_J. Gould and H. C. Richter, del^t_ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ACANTHYLIS CAUDACUTA.
Australian Spine-tailed Swallow.
_Hirundo caudacuta_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. 57. sp. 1.—Lath. Gen.
Hist., vol. vii. p. 307.—Vieill. 2nde Edit. du Nouv. Dict.
d’Hist. Nat., tom. xiv. p. 535; and Ency. Méth. Orn., Part
II. p. 531.
_Needle-tailed Swallow?_ Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p.
307.—Steph. Cont. Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 133.
_Pin-tailed Swallow_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 308.
_Chætura Australis_, Steph. Cont. Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiii. p. 76.
_Hirundo pacifica_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. 58.—Vieill. 2nde Edit.
du Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xiv. p. 511; and Ency.
Méth. Orn., Part II. p. 529.
_New Holland Swallow?_ Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 259.—Steph.
Cont. Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 132.—Lath. Gen. Hist.,
vol. vii. p. 308.
_Chætura macroptera_, Swains. Zool. Ill. 2nd Ser., pl. 42.—Gould,
Birds of Australia, Part II. cancelled.
This noble species, the largest of the _Hirundinidæ_ yet discovered, is
a summer visitant of the eastern portions of Australia, proceeding as
far south as Van Diemen’s Land; but its visits to this island are not so
regular as to New South Wales, and its stay in these southern latitudes
is never protracted. The months of January and February are those in
which it has been most frequently observed in Van Diemen’s Land, where
it simultaneously appears in large flocks, which after spending a few
days disappear as suddenly as they arrived. I am not aware of its having
been observed in Western Australia, neither has it occurred in any of
the collections formed at Port Essington.
The keel or breast-bone of this species is more than ordinarily deep,
and the pectoral muscles more developed than in any other bird of its
weight with which I am acquainted. Its whole form is especially and
beautifully adapted for aërial progression, and as its lengthened wings
would lead us to imagine, its power of flight, both for rapidity and
extension, is truly amazing; hence it readily passes from one part of
the country to another, and if so disposed may be engaged in hawking for
flies on the continent of Australia at one moment, and in half an hour
be similarly employed in Van Diemen’s Land.
So exclusively is this bird a tenant of the air, that I never in any
instance saw it perch, and but rarely sufficiently near the earth to
admit of a successful shot; it is only late in the evening and during
lowery weather that such an object can be accomplished. With the
exception of the Crane, it is certainly the most lofty as well as the
most vigorous flier of the Australian birds. I have frequently observed
in the middle of the hottest days, while lying prostrate on the ground
with my eyes directed upwards, the cloudless blue sky peopled at an
immense elevation by hundreds of these birds, performing extensive
curves and sweeping flights, doubtless attracted thither by the insects
that soar aloft during serene weather; hence, as I have before stated,
few birds are more difficult to obtain, particularly on the continent of
Australia, where long droughts are so prevalent; on the contrary, the
flocks that visit the more humid climate of Van Diemen’s Land, where
they necessarily seek their food near the earth, are often greatly
diminished by the gun during their stay.
I regret that I could ascertain no particulars whatever respecting the
nidification of this fine bird, but we may naturally conclude that both
rocks and holes in the larger trees are selected as sites for the
purpose, as well as for a roosting-place during the night. Before
retiring to roost, which it does immediately after the sun has gone
down, the Spine-tailed Swallow may frequently be seen, either singly or
in pairs, sweeping up the gullies or flying with immense rapidity just
above the tops of the trees, their never-tiring wings enabling them to
perform their evolutions in the capture of insects, and of sustaining
themselves in the air during the entire day, without cessation.
The sexes offer no perceptible difference in their outward appearance;
but the female, as is the case with the other members of the family, is
a trifle smaller than her mate.
Crown of the head, back of the neck, and ear-coverts deep shining green
strongly tinged with brown; a small space immediately before the eye
deep velvety black; band across the forehead, throat, inner webs of the
secondaries nearest the back, a patch on the lower part of the flanks
and the under tail-coverts white; wings and tail deep shining green,
with purple reflexions; centre of the back greyish brown, becoming
darker towards the rump; chest and abdomen dark clove-brown; bill black;
feet brown.
The figures are those of the male and female of the natural size.
[Illustration:
CYPSELUS AUSTRALIS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter, del^t_ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
CYPSELUS AUSTRALIS, _Gould_.
Australian Swift.
_Cypselus Australis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 141.
As I had never seen or heard of a true Swift in Australia, I was no less
surprised than gratified when I discovered this species to be tolerably
numerous on the Upper Hunter, during my first visit to that district in
1838. Those I then observed were flying high in the air and performing
immense sweeps and circles, while engaged in the capture of insects. I
succeeded in killing six or eight individuals, among which were adult
examples of both sexes, but I was unable to obtain any particulars as to
their habits and economy. It would be highly interesting to know whether
this bird, like the other members of the family, returns annually to
spend the months of summer in Australia. I think it likely that this may
be the case, and that it may have been frequently confounded with the
_Acanthylis caudacuta_, as I have more than once seen the two species
united in flocks, hawking together in the cloudless skies, like the
Martins and Swallows of our own island. By the discovery of this bird
another beautiful instance of representation is brought under our
notice; evincing most clearly that the Australian Swift, Swallow and
Martin are representatives of the Swift, Swallow and Martin of Europe,
each performing in their respective hemispheres similar offices in the
great scheme of nature.
Throat and rump white; upper and under surface of the body brown; the
back tinged with a bronzy metallic lustre; each feather of the under
surface margined with white; wings and tail dark brown; irides, bill and
feet black.
The figures are those of a male and a female of the natural size.
[Illustration:
ATTICORA LEUCOSTERNON: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter, del^t_ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ATTICORA LEUCOSTERNON, _Gould_.
White-breasted Swallow.
_Hirundo leucosternus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p.
172.
_Boö-de-boö-de_ of the Aborigines of the mountain districts of
Western Australia.
_Black and White Swallow_ of the Colonists.
For the present I have placed this new and elegant Swallow with the
members of the genus _Atticora_; the type of which is the _Hirundo
fasciata_ of authors, a bird inhabiting South America, from which
country I have seen two species, while South Africa presents us with a
third; the present, therefore, may be considered as the representative
of the genus in Australia, thus further evidencing that beautiful law of
representation alluded to in the page on _Cypselus Australis_ respecting
the Swift, Swallow and Martin.
I have never myself seen this bird; the specimen from which my original
description was taken was presented to me in 1839 by Mr. Charles Coxen,
who had killed it some years before, and who informed me that it was one
of a pair that he observed flying over a small lake in the neighbourhood
of the Lower Namoi; its companion was not procured.
The second example was killed at Swan River, where Mr. Gilbert in his
notes from Western Australia says, “I only observed this bird in the
interior, and as far as I can learn, it has not been seen to the
westward of York: I am told it is merely a summer visitor. It is a very
wandering species, never very numerous, and is generally seen in small
flocks of from ten to twenty in number, flying about, sometimes in
company with the other Swallows, for about ten minutes, and then flying
right away; I noticed this singular habit every time I had an
opportunity of observing the species. It usually flies very high, a
circumstance which renders it difficult to procure specimens.
“Its flight more nearly resembles that of the Swift than that of the
Swallow; its cry also, at times, very much resembles that of the former.
“Its food principally consists of minute black flies.
“This bird chooses for its nest the deserted hole of either the Dalgyte
(_Perameles lagotis_) or the Boodee (a species of _Bettongia_), in the
side of which it burrows for about seven or nine inches in a horizontal
direction, making no nest, but merely laying its eggs on the bare sand.”
Crown of the head light brown, surrounded by a ring of white; lores
black; a broad band commencing at the eye, and passing round the back of
the neck, brown; centre of the back, throat, chest and under surface of
the shoulder white; wings and tail brownish black; rump, upper
tail-coverts, abdomen and under tail-coverts black; irides dark reddish
brown; bill blackish brown; legs and feet greenish grey.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration:
HIRUNDO NEOXENA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter, del^t_ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
HIRUNDO NEOXENA, _Gould_.
Welcome Swallow.
_Hirundo Javanica_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 191.
_New Holland Swallow_, Griffith’s Edit. Cuv. Anim. King., Aves, vol.
vii. p. 96; and _H. pacifica_, Ibid., pl. not numbered.
_Kun̈-na-meet_, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western
Australia.
_Ber-rin̈-nin_, Aborigines of New South Wales.
Like many other Australian birds, this species has been considered to be
identical with another or others described by the older writers. Messrs.
Vigors and Horsfield, in their “List of Australian Birds,” published in
the fifteenth volume of the Linnean Transactions, state that they “have
been led into a more detailed description of this species, in order to
point out the differences of its characters from those of our European
species _Hir. rustica_, with which it has been generally confounded;”
but while they have very clearly pointed out the distinctive characters
of the two species, they have, in my opinion, departed from their usual
accuracy in considering it to be identical with the bird figured by
Sparmann in the “Museum Carlsonianum” under the name of _Hirundo
Javanica_, which is there represented with a square tail, and which, if
drawn correctly, is not only specifically but generically distinct. I
have also compared specimens of the Australian Swallow with the
_Hirondelle Orientale_ of M. Temminck’s “Planches Coloriées,” with which
species it was likewise considered to be identical by Messrs. Vigors and
Horsfield, but from which also I conceive it to be distinct. On the
contrary, the Swallow figured in Griffith’s edition of Cuvier’s “Animal
Kingdom” is certainly the Australian bird; but as the specific term
there given had been previously employed by Sparmann, as mentioned
above, the necessity of a new name for the present species has been
forced upon me; and that of _neoxena_ has suggested itself as
appropriate, from the circumstance of its appearance throughout the
whole of the southern portions of Australia being hailed as a welcome
indication of the approach of spring, and its arrival there associated
with precisely the same ideas as those popularly entertained respecting
our own pretty Swallow in Europe. The two species are in fact beautiful
representatives of each other, and assimilate not only in their
migratory movements, but also most closely in their whole habits,
actions and economy. It arrives in Van Diemen’s Land about the middle or
end of September, and after rearing at least two broods departs again
northwards in March; but it is evident that the migratory movement of
the Swallow, and doubtless that of all other birds, is regulated
entirely by the temperature and the more or less abundant supply of food
necessary for its existence; for I found that in New South Wales, and
every country in Australia within the same latitude, it arrived much
earlier and departed considerably later than in Van Diemen’s Land; and
Mr. Caley, who resided in New South Wales for several years, and whose
valuable notes on the birds of that part of the country have been so
often quoted, states that “the earliest period of the year that I
noticed the appearance of _Swallows_ was on the 12th of July 1803, when
I saw two; but I remarked several towards the end of the same month in
the following year (1804). The latest period I observed them was on the
30th of May 1806, when a number of them were twittering and flying high
in the air. When I missed them at Paramatta, I have sometimes met with
them among the north rocks, a romantic spot about two miles to the
northward of the former place.” A few stragglers remain in New South
Wales during the whole of the winter, but their numbers cannot be for a
moment compared with those to be observed in the summer, and which
during the colder months have wended their way to a warmer and more
congenial climate, where insect life is sufficiently abundant for the
support of so great a multitude. I have never been able to trace this
bird very far to the north; it certainly does not visit Java, nor I
believe New Guinea, neither have I yet seen it from Port Essington or
any part of the north coast, although it is probable that its range does
extend thus far.
The natural breeding-places of this bird are the deep clefts of rocks
and dark caverns, but since the colonization of Australia it has in a
remarkable degree imitated its European prototype, by selecting for the
site of its nest, the smoky chimneys, the chambers of mills and
out-houses, or the corner of a shady verandah; the nest is also
similarly constructed, being open at the top, formed of mud or clay,
intermingled with grass or straw to bind it firmly together, and lined
first with a layer of fine grasses and then with feathers. The shape of
the nest depends upon the situation in which it is built, but it
generally assumes a rounded form in front. The eggs are usually four in
number, of a lengthened form; the ground colour pinky white, with
numerous fine spots of purplish brown, the interspaces with specks of
light greyish brown, assuming in some instances the form of a zone at
the larger end; they are from eight to nine lines long by six lines
broad. At Swan River the breeding-season is in September and October.
The food consists of small flies and other insects.
Forehead, chin, throat and chest rust-red; head, back of the neck, back,
scapularies, wing-coverts, rump and upper tail-coverts deep steel-blue;
wings and tail blackish brown, all but the two centre feathers of the
latter with an oblique mark of white on the inner web; under surface
very pale brown; under tail-coverts pale brown passing into an irregular
crescent-shaped mark near the extremity and tipped with white; irides
dark brown; bill and legs black.
The figures are those of a male and female of the natural size.
[Illustration:
CHELIDON ARBOREA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter, del^t_ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
COLLOCALIA ARBOREA.
Tree Martin.
_Dun-rumped Swallow_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 309.
_Hirundo pyrrhonota_, Lath. MSS.—Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol.
xv. p. 190.
_Hirundo nigricans_, Vieill. Ency. Méth., Part II. p. 525?
_Gäb-by-kal̈-lan-goö-rong_, Aborigines of the lowlands of Western
Australia.
_Martin_ of the Colonists.
The specific term of _pyrrhonota_ having been given to a bird of this
group by Vieillot, prior to the publication of the List of Australian
Birds by Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield in the Linnean Transactions, as
quoted above, I have been necessitated to furnish this species with a
new appellation, and have selected that of _arborea_ as indicative of
its habits; for in every part of Australia that I have visited, it
invariably selects the holes of trees for the purpose of nidification.
It is strictly a summer visitant to Van Diemen’s Land and all the
southern portions of Australia, arriving in August and retiring
northwards as autumn approaches.
The Tree Martin is a familiar species, frequenting the streets of the
towns in company with the Swallow. I observed it to be particularly
numerous in the streets of Hobart Town, where it arrives early in
September; the more southern and colder situation of the island
rendering all migratory birds later in their arrival there.
It breeds during the month of October in the holes of trees, making no
nest, but laying its eggs on the soft dust generally found in such
places: the eggs are from three to five in number, of a pinky white
faintly freckled at the larger end with fine spots of light reddish
brown; they are eight lines long by six lines broad.
Its food consists of insects of various kinds, particularly a species of
small black fly.
Considerable difference exists both in size and in the depth of
colouring of specimens killed in New South Wales, Swan River and Van
Diemen’s Land; but as there exists no distinctive character of marking,
I am induced to regard them as mere local varieties rather than as
distinct species. The Van Diemen’s race are larger in all their
admeasurements, and have the fulvous tint of the under surface and the
band across the forehead much deeper than in those killed in New South
Wales; individuals from the latter locality again exceed in size those
from Western Australia.
Specimens from Van Diemen’s Land have the forehead crossed by a fulvous
band; head, back of the neck, back and scapularies glossy bluish black;
wings and tail brown; rump and upper tail-coverts light fulvous; throat,
sides of the neck and flanks light fulvous, with a narrow stripe of dark
brown in the centre of each feather; centre of the abdomen nearly white;
irides, bill and feet blackish brown.
The figures in the opposite Plate, which are of the natural size, were
taken from two of the varieties mentioned above; the upper one from a
specimen killed in New South Wales, the other two from birds taken in
Van Diemen’s Land.
[Illustration:
CHELIDON ARIEL: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter, del^t_ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
COLLOCALIA ARIEL, _Gould_.
Fairy Martin.
_Collocalia Ariel_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., October 11, 1842.
Until my arrival in the colony of New South Wales I had no idea of the
existence of this new and beautiful Martin, nor in fact until I was
awakened by its twittering notes at the bed-room window of the inn at
Maitland, did I discover that I was surrounded by hundreds of this
species, which were breeding under the verandahs and corners of the
windows, precisely after the manner of the Common Martin of Europe.
Several of their bottle-shaped nests were built round the house, and
from these I obtained as many eggs as I desired.
It is numerously dispersed over all the southern portions of Australia,
and like every other member of the genus it is strictly migratory,
making the southern latitudes its summer residence. It usually arrives
in the month of August and departs again in February or March; during
this interval it rears two or three broods. The Fairy Martin, unlike the
favourite Swallow of the Australians, although enjoying a most extensive
range, appears to have an antipathy to the country near the sea, for
neither in New South Wales nor at Swan River have I ever heard of its
approaching the coast-line nearer than twenty miles; hence while I never
observed it at Sydney, the town of Maitland on the Hunter is annually
visited by it in great numbers. In Western Australia it is common
between Northam and York, while the towns of Perth and Fremantle on the
coast, are, like Sydney, unfavoured with its presence. I observed it
throughout the district of the Upper Hunter, as well as in every part of
the interior, breeding in various localities, wherever suitable
situations presented themselves, sometimes in the holes of low decayed
trees; while not unfrequently clusters of nests were attached to the
perpendicular banks of rivers, the sides of rocks, &c., always, however,
in the vicinity of water. The nest, which is bottle-shaped with a long
neck, is composed of mud or clay, and like that of our Common Martin, is
only constructed in the morning and evening, unless the day be wet or
lowery. In the construction of the nests they appear to work in small
companies, six or seven assisting in the formation of each nest, one
remaining within and receiving the mud brought by the others in their
mouths: in shape they are nearly round, but vary in size from four to
six or seven inches in diameter; the spouts being eight, nine or ten
inches in length. When built on the sides of rocks or in the hollows of
trees they are placed without any regular order, in clusters of thirty
or forty together, some with their spouts inclining downwards, others at
right angles, &c.; they are lined with feathers and fine grasses. The
eggs, which are four or five in number, are sometimes white, at others
spotted and blotched with red; eleven-sixteenths of an inch long by half
an inch broad.
Its flight closely resembles that of the Common Martin; the stomach is
tolerably muscular and the food consists of small flies.
The sexes cannot be distinguished by their outward appearance.
Crown of the head rust-red; back, scapularies and wing-coverts deep
steel-blue; wings and tail dark brown; rump buffy white; upper
tail-coverts brown; under surface white, tinged with rust-red,
particularly on the sides of the neck and flanks; the feathers of the
throat with a fine line of dark brown down the centre; irides blackish
brown; bill blackish grey; legs and feet olive-grey.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration: