistling Duck
133 Black Duck

134 Australian Teal

135 Gray Teal

136 Aust. Shoveller

137 Pink-eared Duck

139 White-eyed Duck

Page 57

152 Allied Harrier

155 Australian Goshawk
157 Collared Sparrowhawk
158 Wedge-tailed Eagle
165 Black-shouldered Kite
167 Black-cheeked Falcon
170 Little Falcon

172 Brown Hawk

173 Nankeen Kestrel

Page 76

184 Blue Mountain Lorikeet
185 Musk Lorikeet

191 Gang-gang Cockatoo
193 Pink Cockatoo

194 Rose-breasted ,,

196 Cockatoo-Parrot

197 Superb Parrot

198 Black-tailed Parrot

199 King Parrot

Page 78

200 Crimson Parrot

202 Rosella

203 Mallee Parrot

204 Blue Bonnet

205 Many-colored Parrot
206 Red-backed Parrot
209 Grass-Parrot

213 Swift Parrot

214 Warbling Grass-Parrot

Page 95

219 Australian Roller
220 Blue Kingfisher

221 Laughing Kingfisher
223 Sacred Kingfisher
224 Aust. Bee-eater

227 Spine-tailed Swift
229 Pallid Cuckoo

230 Fan-tailed Cuckoo
235 Bronze Cuckoo

Page 97

238 Welcome Swallow

240 Tree Martin

242 Brown Flycatcher

244 Scarlet-breasted Robin
244a (Female)

Ze Flamnre- ‘breasted Robin

245a

248 Red Capped Robbin
248a ,, 3s (Female)

Page 116

251 White-throated Flyeater
254 White-shafted Fantail
255 Rufous Fantail

256 Black and White Fantail
259 Restless Flycatcher

262 Black-faced Cuckoo-

Shrike

265 White-shouldered Cater-
pillar-eater

265a do. (Female)

266 Spotted Ground-bird

Page 118

272 Coachwhip Bird
273 Gray-crowned Babbler

276 White-browed Field-Wren ae Saneuineous

278 Brown Song-Lark

279 Rufous Song-Lark

280 Mountain Thrush

281 White-fronted Chat
28la_ ,, 59 (Female)
282 Crimson-breasted Chat

Page 135

284 Aust. Reed- Warbler

285 Golden-headed Fantail-
Warbler

286 Grass-Bird

287 Speckled Warbler

Page 135—(Cont.)

288 Little Tit-Warbler

289 Brown Tit-Warbler

291 Striated Tit-Warbler

293 Yellow-tailed ,,

297 White-browed Scrub-Wren

Page 137

ann aeOpeED: Warbler
of (Female)

aoe “white- -Winged Superb-
Warbler

304 Emu Wren

306 Bristle-Bird

311 White-browed Wood-
Swallow

312 Masked Wood-Swallow

313 Wood-Swallow

315 Gray Shrike-Thrush

Page 139

319 Aust. Butcher-Bird

320 Yellow-breasted Shrike-Tit
321 Crested Bell-Bird

322 Soldenrbreasiet Whistler

322a i (F.)
323 Rufous-breasted Whistler
323a do. F.

(F.)
(Female) 326 Yellow-breasted Shrike-

Robin
327 Whiteface

Page 158

328 Orange-winged Nuthatch
0 Brown Tree-Creeper
331 White-throated Tree-
Creeper
334 White-eye
336 Aust. Flower-Pecker
336a <i (Female)

337 Red-tipped ) :
340 Spotted | Diamond-
341 Golden- } Bird
rumped
Page 160
342 White-naped )
345 Striped . Honey-
eater
lack
348 Spinebill
349 Tawny- s
crowne
350 White-fronted Hone
351 Painted Sule
353 Regent
Page 162
355 Yellow-eared
356 Singing | Honey-
357 Yellow-faced eater

358 White-eared

192

Page 162—(Cont.)
359 Yellow-tufted
362 Yellow-plumed
363 White-plumed /
364 Crescent )
365 White-bearded

Honey-
eater

Page 164

360 Helmeted Honey-eater
366 White-cheeked

367 Bell-Miner

368 Noisy Miner

370 Wattle-Bird

INDEX

Page 164—(Cont.)

372 Spiny-cheeked | Honey-
373 Blue-faced eater
374 Friar-Bird

Page 181.
375 Yellow-throated Friar-
Bird

ir
376 Australian Pipit

377 Bush-Lark

378 Spotted-Sided Finch
379 Firetailed Finch

380 Chestnut-eared Finch

(COLORED PLATES).

Page 18I1—(Cont.)

381 Plum-headed Finch
382 Red-browed Finch
383 Olive-backed Oriole

Page 183

384 Spangled Drongo
oe eeu Bower-Bird
385 (Female)
386 “Spotted Bow er-Bird

390 Apostle-Bird

391 White-winged Chough
392 Pied Bell-Magpie

394 Gray Bell-Magpie

INDEX (General).

eae

The Ordinary Figures (175) refer to tabular matter and the

Italic Figures (747) refer to the lecture.

Acanthagenys . 175
Acanthiza 142,141,153
Acanthochaera . 174
Acanthorhynchus 17)
Accipiter.. . = 80

Acridotheres . . 187
Acrocephalus . . 142
Ai gialitis 44, 45
Aigintha . .. LT9
Ajgotheles . . 104
Aerocharidae . . 149
Ajstrelata . . 28, 29
Aidemosyne... 179
Alarm-Bird ... 48
ANGUGG =. 2 nT ers
Alaudidae . 176, 177
Albatross,

31. 32, 33, 33, 34
Alcedinidae . . . 105
AICIGGE 2s) (ei mb is 33
FAULCGY OIG fo. ies to 8 105
Ampelidae . 147
Amytornis . 146
Le ee 65
Anatidae... =< 4) .62
Ancylochilus . 49
Anellobia . 175
Anhinga . 70

Anseranas ..

Anteater, Spiny 11
ATIUUS ee vee eee 176
Antigone . 52
Ant-thrushes . . 118
Antwrens es
Aphelocephala . 1538
Apostle-Bird, 188
130,189,147,186
Aprosmictus . 93
1pterygidae . 13
Apteryx . 2 StS
Aramidae.... 52
Ardeidae . 60
ATOCHE =, eo i 61
Arenaria@ .... 42
Artamidae . 147
Artamus . 147
ASturn ate: 73
Atlantic O. 26, 383

Atrichornithidae,
1135-119

Audubon ee 114
Auk .

AVCS iy. 5 ahem. 12
Avocet 45, 47
AYtRYO. 8205 2: 67
Babbler 180, 130, 175

Babbling-Thrush 128
Balaenicipitidae 60

Bald-Coot « “eae
Bahia. . Saas
Ballyhead soe
Banana-Bird . . 175
Barbet . . Lidsst
Barker. . 288 130
Bark-pecker 153
Barley-Bird .. . 142
Barnardius ... 101
Barn Owl . 86, 87, 85
Barwing : . 72
Bass St. . . 154, 165
Bat 11, 166

Beach-Bird . 42
Bee-eater 106,107,106
Bell-Bird 151, 151 174
Bell-Magpie,
189,12.89,185,186,187
Bell-Miner . 173,174
Bird Day 74, 119, 141
Birds of Paradise,
187, 12, 180, 190
Birds of Prey,
12,71,14,19, 000

Bittern 61, 59
Biziura Brae |
Blackbird,

132, 179, 133, 134

Blackcap . . 1338, 168
Bleater 50
Blight-Bird . 155, 156
Blood-Bird . .. 169
Blood Tit (e) . 142
Blue-Bird 127,132,146
Blue-Bonnet,

99, 101, 144
Bluecap . . 144
Blue-eye . . 175,176
Blue-Head ... 144

Blue Mountain,
88, 90, 156

Blue-Tit . . 144
Bluewing .... 66
Blue-Wren ... 144
Boatswain-Bird, 41,71
Bobolink » LOS 74
Bob-White . $5
Boobook Owl,

85, 85, 104
Booby . s 415 70
Boomer . oO
Botaurus .... -61

Bower-Birds,
187, 188, 12, 185, 190
Brainfever Bird,
1095720
Bristle Bird 145, 141

Broadbill =>... W411
Broad-tails . . . 94
Brolga 52
Brownhead ... 67

Brush-Turkey 13, 15

Bubonidae . 85
Bucconidae ... 111
Bucerotidae - L0G

Budgerigar . 103, 100

Bulbul =... 2 127, 91
Bulla-Bulla . « 101
Bull-Bird 2. 4. -61
Bulliinch oy 5 177
Bully -. 28
Bunting . . 177
Bunyip... cs 59
Buphagidae . . . 187
Burhinus cei ees oak
Bush-Lark . 177,177
Bushman’s Clock 105
Bush-Warbler . 124
Bustard 51, 51, 52

INDEX (GENERAL).

Bustard Quail,

Lb: 27, ot
Butcher-Bird, 149,150

Button Quail . . 15
Buzzard . . 82,79
Cabbage-Bird . . 188
Cacatua . 91
Cacatuidae . 89
Cackler. ... . 130
Cacomantis . . . 109
Calamanthus . . 131
Caley yo 5 oad. E49
Calico-Bird ... 42
Calidris . 48
Callocephalum $1
Calopsittacus 93
Calyptorhynchus 8&9
Campophaga . . 127
Campophagidae 126

Canary, 124, 133, 152,
72, 10%, 13%. £79

Cape Barren Is 32
Cape Petrel... 29
Cape Pigeon . 29
Capercailly ... 13
Cape Sheep... 81
Capitonidae peailal
Caprimulgidae . 107
Cardinal . re Oy Ar
Carduelis . ... 177
Cariamidae ... 58
Carinatae . 138, 13, 14
Carphibis .... 53
Carr Goose . 25
Casarca . ee
Cassowary 13, 11, 138
Casuariidae ... 138
Catamblyrhyn-
chidae . emai!
Catarrhactes . 25

Catbird, 130, 187, 131
Caterpillar-eater,

126,127,39,127,128
Cathartidae... 71
Cerchneis 83
COTECONSIS.S: . 5 Le 963
Certhiidae . . 1b4
Certhionyz . ae A
Chaerura .« .°) 2107
Chaflipeh .) 2 os) 177

193
Chalcococcyr . . 119
Chalcophaps . alg /
Chamaeidae ... 153
Channel-bill 111, 111
Charadriidae . 42
Charadrius ... 44
Chat. +... 133, 133
Chatterer . . 113,130
Chelidon . 120
Chenonetta .. 63
Chenopsis . 62
Cheramoeca ... 121
Cherry-eater . . 173
Cherry-Hawk . . 127
Chibia . . + SaLST
Chickadee . .. 4
Chicken-Hawk 73
Chickoowee. .. 172
Chick-up .°. 171
Chiff-chaff . se
Chionididae 42
Chlamydera . . 188
Chough, 189, 147, 186
» (Br.), 183,786
Chthonicola . 142
Chuck-e-chuc . . 167
Ciconiidae . . 60
Cinclidae ... . 1382
Cincloramphus . 131
Cinclosoma . . . 128
Circus . 2 yee
Cisticola . . 142, 134
Cladorhynchus 45
Climacteris . . . 154
Clipper 5 ae 133
Coachwhip-Bird,
129, 151, 180
Cobbler . .=.. 45
Cobbler’s Awl, 45,170
Coccyges . . 108
Cockatiel . ... 98
Cockatoo,

89, 91, 88, 91, 89
Cockatoo-Parrot,

93, 94
Cocktail . . 144
Codlin-Moth-eater 130
Coerebidae . nets
Coliidae . . 108

Colluricincla . . 149

194

Coloration—
Advertizing, . 165
Protective, 21, 156
Recognition . 165
Warning . . 156

Columbidae... 17

Colymbidae . 25

Condor Nc Me aie! (lt

Conophagidae, . 1138

Cooers . OID)

Cookaycock ... 175

Coot 23, 22

Coraciidae . . 105

Coracina . 127

Corcoras.. . . . 189

Corella . 93

Cormorant . . 68,68

Corn-Bird . 142

Corn-Crake, 18, 131, 22

COTONE 2 5 «2c 188
Corvidae . . 188, 185
COTDUS iiss oo 188
Cotingas .. 113
Cotingidae . 118
Coturnic.. «.. Aa
Courlan . 52
Courser . 51
Cowbird . 179
Crab-Plover. . 51
Cracidae . 13
Cracticus 149
Crake, 18, 22, 23, 22
Crane, 52, 60, 52, 59
Cranky Fan . . 124
Creeper . 154, 154
Crosspill 2... SANT
Grow ...- 188, 72, 185

» White . 149, 150
Crow-Shrike, 149, 189
Cuckoo 108-111, 74

85,87,109,112,134
Cuckoo-Shrike,

126, 126

Cuculidae ... . 108
Cuculus . . 109
Curassow :.\...) 138
Curlew, 45,39,49,50
Curlew, Black 53
Soe Le yeily.~ 49
» -sandpiper 49
a Stink < 49

» stone 51, 50

INDEX (GENERAL).
Currawong .. . 189
Cursoriidae... 51
Cutthroate.-a., .« Low
Cyclopsittacidae 89
Cymodroma... 27
Cypselidae . oo LOW
Cypselus 2. 107
Dabehick, 23; 24, 25
Dacelo . ~ 105
Daption . 29
Darter-<s <2 00, 169.
Daw . . 185
Deer. s-¢. .3) 3.08. 165
Demiegretta 61
Dendrocolaptidae 113
Dendrocygna .. 68
Devil-Bird . 124, 144
Diamond-Bird,167, 160
Diamond Dyke . 167
Dicaeidae . 166
Dicaeum . . 166
Dicruridae .. .-187
Dicruropsis 187
Dicrurus .. s Lod
Didunculidae . . 18
Dimorphism . 41
Dinornis . 84
Diomedea . 31
Diomedeidae . . 31
DIPPER as Ss ceases 132
Dishwasher (e) 125
Diver,

24, 25, 69, 24, 69, 70
Diving-Petrel . 31, 32
Dog-Bird . . . 1380
Dollar Bird . 105, 105
Dottrel.

42-45,133,48,59
Dove .. 16,417, 21,39
Dove-Petrel 30, 31, 27

Drepanididae . . 175
Dromadidae 51
Dromaeidae 12
Dromaius et ile
Drongo. . ... 187, 180
Drymodes . ~ 129

Dryweather-Bird 53
Duck . . 63-67, 62-67
Dunlin, Littie 49

Durbaner . . . 149
Eagle $1, 72, 15
» Bald (Amer.),

$1, 26,39,72,74

» Golden,
81, 72; 14,09
» ea,
, Ol, coo, me 79, 84
EKaglehawk (e), 81,72

Echidna . i
Edolisoma . «La
Egg (size) . “46
Egg-Bird 40, 36
Egret . 60, 61, 54, 59
Egypt 172, 58
Hider Duck... 695
Elanus 82
Emu,
12, 11, 18, 15, 1093is
Emu-Wren . 145, 141
Entomophila . . 170
Entomyzon . TS
Eopsaltria . 152, 152
Epthianura 133
Hrismatura 67
Hrolia . Re
Erythrogonys. . 48
Eudyptula . 25
Eulabetidae 187
Euphema ... . 103
Hupodotis . 51
Eurostopus ... 107
Eurylaemidae ree!
Eurypygidae . 53
Eurystomus 105
Eutolmaétus . 81
Excalfactoria.. 14
alee. a. 82
Falcon . 82, 83, 72, 79
Falconidae ... 2
Falcon-Shrike . 150
Falcunculus . 150
Fantail 124, 125, 123
Fantail-Warbler,
142, 184,141
Farmer’s Friend 53
Fern-Owl .:.. ..2 307
Field-Lark, Little 142
Field-Wren . 131, 132
Fig-Bird . . 187, 180
Fig-Parrot . 89

Finch,

177-179, 178-180, 134
PAntOot 3... =. ad
Firetail . 179, 179
Fish Hawk, 84, 59, 72
Flamingoes... 61
Flickers . . oe ee.
Flight-Bird . . . 103
Flood-Bird . 5 SAD
Flower-Pecker 166
Fluke. . . 148
Flute-Bird . . 149
Flycatcher,

tS. 21-125, 127-193
Flyeater . . 124

Flying Coachman 170

Flying Phalanger 11
Flysnapper, 124,125
Formicariidae, . 113
Four-o’clock Selvo
Fowl, Domestic 13, 15
Fregata . 71
Fregatidae . 71
Fregetta . 27
Friar-Bird, 175,91,176

Frigate Bird, 71,39,70
Fringillidae, 177, 179

Mroe-Bird: 6... 125
Frogmouth,

104, 86, 104
Fruit-Pigeon . 16, 21
Fulica . Ae tiet ess:
Fulmar . . 27, 28,29
Gabianus ..... 4

Galah, 91,92; 92.
Galbulidae .

93
ariel

Gallinago .... 50
Gallinula 23
Gallinule . ie

» Purple 23, 22
Gang-gang 91; 92
Gannet 71, 70
Gane 3 los
Gardener-Bird . 187
Garetowl... ... 38
Garrodia .. 27
Garzetta . 61
Gaunt . Rave ea ere
Gavidge: 22) 25
Gelochelidon . 35
Geobasileus .. . 143

INDEX (GENERAL).
Geopeluw .. . 17
Geopsittacus . . 103
Gerygone . 124
Gill-Bird . . 174
Glareolidae s, “od
Glass-eye ... . 185
Gliciphila . . . 170
Glossopsitiacus . 89
Glottis ... 47
Glutton 29
Goatsucker,

104, 107, 107
Goaway > .*i.-.) 2-131
Godwit . . 47, 39, 49

Golden Robin . 180
Goldfinch . . 177,178

Goose . 62, 62, 63, 67
Goshawk . 72, 73, 74
Gould League . 114
Gourtddé: 2.232: 18
Grackle seals)
Grallina . . 148
Grape-eater ... 155
Grass-Bird . .. 142
Grasshopper-Hawk,
109
Grass-Warbler . 142

Grass-Wren . 146, 141

Graucalus . 126, 127
Graucalus Peel BALE
Grebe 24, 25, 24
Greenfinch . 177,178

Greenie 172, 169, 174

1 Green Keet, 89,90,100

Green Leek, 93, 94, 90
Green Leek (e) 89, 94
Greenlet . . 147
Greenshank...
Grinder . . . 125, 126
Grosbeak... . 177
Ground-Bird, 128, 129
Ground-Diamond 167
Ground-Dove 17, 128
Ground-Lark 176, 176
Ground-Pigeon ily /

Ground-Thrush,

128, 183
Ground-Wren . . 129
Grouse. . 13
Gruidae . 52
Guacharo 104

195

Guan . F 13
Guillemot .... 88
Guinea-a-week . 129
Guinea-Fowl . 14

Gull, 34,41,59,35,39,40

Gymnorhina . . 149
Gypoictinia. .. 82
Gyrfalcon 83
Haematopus 43
Hakoakoa... 41
Halcyon . . 105
Haliaétus 81
Heliastur 81
Halobaena . 29
Hammer-Head 60
Happy-Family 130,131

Happy Jack 180, 131
Harbinger of Spring,

109
Hardhead . 67, 65
Harrier; 12, te, (23 14
Harvest-Bird, 131,133
Hawk, 81, 83, 109, 72

COT ORE
Hawk Owl . . 85,86
Headache-Bird . 166
Hedge-Sparrow . 132
Heliornithidae 23
Hemipode 15
Herodias . . 260
Heron . 60, 61, 53, 59
Heteropygia 40
Hieracidea . . 83
Himantopus 45
Hirundinidae . . 120
Hirundo . 120
Honctzin- .~. es
Hobby . 5 pce
Honey-Bird . . . 168

Honey-Creeper . 178
Honey-eater, 168-175
74,91,126,168-176,190

Honey-guide . . 111
Honey-sucker . . 168
Hoopoe . 106
Hopper . . 180

Houtman Abrolhos 36
Humming-Birds,

108, 169, 170,109
Hydrochelidon 34
Hydroprogne .. 35

196 INDEX (GENERAL).
Hylacola . . 129 Larus . oe a
Hypotaenidia . . 18 Leatherhead 227, 175
Ibididae . . .. 538 Letpou . 13
Ibis 58, 58, 54 Leplosomatidae 104
Icteridae . . 179, 18y Letter-Bird... 538
Indicatoridae . . 111 Leucosarcia . 18, 21
Irrisoridae . . . 106 Licmetis .... 2
Jabiru . 60, d4 Ligurinus . ARAL
Jacamar . 111 Limosa 47
Facana. 2°. eax 51 Limpkin. . 52
Jackass, 105, 106, 149 Linnet 172, 177, 179
Jackdaw . . 188,185 Lipoc . 13
Jacky Martin . 147 Lobivunellus . 43
Jacky Winter,121, 122 Logger-Head . 66
Jaeger... .. 4, Lombok 91
Jay, 126,127,188,189, Longbill . 50
126, 185 Longshanks 45
Jenny-Wren, 133,142 Loon 28 25
Jerryang.. g9 Lophaethyia . . 25
Jumper, 130, 188, 186 “Lophoictinia . . 82
arin i 434); 53 Lopholumus . 16
Kahu . 73 Loriidae. . 88
Kaka . 88 Lorikeet, 8§&, "89, 103
Kaoriki ; 61 74,89,90,99,156
Karakahia . 67 Lory, 388, 938, 100, 101
Kea... . 88 Love-Bird,103,171,100
Kelp-Pigeon - 42 Lowan. POS 3
Kestrel, 838, 73, 80,81 Lowry . . 100
Kingbird oe . 113 Lyrebird,
King-Crow . . . 187 192975192, 118-190
Kingfisher 105,106,107 Macaw . 93, 89
11,389,105,106,190 Macquarie-Hen . 23
Kinglet . . 153 Macronectes 29
Kirombo . . 104 Macropterygidae 107
Kite . 81,82,79 Magpie, 148, 149, 189
Kiwi dsj i} 150, 151, 190
Knot Saas) 2 Br, 188,lol,185
Knot-Snipe. . . 49 Magpie-Lark, 148,147
Kookaburra .. . 105 Majaqueus ... 28
Kuaka . 47 Major Mitchell, 91,93
Kuia 28 Malacorhynchus 67
Kuruwhengi 66 Mallard 65, 63
Lalage . . 127 Mallee-Fowl 135,20:
Landrail . . 18,22 Malurus . . 144
Land-Snipe. . 49 Mannikin ge te Less
Land-Wagtail . 124 Man-of-war-bird 31,71
Lantidae . . . 149 Manorina . 173
Lapwing (e) . . 127 Marsh-Harrier 73
Laridae . . . 984 Marsh-Tringa . 49
Lark 176, 188 Marsh-Warbler . 142

Marsupials . . 11,52
Martin,
120,121,147,121,146
Matuku . 60
Matuku-Lurepo . 61
Maycock . . 43
Mayfowl . 46
Megalestris ... 41
Megalurus 142
Megapode . . 18, 91
Megapodiidae .. 1%
Meleagridae . 15
Meliornis .: = =i
Meliphaga . « 1
Meliphagidae . . 168
Melithreptus . . 168
Melopsittacus . . 103
Menura . . 2 25a
Menuridae . 112
Meropidae . 106
Merops 107
Merula 132
Mesocalius . . . 109
Mesoenatidae . . 58
Mesophoyz . 60
Mesoscolopax .. 46
Micky . 1738
Microeca . . 121
Microtribonyx see
Tribong2 > eee
Milwus 2 3-228 31
Mimetes . 187
Mimidae ... . 182
Miner . . 173,169,174
Mirafra . . . Seeman
Mistletoe-Bird . . 166
Mistletoe-Swallow,
166, 165
Mniotiltidae ; 2
Mocker <t = % <a 175
Mocking-Bird,

114, 132175
Mock Regent Bird 170
Mollymaw:’: 31, 32, 33

Momotidae ... 107
Monarcha . . 125
Monk . « “tS
Monotremata it
Moor-Hen .208, 22

Mopoke, 104,86,85,104
Mormon-Wren . 144

Morning-Bird . . 125
Motacillidae , 6
Mother Carey’s

Chicken. 26, 27, 30
Mother’ Carey’s

Goose’: . ..-. 29
Mcth-Owl. . 104, 107
Motmot OT
Mound-builders,

moe lhl. 16; 790

Mourner . . 149
Mouse-Bird . . 108
Mud Island 30. 36
Mudlark . . 148
Murre . ioe
Muscicapidae . . 121
Musophagidae . 108
Mutton Bird . 28, 32
wemCeie st 174. 189
Myiagra . . 2 25
Miynaeere... 187, 156
Myzantha smuliie
Myzomela . . 169
Native Bear . 73
Native Companion,
52, 52, 58
Native-Hen . . 238, 29

Native Pheasant 138
Nature-study. 48, 190

Nectariniidae . . 168
Nelly ar 4429
Neognathae. . 18, 14
Neophema . . 102. 99
Neositta . sale
Nestor 88
Nestoridae . 88
Nettium . 65

Night Hawk (e)

28,107, 707, 108
Night Heron 61, 53,59
Nightingale, 132, 133
Night-jar 104, 107,107
Ninox . 85

Noddy, 34,35,36,39,40
North Pole. . 26
Notophoyx . 60
Numenius . 45
Numididae ... 14
Nie tte lad, 164
Nutcracker, 188, 185

INDEX (GENERAL).
Nuthatch . . 153, 758
Nycticorax . Renin |
Oceanites 26; oi
Ochthodromus . 44
Ocyphaps 18
Odontophoridae 15
Gi dicnemidae. 51

M@strelata’ F#strelata)

Oil-Bird . 104
Olive’. < in aa
Onpisthocomidae . 18
Oreocichla . 133
Oreoica 2 51
Organ-Bird . 149. 750
Oriole . 179,187. 180
Oriolidae . s URT
Ornithorhynchus 17
Osprey, 84.59.72.87.8)
Ostrich 12. 73. 109
Otididae ; . . : 51
Owl 5 eee tos) oat

Owlet Nightjar 104
Owl-Parrot . 203
Oxpecker LSet
Oxryrhamphidae 113
Oyster-catcher,

48, 39, 46

Pachycephala 151.159
Pacifie ©, . 26, 38
Painted Lady .. 45
Palaeognathae 12,14

Palamedeidae . 61
Pandion . 84
Pandionidae R4
Panther-Bird_. 167
Paradiseidae . . 187
Paramythidae 187
Pardalote, 167,165,157
Pardalotus . asaliG
Parera 65

Paridac. 153/147. 144
Parra . hiss TaD
Parrakeet, see Parrot
Parridae....:. 5
Parrot. 88. 93-103, 11

88-107, 190
Partridge lee
Passer . es tires
Passeres . Sor LO
IBeArOWwit =<. .° Voge
IBPAGY i 4s 5 suite

6 Pittidae .

197
Pedionomus ets
Pee-wee . 148, 148
Pee-wee Lark . . 127
Pee-wit . . 148
Pelagodroma . 27, 30
Pelecanidae 71
Pelecanoides .. 31
Pelecanoididae . 31
Pelecanius + SOE
Pelican . Cin ee (|
Peltohyas . 45
Penguins . 25, 25, 26
Penguinus . 25
Perching Birds.
113) 779
Peristeridae 7
Peter-Peter 121, 127
Petrel, 27-31.27.30-89
Petrochelidon . . 121
Petroica . ~ 122
Pezoporus . ~? £03
Phaéthontidae . . 71
Phalacrocoracidae 68
Phalacrocoraxr 68
Phaps . ut
Phasianidae . . 153

Pheasant, 13) 112: 75

Philemon - At
Philepiitidae . . 113
Phoebe erlabesy

Phoebetria . 33
Phoenicopteridae 61
Phytotomidae . 113
Picarian Birds,

104, 104
PACE 2 ee ais
Pickwick . . 167
Piculets . gata:
Pigeon,

16-18, 17-727. 1268 127
Pilot-Bird 129, 129
Pimlico: =.) ee 5
Pine-Bird 2. = 2 ee ts0
Pintado . 29
Pintail . ceca On
Pipit... 176, 738. 776
Pipiwharauroa . 111
Pipridae .. its
Pisobia = sao
Pitta . . 119

118, 119

198

Plantain-eater 108
Plant-cutters 113
Platalea . § a
Plataleidae ... 58
Platibis . 60
Platycercus 100
Platypus.) 2) Ll
Plectoramphus 169
IPLCGUGIS® © a) 22 06
Ploceidae . . 178, 179
Plotidae . 70
THOUS 5 at eee LO
Plover, 43-45,39,42,46
49,59,148

iedhbbom 3 ae aL 4)
Plumage, Eclipse, 64
Pre WASC vsaes etek:
Podargidae . . 104
Podargus, 104, 105
Podiceps . . . 24
Podicipedidae .. 24
Pohowera 44
Polytelis ... 93
Pomatorhinus . 130
Poor Soldier . . 175
Porphyrio . 23

Port Egmont Hen 41

Porzana . 18
Postboy . Sle:
Postsitter 12), 121
Prairie-Fowl . . 13
Pratincole . . 51,59
Pretty Joey . 127
Priocella . 28
Priofmus . 46. 28
Prion; = 2. 21,00,.01
Prion 29, 30, 31

Prionopidae 148, 148

Procellaria . .. 28
Procellariidae 26
Procniatidae . . 178
Promeropidae . 168
Promerops . . 168
Psephotus el Om
Pseudogerygone 124
Psittacidae .. 93
Psophiidae . . 53
Psophodes . . 129
Ptarmigan . yee
Pteroclididae .. 15
Pteropodocys . , 126

INDEX (GENERAL).
Pteroptochidae . 113
Ptilonorhynchidae,

187

Ptilonorhunchus 187
Ptilotis ay a bee Ue
Puff-Birds . Apel lat
Puffin . , 33
Puffinidae . 27
Puffinus 27
Pugwall . 148
Pukeko . 23
Putoto 23
Pycnonotidae . . 127
Pycnoptilus . 129
Quail 13 :14,15,75,77,27
Q@warrion..«. ..~ 92
Rapbit... . 165, 180
Racehorse . 66
Rail 18.25
Rain-Bird 111, 189
Rainbow Bird 107
Rallidae . 18
Raptores Th
Ratitae . UPA ES}
Ratite . Ue eee,
Raven, 188, 185, 186
Razor-pill = 5. 4355
Recurvirostra . 45
Redbill, 23,43.179.46
Redbreast....< .... 122
Redhead . . 123,179
Redpoll +, adel,
Redstart . lic
Redthroat 143
Redwing . . el)
Reed-Bird Re 9/7
Pept Diehl ens r ey em les

» -Nightingale 142
» Warbler.734.142
Reef Heron 61,39.59

Regent-Bird Sats,
Regulidae . . 153
Rhamphastidae 111
Rhea . ones
Rheidae . 12
Rhinoceros-Bird 187
Rhinochetidae 53
Rhipidura . 124,125
Rhynchaea ... 50
Riflebird . . 187, 180

Ring Coachman 151

Ring-eye . . 155, 172
Ringlet . iss
Ringneck,

101, 133, 172, 99
Robin 122,123,122,127

» . (Br.), 1s2,9022

» (Serub) 1293729

» (Shrike) 152,152
Rock-Dove . . iy
Rock-Pebbler . 93, 94
Rock-Pigeon 15
Roller . - OB

» Madagascar 104
Rook . 188, 185
Rosella,

93, 100, 101, 94
Rostratula . 50
Rush-Warbler 13
Saltbush Canary,

133;78%
Sanderling ... 48
Sand-Grouse . 15
Sandlark.... 44
Sand-Martin . . 121
Sandpiper,

43,47,49,107,39,43
Sandwich Is.

Honey-eaters . 175
Saria . canta
Satin-Bird . sot S%
Scale-Bird . 109, 710
Scissors Grinder,

125, 128, 126
Scooper . 45
Scopidae .... 60
Seratcher . . 15, 24
Screamer... 61

Sernb-Birds, 112,979

Secrub-Curlew .. 51
Serub-F'owl . .°. sia
Serub-Tit . . 124
Scrub-Warbler . 129
Scrub-Wren,

143, 144, 141
Scythrops ee
Seagull (see Gull)
Sea-Hawk . 4]
Seal-Bird ; |). peas
Seapie ... ; #43
Sea-Pigeon .,. 41

Sea-Pirate . . 41, 40
Sea-Swallow . 40, 35
Secretary-Bird 72
Seed-Plover 42
S-.ed-Snipe. . 42
Seisura . = Zo
Semitone-Bird 109
Sericornis . 143
Seriema . BA OB
Serpentariidae . 72

Settler’s Clock .
Sexual Selection . 21
Shag 68, 69, 70, 68
Shearwater, 27,28,27

105

Sheathbill . 42
Sheldrake . . 65, 63
Shepherd’s Com-
panion«. .... . 125
Shieldrake . . 65, 63
Shoebill . 60
Shoebird .... 60
Shoveller . . . 66,64
Shrike, 127, 149, 149
Shrike-Tit . 150,751
Sickle-bill 53
Silve . cece LOD
Silver-eye, 155,39,156
Singing-Lark . . 131
Sittella 5 SESS
Siioge .... 153, 158
Skimmers . . 34, 35

Skua, 41,35,40,41,165
SLES RaW 2s hee ra 165
Skylark t3L, 176, 177
LS2 188,177
Smienornis 2 5-124
Smoker 93, 101, 94
Snake-Bird, 70,173,69
Snipe, 45, 47, 49, 50,
48, 49, 90
Snow-Bird .... 381
Solan Goose . 71, 70
Soldier . . . 148,173
Sone Birds =... 219
Song-Lark, 131, 133
Song Thrush, 133,134
Sparrow, 125,167,177
178,179,114,134,178
Sparrowhawk,
$0,82,83,73,74,81,112

INDEX (GENERAL).
Spatula . : 66
Speckled Jack,

142, 141
Spectacled-Bird 155
Spheniscidae . . 25
Sphenura ... . 145
spider. o-.-. «165
Spinebill . .. 170
Spinetail 107, iS
3161001) caer came 121

Spoonbill, 53,60,53 ar

Squatarola ...

Squeaker, Gee ates
Stagonopleura . 179
Star-Bird 7 08

Starling, 179, 186, 180
» shining, 187,180

Steamer Duck 65
Steatornithidae 104
Stercorariidae 4]
Stercorarius 41
ICCIIG) otek 35
Stick-Bird . niatal
Stick-tail . . . . 145
Stictonetta ... 67
POEDTG fe. sc oe; ADT
SHIM oe: 5d
Stink-Bird . 131, 13?
Stinker . 66
Stinkpot 29
Stint . 49
Stipiturus . . 145
Stockwhip-Bird 129
Stone-Plover, 51,50,51
Stork . . 60, d4
» Whaleheaded 60
Storm-Bird, 109,111
Storm-Petrel,
Det SOn aT
Siraw- Tasers ail
Strepera,
189,39,112,185, 186,187
Streperidae 189
Strigidae 86
Stringopidae . 103
Strix . : 86
Struthidea . 188
Struthionidae 12
Stump-Bird 121
Sturnidae . 179
INCUTIOUS co 4. 186

199
SAG OS Ba eesdae 71
Sulidae . Fal
Summer-Bird, 127,146

Sun-Bird . . . . 163
Sun-Bittern... 53
Superb-Warbler, 144
145, 141, 149, 190
Swallow,
120,109,120,147
Swallow-Plover, 51,50

Swallow-Shrike, 147
Swamp-Hawk,

72, (3, 74
Swamp-Hen 23
Swamp-Rail . 23
Swan ...: .-7: 62:62
Swift, 107,90,108,121
Sylviidae, 133,134,152
Synoicus pamrlls
Taeniopygia . . 179
Tailor Bird . .. 154
Takupu . ene @ |
Tanager . melTS
Tanagridae 178
Tang . 133, 134
TAONUL << ... ome 28
Tapacule . . 113
Papin... 52
Taraiti 40
Taranui . 35
Tauhou 155
Teal 65, 64
Teaser 41
Tee-tee. cs 63. 31
Tern,

34-40,35-39,59,109
Ternietiy. aces 40
Tctraonidae... 13
Thalassogeron . 88
Thickhead, 151, 152

91: 180. 15k, 190
Thick-Knee . . 51
Thinocorythidae 42

Thornbill, 142,143,141
Thrasher . MDa be
Thrush, 132,133,149
151,187,133,148,149
» shrike, 134,149

Thunder-Bird . . 151
Tilt-Birds 3... .. tid
Timeliidae . 128, 128

200

Tinamidae . . 12,13
Tinamous 5 Ee
Ante: Ae on Looe toy

Tit (Acanthiza)
see Tit-Warbler
Tit (Paridae),
bie, Leh. Lol.

Titmouse Loslae
Tit-Warbler,

142, 148, 141
Todidae . = 107
Todies . 107
Tom Pudding 25
Tomtit . 142
Morea, ~. 43
Toreopango 43
TOLOa: -. 31
MOWUGANA. wo ibaa!
Touraco. . 108

Tree-Creeper,

154, 155. 75a 5G
Tree-runner, 153,153
Tree-Swifts . . . 107
Tree-Tit . . 124
Treronidae. . 3 16
Tribonyx 23
Trichoglossus .. 88
Tinga . 49
Tringoides . 47
Trochilidae . . 108
Troglodytidae . 1382
Trogonidae . . . 108
Trogons . . 108
Tropic-Bird . reat
Tropidorhynchus ni
Trumpeters...

Tube-nosed Swim-

MOCTS 70°. to e 26
Tubinares . 26
Turdidae . _ 132, 183
Turdus . 2 dpe
Purkey.; 4." 15
Turkey-Bird. . . 170

INDEX (GENERAL).
Turnicidae ... 15
Turniz . 15

Turnstone, 42, 39, 46
Turtle-Dove . 17, 156

Parva. Slt
Tyrannidae =. .Als
Tyrant-Bird 113
Unicorn-Bird .. 61
Upupidae . 106
Uroaétus . 8]
Vangidae 147
Village Black-
smith . 30
Vireonidae . Peele: 2f)
WVireos'.. 3. 3) 4Mo Ag
Vulture. 71,72,11.190
» of the Seas 29
Vulturidae . 72
Waders . .. 42, 42
Waetail, 125,176,177
Wallace’s Line,
11 1 Ot 168
Wanderer . 15. 17, 21

Warbler, 133, 142-146,
124,175; 134, 153.
Water-Hen .
Water-Ouzel
Water-Pheasant .

Water-Sparrow . 142
Water-Turkey 69
Wattle-Bird,

V74, 175, 169, 176
Waxbill . Page! (3)
Waxwing. %5).0 147
Weaver-Birds . . 179
3 Weaver-Finches,

178, 179

Wedge-bill ... . 158
Whale-Bird . . 30, 31
Wheatear paley-
Whimbrel . 46.49
Whip-Bird ; 129
Whiroia . oe

Whistler,

151,152,27,130,151,152
White-eye, 155,155,156
Whiteface . 153, 153
White-tail . = oad
Whitethroat . . . 133
White-tipped tail, 156
Who-are-you . . 125
Wide-Awake . 40
Wide-Awake Fair 36

Widgeon . 67, 65
Wild-Canary .. 152
Wild-Cat . . 78
Wild Turkey - 5i93
Willaroo . Re 0
Willie-Wagtail,

125, 127 tee
Willie-Willock. . 92
Windhover . . 83, 81
Wittychu . . > s0867
Wood-hewer o~ Lie
Wood Hoopoe. . 106

Woodpecker,
111, 15385 1542 ee
11, 91, 154, 190
Wood-Pigeon .. 17
Wood-Shrike, 148,147
Wood-Swallow,

147, 146

Wren, 113,132,144,153
oo VLtS s2pe eee
Wrynecks . Rails!
XAenicidae 113,-774
Aerophila 153,753
Yabbie .. . “o9jae
Yahoo . ; aloe
Yellow-tail 143,141

Yellow-Whiskers, 172

Yellow Wings 173
Zonaeginthus . . 179
Zonifer : aoe
Zosteropidae . . 155
Zosterops . .. . 155

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