_J. & E. Gould del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
FALCUNCULUS FRONTATUS, _Vieill._
Frontal Shrike-Tit.
_Lanius frontatus_, Lath. Ind. Orn., p. xviii.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol.
vii. p. 312.—Temm. Man., Part I. p. lix.—Ib. Pl. Col., pl.
77.
_Frontal Shrike_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 75, pl. 122.—Ib.
Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 72, pl. xx.
_Falcunculus frontatus_, Vieill. Gal. des Ois., tom. i. pl. 138.—Vig.
and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 212.—G. R. Gray,
List of Gen. of Birds, p. 36.—Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 372.
_Falcunculus flavigulus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p.
144; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV., young?
I had many opportunities of observing this bird, both in New South Wales
and South Australia, over both of which countries it is very generally
although not numerously dispersed. It does not inhabit Western
Australia, neither have I as yet received it from the north coast. It
alike inhabits the thick brushes as well as the trees of the open
plains. Its chief food is insects, which are either obtained among the
foliage or under the bark of the larger branches and trunks of the
trees; in procuring these it displays great dexterity, stripping off the
bark in the most determined manner, for which purpose its powerful bill
is admirably adapted.
It is very animated and sprightly in its actions, and in many of its
habits bears a striking resemblance to the Tits, particularly in the
manner in which it clings to and climbs among the branches in search of
food. While thus employed it frequently erects its crest and assumes
many pert and lively positions: no bird of its size with which I am
acquainted possesses greater strength in its mandibles, or is capable of
inflicting severer wounds, as I experienced on handling one I had
previously winged, and which fastened on my hand in the most ferocious
manner.
As far as I am aware, the _Falcunculus frontatus_ is not distinguished
by any powers of song, merely uttering a few low piping notes.
I could neither succeed in procuring the nest of this species nor obtain
any authentic information respecting its nidification.
The stomachs of the specimens I dissected were filled with the larvæ of
insects and berries.
The male has immediately above the bill a narrow band of white, from
which, down the centre of the head, is a broad stripe of black feathers
forming a crest; sides of the face and head white, divided by a line of
black which passes through the eye to the nape; back, shoulders and
wing-coverts olive; primaries and secondaries blackish brown broadly
margined with grey; tail blackish brown broadly margined with grey,
especially on the two centre feathers; two outer tail-feathers and tips
of the remainder white, the white diminishing on each feather as it
approaches the centre of the tail; throat black; all the under surface
bright yellow; irides reddish brown; bill black; legs and feet bluish
grey.
The sexes may at all times be distinguished from each other by the
smaller size of the female, and by the colouring of the throat being
green instead of black; by the irides being darker and the feet bluish
lead-colour.
The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size, on a
branch of a shrub-like tree which I gathered in the district of
Illawarra, but of which I have not been able to obtain the name.
[Illustration:
FALCUNCULUS LEUCOGASTER: _Gould_.
_J. & E. Gould del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
FALCUNCULUS LEUCOGASTER, _Gould_.
White-bellied Shrike-Tit.
_Falcunculus leucogaster_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p.
144; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.
_Goore-beet-goore-beet_, Aborigines of the lowland districts of
Western Australia.
_Jil-le-ë-lee_, Aborigines of the mountain districts of ditto.
_Djoon-dool-goo-roon_, Aborigines of the Murray in ditto.
This species is an inhabitant of the western portions of Australia,
where it forms a beautiful representative of the _Fal. frontatus_ of the
eastern coast, from which it may be readily distinguished by its white
abdomen; it is very generally dispersed over the colony of Swan River,
although, like its near ally, it is not to be met with in great
abundance. It is usually seen in pairs among the thickly-foliaged trees,
particularly such as grow in quiet secluded places, and is a most active
little bird, running over the trunks and branches of the trees with the
greatest facility, and tearing off the bark in its progress in search of
insects: the habits in fact of the present and Frontal Shrike-Tit are so
closely similar that a separate description is unnecessary. Its flight
is of short duration, and is seldom employed for any other purpose than
that of flitting from branch to branch, or from one tree to another. Its
note is a series of mournful sounds, the last of which is drawn out to a
greater length than the preceding ones.
The stomach is extremely muscular, and its food consists principally of
coleoptera.
The male has immediately above the bill a narrow hand of white, from
which, down the centre of the head, is a broad stripe of black feathers
forming a crest; sides of the face and head white, divided by a line of
black, which passes through the eye to the nape; back, rump, shoulders
and wing-coverts bright yellowish olive; primaries and secondaries
blackish brown, margined with olive-yellow; tail-feathers blackish
brown, margined with olive-yellow, except the two outer, which are grey,
broadly margined with white; all the tail-feathers tipped with white,
the white diminishing on each feather as it approaches the centre of the
tail; throat black; chest, upper part of the breast, and under
tail-coverts bright yellow; abdomen and thighs white; irides wood-brown;
bill dark brown, becoming lighter at the edges of the mandibles; legs
and feet greenish blue.
The female differs from her mate in being somewhat smaller in size, and
in having the throat green instead of black.
The figures are those of a male and female, of the natural size.
[Illustration: