_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
GRAUCALUS MENTALIS, _Vig. and Horsf._
Varied Graucalus.
_Graucalus mentalis_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
217.
_Lanius robustus_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xviii.?—Shaw, Gen. Zool.,
vol. viii. p. 311?
_Robust Shrike_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 74?—Ib. Gen.
Hist., vol. ii. p. 67?
New South Wales, or the south-eastern division of Australia, is the
native habitat of the present species; it is by no means a rare bird in
the Upper Hunter and all similar districts, yet I did not succeed in
finding its nest and eggs; they are therefore desiderata with me.
There is no one member of the family to which it belongs which undergoes
so many changes of plumage as the present species, and it is
consequently very puzzling to the ornithologist. In extreme youth, or
during the first few months after it has left the nest, the throat,
chest and back of the neck is jet-black, while the breast and abdomen
are rayed with obscure arrow-shaped markings of the same colour on a
greyish white ground; from this state individuals in every variety of
change, to the uniform grey throat and head, with black lores and mark
under the eye, are to be met with. Independently of a difference in its
markings, its much smaller size will at all times serve to distinguish
it from _Graucalus melanops_, which inhabits the same districts. Insects
of various orders and caterpillars, which are either captured on the
wing or taken from the branches, form its diet.
In the adult the upper surface and wings are dark slate-grey, passing
into paler grey on the forehead and on the rump and upper tail-coverts;
primaries and secondaries slaty black, narrowly edged with greyish
white; outer webs of the three secondaries nearest the body grey; tail
black, the lateral feathers largely tipped with white; lores deep
velvety black, which colour is continued above and below the eye; throat
and breast grey; insertion of the wing, under surface of the wing,
abdomen and under tail-coverts white; bill black; irides and feet dark
brown.
In the accompanying Plate I have figured the extremes of colouring
assumed by the bird; the darkest-coloured being the young of the year.
[Illustration:
GRAUCALUS HYPOLEUCUS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
GRAUCALUS HYPOLEUCUS, _Gould_.
White-bellied Graucalus.
_Graucalus hypoleucus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., February 8,
1848.
This species inhabits the neighbourhood of Port Essington, where it is a
very familiar bird, constantly flitting about the branches overhanging
the houses of the settlement. In its general habits, manners and note it
closely assimilates to the _Graucalus melanops_. It is abundant in every
part of the Cobourg Peninsula, and is generally seen in small families
of from four to ten or twelve in number.
The whiteness of the under surface serves to distinguish this from all
the other species of the genus yet discovered in Australia.
The stomach is muscular, and the food consists of insects of various
genera, which are generally taken from off the leafy branches of the
highest trees.
The sexes assimilate very closely in colouring, and only differ in the
females and young males having the lores of a dull brown instead of
black.
Lores black; crown of the head and all the upper surface dark grey;
wings and tail black; chin, under surface of the wings, abdomen and
under tail-coverts white; breast pale greyish white; irides brownish
black; bill blackish brown; legs and feet black; insides of the feet and
spaces between the scales of the tarsi mealy grey.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration:
GRAUCALUS SWAINSONII: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
GRAUCALUS SWAINSONII.
Swainson’s Graucalus.
_Ceblepyris lineatus_, Swains. in Zool. Journ., vol. i. p. 466.
_Graucalus Swainsonii_, Gould in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.
This species of _Graucalus_, which is distinguished from all the other
Australian members of the genus by the beautiful barring of the breast,
was originally described by Mr. Swainson under the appellation of
_lineatus_; but that term having been previously applied to another
species of the group, it became necessary to change it; and in
substituting that of _Swainsonii_, I was desirous of paying a just
tribute to the talents of a gentleman who has laboured most zealously in
the cause of natural science, and whose researches and writings are so
well known to all ornithologists.
Examples of this species occur in almost every collection sent from
Moreton Bay; I regret to add that it is one of the few birds I had no
opportunities of observing in a state of nature, and that nothing is at
present known of its habits and economy. Judging from the specimens I
have examined, I believe that the sexes are alike in plumage.
Lores black; head, all the upper surface, wing-coverts, throat and
breast grey; primaries and secondaries black; the former narrowly, and
the latter broadly margined on their external edges with grey; tail grey
at the base, black for the remainder of its length; abdomen, under
surface of the shoulder, and under tail-coverts white, crossed by
numerous decided narrow bars of black; bill and feet black.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration:
PTEROPODOCYS PHASIANELLUS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PTEROPODOCYS PHASIANELLA.
Ground Graucalus.
_Graucalus Phasianellus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p.
142.
_Ceblepyris maxima_, Rupp. Mon. in Mus. Senckenbergianum, 1839, p. 28.
taf. iii.
_Goo-rä-ling_, Aborigines of York, Western Australia.
The rarity of this species in our collections is sufficient evidence
that it is a bird inhabiting the interior of the country, and that its
native localities have been seldom visited by the explorer; hence it was
a source of no ordinary gratification to me when I first encountered it
on the plains bordering the River Namoi in New South Wales, and
perceived that no very lengthened study of its habits and mode of life
was requisite to ascertain that its structure is as beautifully adapted
for terrestrial progression and for a residence on the ground, as the
structure of the other _Graucali_ fits them to inhabit the branches of
the trees; more beautiful modifications of form in fact can scarcely be
seen than occur among the members of this group, which now comprehends a
considerable number of species; the present bird, however, is the only
terrestrial one that has yet come under my notice, either from Australia
or the great nursery of these birds—India and the Indian islands. The
lengthened form of the tarsi and tail and the narrow form of the bill
are the most striking of the structural differences between
_Pteropodocys_ and _Graucalus_, and are so apparent that they must be
perceptible at a single glance to all who will examine them. Plains and
open glades skirted by belts of high trees are the localities in which I
generally met with this bird either in pairs or small parties of four or
five; in the latter case they were probably the brood of the year, as
they usually consisted of both immature and adult birds.
Its powers of progression on the ground are considerable, and are only
equalled by those of flight; when disturbed it flies across the plain to
the belts of lofty trees, among the branches of which it appears to be
quite as much at ease as upon the ground. During flight the white mark
on the rump is very conspicuous, and may be seen at a considerable
distance.
The food consists of insects and seeds of various kinds.
That its range extends over the whole of the interior of Australia is
more than probable, as I have lately received a specimen from Swan
River, in which part of the country it doubtless inhabits localities
similar to those it frequents on the east coast.
Of its nidification I regret to say nothing is at present known.
The sexes, which exhibit no external differences, may be thus
described:—
Head, neck, chest and back delicate grey, becoming darker on the
ear-coverts; rump and abdomen white, crossed by narrow irregular bars of
black; under tail-coverts white; wings and tail black, the latter having
the tips of the outer and the basal portion of all the feathers white;
bill and feet black, tinged with olive; irides butty white.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration: