1 °, ■ H V, K A / NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES, COLLECTED, ENGRAVED, AND FAITHFULLY PAINTED AFTER NATURE, BY JOHN WILLIAM LEWIN, A.L.S. LATE OF PARAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES. ILLUSTRATED WITH TWENTY-SIX PLATES. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. H. BOHTE, FOREIGN BOOKSELLER TO HIS MAJESTY, 4, YORK-STREET, COVE NT- GARDEN ; by G. Schulze, 13, Poland Street. 1822. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Plate I. — Three-toe King-Fisher . II.—Mountain Bee-Eater . HI.—Watyface Honey-Sucker -. IV. — Blue-face Honey-Sucker . V. — Yellow-ear Honey-Sacker . VI. — King Honey-Sucker .. VII. — Crimson-throat Fly-Catcher . . . . VIII. — Orange-breast Thrush . IX. —Crested Thrush . X. — Black-Crown Thrush . XI. —Spotted Gross-Beak . XII. — Common Gross-Beak . XIII. — Orange-rump Fly-Cateller . XIV. — Scarlet-back Warbler . XV. — Variegated Warbler . XVI. —Rock Warbler . . XVII. — Red-breast Warbler .... . . XVIII. — Reed Warbler . XIX. —Scarlet Creeper . XX. —White-eared Honey-Sucker . XXI. —Crested Fly-Catcher . XXII. — White-breasted Honey-Sucker. XXIII. — Yellow-breasted Thrush . XXIV. — Black-crowned Honey-Sucker XXV. —The Common Creeper . XXVI. —Crested Shrike . . . * ^nr-UA^ e a* THE m%m§> (&& nm, I THREE-TOE KING-FISHER. (pi. i.) LENGTH Seven inches ; bill one inch and a quarter and black ; eye brown ; lashes black; forehead the same ; through the eye a streak of black, on each side of which there is an orange colour spot; crown, hind-head, cheek, neck, and back, deep purple blue mixed with black ; shoulders the same, and primaries and secondaries, edged with blue; tail dark blue; chin buff; breast, belly, and vent, orange; legs bright orange; claws black. INHABITS Heads of rivers; frequents dead trees near running streams, from whence it darts on its food. This species does not migrate. 2 MOUNTAIN BEE-EATER. (PL II.) BEAK curled, flatted, and lieel-sliaped. TONGUE divided at the point. TOES four, three before and one behind, united together as in the Kingfisher, or Alccedce Genus. A LENGTH Eight inches and a half; bill one inch and an eighth and black ; eye orange ; lashes black ; forehead pea-green ; crown chesnut; through the eye and cheek black, edged with light blue; chin yellow, deepening to a chesnut as it passes to the throat, which is black ; neck, back, and shoulders, bright changeable pea-green ; rump and tail-coverts light blue; primaries green tipt with black ; secondaries chesnut tipt with the same; greater wing-coverts blue ; breast and belly pea-green; vent and under tail-coverts blue; tail black and forked, two outer feathers edged with green ; quills of two middle tail-feathers, extend an inch below the other ; legs and claws brown. INHABITS Mountains; frequents the Hawkesbury under the hills, where a few breed every summer. This species appears the latter end of September, and migrates in April. rur. t * art: « i t Pc-< S"- u/e U*d4- ~ !'Vec&* NAT1ENAL MU 3 E U Y M c Lt : uiiPN: f 3 WATY-FACE HONEY-SUCKER. (PL III.) LENGTH Eight inches and a quarter; hill half an inch and black; eyes brown; lashes grey; forehead, crown, chin, throat, and neck, deep black; from the base of the bill round the eye and part of the cheek a warty pale yellow patch, covered .with hard oblong excrescences; back, rump, tail-coverts, breast and belly, vent and thighs, black, with angular markings of pale yellow; shoulders black; lesser wing-coverts the same, edged with pale yellow; tail cuneiform, the second middle feathers black, in the other feathers the black only reaches half way, the half is bright yellow; legs and claws brown. INHABITS These beautiful birds were seen near Paramatta, in great numbers, constantly flying from tree to tree, (particularly the blue gum,) feeding among the blossoms, extracting the honey with their long fibrous tongues from every flower as they passed. Many of them remained that summer and then disappeared. 4 BLUE-FACE HONEY-SUCKER. (PL IV.) LENGTH Thirteen inches; bill one inch, the lower half grey, the other black; eye yellow; lashes grey ; round the eye a naked blue skin ; forehead and crown black ; hind-head white; chfppk and back of the neck grey-black ; chin and throat grey; from the base of the bill on each side white, which passes in a line to the breast; breast, belly, and vent, white; back and rump bright olive; primaries brown, edged with grey; tail olive, tipt with white, and cuneiform ; legs and claws dark grey. INHABITS Forests; frequents blue gum trees. REMARKS. o This species are fond of pecking traverse holes in the bark; between which and the wood they insert their long tongues in search of small insects* which they draw to them with great dexterity. It is a noisy chattering bird. .S'X ,'JPN£ t >-0 \V- - • Mom * J4ATICWAL MliS Fir', f-'jt X ? I 5 YELLOW-EAR HONEY-SUCKER. (Pl. V.) BEAK arched, stout, and almost three-sided. NOSTRILS long, and covered with a membrane. TONGUE long, and split into a number of hairy fibres at the end, brush-lilte. TOES formed for climbing. The birds of this genus feed upon the honey combined with the infinitely small insects lodged in most of the flowers of New South Wales, which they extract in a dexterous manner with their tongues, peculiarly formed for that purpose. LENGTH Eight inches; bill six-eighths and black; the corner of the mouth a pale yellow; through the eye a streak of black ; eye grey; lashes brown; cheek grey : behind the ear a pale yellow patch ; chin, throat, breast, belly, vent, greyish olive; forehead dark grey; crown, neck, back, shoulders, and rump, dark greyish olive; primaries and secondaries dark grey, edged with bright olive; tail dark grey, edged with olive, and a little forked; legs and claws brown. FEMALE Nearly the same, but of less bright plumage. INHABITS The neighbourhood of Paramatta and the Hawkesbury, frequenting thick bushy woods. REMARKS. In the winter season these birds have been seen feeding on the sweet berry of the white cedar in great numbers. They have a shrill and very peculiar cry, which is heard at a great distance. 6 KING HONEY-SUCKER. (PL VI.) LENGTH Nine inches and a half; bill one inch in length, and of a bright yellow-orange; eye yellow; forehead, crown, and back part of the neck, bright golden-yellow verging to orangey the feathers short appearing like velvet; from the base of the bill to the eye black; above the eye the same ; chin, cheek, throat, black; breast, belly, and vent the same; back and shoulders deep shining blue-black ; bastard-wing black ; primaries the same ; secondaries bright golden-yellow, partly tipt with black; tail black and a little forked ; legs and claws black. INHABITS The banks of Patterson’s river; frequents thick brushy woods. REMARKS. This beautiful species was shot about 30 miles from the settlement of Newcastle. Ir ' l !• i ( i j for -\v3 ij . I s »/ >*:?i I« rtf.•* r: r, n* S £ Uw M£ Ui :> V V ;HALMJSEU« KELBClifiHP 11 SPOTTED GROSS-BEAK. (PL XI.) LENGTH Four inches and a half; bill three-eighths, and of a bright red ; eye the same ; lashes flesh colour; forehead, crown, back of the neck, and part of cheeks, grey ; from base of beak to eye a black patch ; chin white ; fore part of the neck black, with a few white spots on each side above the shoulder; underwings a deep black, with oval white spots ; breast, belly, and vent, white; back and wings greyish brown ; rump and tail coverts bright crimson ; tail black and a little forked ; legs and claws dark grey. FEMALE Nearly the same, but less bright in plumage. INHABITS Forests near Paramatta ; frequenting the sides of hills and barren places. REMARKS. These birds go in small flights in winter, and visit the gardens and other cultivated grounds. COMMON GROSS-BEAK. (PI. XII.) BEAK Conical and very f/ross; the forehead a little bald; the lower mandible bent a little inwards NOSTRILS at the base of the beak . TONGUE as if cut off at the end . TOES placed three before ami one behind. LENGTH Four inches and a half; bill three-eighths, and scarlet, with a black stripe on upper and under mandible ; eye red ; lashes black ; from the base of the bill above the eye to the hind head a stripe of scarlet ; crown, hind head, and cheek, dark grey ; back part ol neck, shoulder, back, and wing, brownish olive ; rump and tail coverts crimson ; tail black, lightly bound with small cross bars, and cuneiform; chin, throat, breast, and side of the belly and vent, light grey ; belly oker ; legs and claws pale oker. INHABITS Barren tracts near Sydney and Paramatta. They go in large flocks in autumn and in spring, separate into pairs, and build, in low bushes, an oval-shaped nest of dead grass, lined with down of sowthistle ; lay five or six eggs, of a pale flesh colour, spotted with dull red. The male has a pleasant song. Are subject to fits. V* > 'r9 \ NATIONAL V J3£J V W s LE CISK KE : national wuse -jt j 7 13 ORANGE-RUMP FLY CATCHER. (PL XIII.) BEAK flatted at the base, almost triangular , notched at the end of the upper mandible , and beset loith bristles. NOSTRILS almost round . TOES divided as far as their origin. LENGTH Five inches and a half; bill three-eighths and black; eye pale brown; lashes grey; round the eye white; cheek black ; chin white; throat black ; breast greyish-white, spotted with black; belly, vent, and under tail-coverts, light oker; forehead chesnut; crown, hind head, back, and shoulder, brown; rump, tail-coverts, and lower part of tail, orange, the other half black; primaries and secondaries dark brown, edged with chesnut; legs and claws yellow flesh colour. INHABITS Thick brushes ; frequents low bushes. REMARKS. A chattering noisy species, constantly in motion, jerking and spreading its fan-like tail as it passes from bush to bush, catching its food in its flight. 14 SCARLET-BACK WARBLER. (PI. XIV.) BEAK awl-shaped and strait ; the mandible almost equal, and slightly notched at top. NOSTRILS small, a little depressed. TONGUE lacerated on the margin. TOES the exterior toe joined at the under part to the base of the middle one. _Most of the birds of this gemis live upon insects, which obliges them to migrate south¬ ward in winter in Europe, and northward in New South Wales. LENGTH Four inches five-eighths ; bill quarter of an inch and black ; eye dark brown; lashes black ; forehead, crown, hind head, cheeks, and nape of the neck, deep shining blue-black ; chin, throat, breast, and part of the belly, black ; back a bright scarlet; shoulder black ; wings brown; lower part of belly and thighs pale brown ; rump black ; tail the same and cuneiform ; leg flesh colour ; claws brown. FEMALE Bill reddish-brown ; above the eye a streak of the same colour ; forehead, crown, neck, back, wings, and tail, brown ; chin, throat, breast, white; belly light oker. INHABITS Forests near the banks of Patterson’s River ; frequents low bushes. The male has a a pretty song very like that of the superb warbler. They go in small flocks. jrucm at; : pf*i >r it a n j o t I ! 9 (lA TI Q 1 1A L V ' > i. U M W c L/> C I- f'itt FLXV. / J 15 VARIEGATED WARBLER, (PL XV.) LENGTH Five inches and a half ; bill four-eighths and black ; eye black ; lashes the same ; forehead light blue; crown bluish-brown, edged with light blue, verging to a purple as it passes round the head ; cheeks light blue, forming a beprd-like appearance on each side the face; chin, throat, neck, and breast, deep shining blue-black ; above the shoulder purple-blue ; shoulder bright chesnut; back purple- blue ; rump deep black ; tail-coverts light brown ; tail greenish grey and cuneiform, the outmost feather tipt white; wing brown; primary and secondary edged with light chesnut; greater wing-coverts the same; breast white ; belly and vent pale oker ; thighs grey ; legs and claws brown. FEMALE Bill red ; eye black ; lashes same ; from base of bill to eye red ; the whole upper part of body and wing grey-brown ; sides of head, cheeks, and neck, blue-grey ; belly and vent light oker ; thighs brown ; tail greenish grey ; legs brown. INHABITS Thick brushy woods; frequents the low bushes, creeping close to the ground in search of its food. This bird always goes in small flocks, among which it is remarkable that one male only is to be seen in full plumage, and they arrive not at that state till the third year. The male is a cheerful active bird, always singing- on little elevated bushes it meets in its way. This species does not migrate. 16 ROCK WARBLER. (PL XVI.) LENGTH Five inches ; bill three-eighths and black; eye red-brown: lashes grey; forehead, crown, hind head, neck, back, shoulders, rump, and tail-coverts brownish grey; wings brown chin white, with brown spots; cheek brown; throat dull orange; breast, belly, and vent, chesnut ; tail black, a little forked ; thighs light brown ; legs and claws the same. INHABITS Rocks ; frequents caverns inaccessible to mankind, and deep rocky gullies, creeping in the cavities and chasms. This is a shy and wary bird. Its note is sharp and shrill. Does not migrate. 1 W TlCHALMUSE-jMMEU*« URNE » hatigHk v 17 RED BREAST WARBLER. (PI. XVII.) LENGTH Five ;^d half inches ; bill three-eighths and black; eyes black; lashes the same; Forehead white; head, neck, chin, throat, back, rump, and tail-coverts, a deep black; breast crimson; belly and vent white ; shoulders black; lesser wing-coverts white; primary black ; secondary the same, crossed with two bars of white; greater wing-coverts black, the third feather has a broad edge of black and part of the first row ; lesser w T ing-coverts the same; tail black and forked, the two outward feathers white, with a dash of black near the end ; thighs black ; legs and claws the same. % FEMALE Bill black ; forehead white ; crown a brown-grey dashed with brack ; hind head, neck, back, rump, and tail-coverts, brown-grey; chin white ; breast light crimson; belly pale oker ; greater w T ing-coverts edged with the same; tail black, outer feather white ; thighs grey ; legs and claws black. INHABITS Forests ; frequents low trees. This is a solitary bird; its note resembles that of the robin in England; frequenting also the abode of man in winter. This species does not migrate. IB REED WARBLER. (PL XVIII.) LENGTH Six inches and half; bill four-eighths and half; upper mandible brown, under oker ; eye brown ; lashes pale yellow, and from base of bill to eye the same; forehead, crown, and neck, greyish brown ; cheeks brown; back sandy brown; rump oker; tail-coverts brown ; tail dark brown, edged with lighter, and cuneiform; wings brown; primaries and secondaries edged with oker ; chin and throat a dull white ; breast, belly, and vent, oker; legs and claws the same. FEMALE The same, but less bright in plumage. INHABITS The neighbourhood of Paramatta in summer ; frequents banks of the river and ponds; feeds and builds among the reeds. The male has a melodious song, somewhat like the English nightingale. Disappears about April, and returns in September. 'JrSl'iE .. * . f 4 at i ':'isi y 'jr. f. ’J '* m iLBO^n; ; «. i i i ✓ ij i j| ■ I I '■ tfSSl VwuQjflM if? HBk j • wiiH ■ 19 SCARLET CREEPER. (PL XIX.) LENGTH Four inches ; bill quarter of an inch, and black ; -eyes brown; lashes grey ; forehead, and crown bright scarlet; cheeks black; chin, throat, and breast, bright scarlet; vent scarlet, variegated with black ; hind head scarlet, variegated with black; back, rump, and shoulders, black, variegated with scarlet; primaries and secondaries dark brown, edged with brownish white ; thighs scarlet; legs brown ; claws black. FEMALE Length three inches and three-quarters; bill three-quarters of an inch, and dark brown, with a white streak in the under part; eyes brown ; lashes grey ; forehead and crown brown ; throat light flesh colour; breast, belly, and vent, white ; hind head, back, rump, and shoulders, brown; thighs, legs, and claws, brown. INHABITS The neighbourhood of the river Nepean; frequenting thick brushy woods. 20 WHITE-EARED HONEY-SUCKER. (PL XX.) LENGTH Six inches and a quarter; bill half an inch, and black; eyes black; lashes grey; cheeks and ears white; chin, throat, and breast, black; belly olive, spotted with grey; vent light olive; forehead, crown, and hind head, dark grey, spotted with black; back, shoulders, and rump, bright olive; primaries and secondaries bright olive; tail brown, edged with bright olive; thighs pale olive ; legs and claws brown. FEMALE Nearly the same as the male, but of a less bright plumage. INHABITS The neighbourhood of Sydney and Parramatta ; frequenting thick brushy woods. They do not migrate. IJATlCnA^ urns fiATirnAL M ci' r> r ; z .i T 21 CRESTED FLY CATCHER. (PL XXI.) LENGTH Seven inches ; bill half an inch, and black ; eye the same ; lashes grey; forehead dark glossy blue ; feathers on the crown long and blue, forming a crest erected at pleasure; hind head, cheeks, breast, and neck, bright blue; back, rump, wings, and tail, light blue ; belly and vent white. INHABITS The neighbourhood of Sydney; frequenting thick bushes near lagoons and ponds, from whence it darts on its prey. This species does not migrate. 22 WHITE-BREASTED HONEY-SUCKER. (Pl. XXII.) LENGTH Six inches ; hill half an inch, and black ; eye brown; lashes the same ; forehead light brown ; cheeks dark brown ; behind the ear a small whitish patch : chin and throat white, edged with dark brown ; breast, belly, and vent, white ; hind head, back, and rump, dark olive ; primaries and secondaries brown, edged with lighter; upper part of the tail dark brown; under coverts grey; thighs light brown; legs grey; claws black. FEMALE Nearly the same as the male, but of a less brighter plumage. INHABITS Forests; frequents trees of the Banksia. This species does not migrate. NATl r. M AL V U 3 £' > ■ / v ^ - '•'' ; !J R i ' ZLJff./ T J/C.OV Jou ■ c- 23 YELLOW-BREASTED THRUSH. (PI. XXIII.) LENGTH Five inches and a quarter; bill half an inch, and black ; eyes black ; lashes grey ; forehead, crown, and cheeks, grey; throat light grey ; breast, belly and vent, bright yellow ; hind head and back-coverts grey ; rump bright olive; shoulders grey; primaries and secondaries brown, edged with white; tail brown, tipt with white; thighs grey ; legs and claws brown. FEMALE The same. INHABITS Thick forests ; frequenting the native pear trees. REMARKS. This bird has a loud and pleasant song, and sings chiefly in the morning. Solitary or seen in plains. They do not migrate. 24 BLACK-CROWNED HONEY-SUCKER. (PL XXIV.) LENGTH Five inches; bill three-eighths, and dark brown ; eyes brown ; lashes red ; forehead and crown black, bordered with white in the form of a crescent; cheeks black; throat and breast white ; vent light brown ; hind head black ; back and rump bright olive ; shoulder-coverts blue ; tail brown; primaries brown, edged with lighter; secondaries brown ; thighs light brown ; legs grey ; claws black. FEMALE The same as the male. INHABITS The neighbourhood of Paramatta and the Hawkesbury ; frequenting thick brushy woods. ■P UAT^HAl VUSc'JV '' L i NAT! r v.-v'T - :*'• c wr. 'J 'J NE i i 25 THE COMMON CREEPER. (PI. XXV.) LENGTH Five inches rind a half; bill three-quarters of an inch, and black ; eye bi own ; lashes grey; forehead, crown, and cheeks, grey, spotted with brown; ear pale orange ; throat white; breast light grey ; belly and vent grey, spotted with brown ; hind head and back brown ; rump and part of the tail-coverts grey ; primaries and secondaries brown, edged with lighter ; the sides of the tail black, tipt with grey ; thighs grey ; legs and claws grey. FEMALE Nearly the same, but of less bright plumage. INHABITS Thick forests ; frequenting the female oak trees. 26 I CRESTED SHRIKE. (PL XXVI.) INHABITS Forests. REMARKS. Frequents thick brushes. Is a noisy chattering species, very active in tearing off the bark of trees and shrubs in search of insects, particularly hard-coated beetles. LONDON PRINTED BY G. SCHULZE, 13, POLAND STREET. * ^TIGHAL»U sEjY ' T l~\ . I i ME \\