_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
MYIÄGRA PLUMBEA, _Vig. and Horsf._
Plumbeous Flycatcher.
_Myiägra plumbea_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
254.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 181.—Swains. Class. of
Birds, vol. ii. p. 260.
A summer visitant to New South Wales, where it takes up its abode on
high trees bordering-creeks and low valleys, and captures its insect
food under the shady branches, the _Myiägra plumbea_ is mostly seen in
pairs, which are rather thinly dispersed over the districts forming its
usual place of resort. A low whistling note, frequently uttered by the
males, is, in all probability, indicative of the season of love; but
whether it is also uttered at any other than the pairing and breeding
time, I had no opportunities of observing. On the approach of winter it
retires northwards from New South Wales, and is not to be met with there
until the following August or September, the months in which spring
commences in the opposite hemisphere.
It is a most active bird; in fact all its positions are characterized by
great liveliness; for while in a state of comparative repose, or when
not actually in pursuit of insects, it displays a constant tremulous
motion of the tail, by which means its presence is often betrayed when
it would otherwise remain unnoticed.
As is the case with all the other members of the genus, the sexes
present considerable difference in their plumage, the female having the
throat of a bright rusty red, while the throat of the male is of a rich
greenish lead-colour, like the upper surface,—a style of colouring which
has suggested the specific name of _plumbea_. The young males during the
first year so closely assimilate in plumage to the female, that by
dissection alone can they be distinguished with certainty.
New South Wales appears to be the great nursery of this species, for I
never met with it either in Van Diemen’s Land or in any other of the
Australian colonies; where then does it go during the colder months of
the year? The woods bordering the north coast are inhabited by a nearly
allied but distinct species; the _M. plumbea_ would not therefore be
likely to pass over this country, or to find therein a resting-place
among the individuals of another species. If however we consider the
vast extent of Australia, and the probability that its central parts may
be far more fertile than is generally supposed, it is not unlikely that
the winter abode of this and numerous other birds will there be found,
and that thereby the mysteriously sudden appearance and departure of
many species, which are so frequently taking place, will be readily
accounted for.
The nest is cup-shaped, rather deep, formed of moss and lichens and
neatly lined with feathers, and is generally placed on the horizontal
branch of a tree. I did not succeed in procuring the eggs.
The male has the whole of the upper surface, wings, tail and breast
lead-colour, glossed with green on the head, neck and breast, and
becoming gradually paler towards the extremity of the body and on the
wings and tail; primaries slaty black; secondaries faintly margined with
white; under surface of the wing, abdomen and under tail-coverts white;
bill leaden blue, except at the extreme tip, which is black; irides and
feet black.
The female has the head and back lead-colour, without the greenish
gloss; wings and tail brown, fringed with bluish grey, particularly the
secondaries; throat and breast rich rusty red, gradually fading into the
white of the lower part of the abdomen and under tail-coverts; upper
mandible black; under mandible pale blue, except at the extremity, which
is black.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
[Illustration:
MYIAGRA CONCINNA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
MYIAGRA CONCINNA. _Gould_.
Pretty Flycatcher.
_Myiagra concinna_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., November 1847.
This species is a native of the north-western portion of Australia,
where it inhabits the dense mangroves and thickets adjacent to swamps.
It is very shy and retiring in its disposition, but may occasionally be
seen on the topmost branches of the highest trees of the forest. Like
the other Flycatchers, it has the habit of sitting for a long time on a
branch, watching the various insects as they pass, now and then darting
forth and capturing one on the wing, and then returning again to the
branch from which it had flown.
When among the mangroves it utters a rather agreeable twittering song,
but when among the high trees it emits a loud and shrill whistle, drawn
out at times to a considerable length.
The stomach is muscular, and the food consists of insects of various
kinds and their larvæ.
Like the other members of the genus, the sexes differ considerably in
colour; they may be thus described:—
The male has the whole of the upper surface, wings, tail and breast
lead-colour, glossed with green on the head, neck and breast, and
becoming gradually paler towards the extremity of the body and on the
wings and tail; primaries slaty black; secondaries faintly margined with
white; under surface of the wing, abdomen and under tail-coverts white;
bill leaden blue, except at the extreme tip, which is black; irides
brown; feet blackish grey.
The female has the head and back lead-colour, without the greenish
gloss; wings and tail brown, fringed with bluish grey, particularly the
secondaries; throat and breast rich rusty red; abdomen and under
tail-coverts white, which colour does not gradually blend with the rusty
red of the breast, as in the female of _Myiagra plumbea_; upper mandible
black; under mandible pale blue, except at the tip, which is black.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
[Illustration:
MYIAGRA NITIDA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
MYIAGRA NITIDA, _Gould_.
Shining Flycatcher.
_Todus Rubecula_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xxii., female.
_Red-breasted Tody_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 147.—Shaw,
Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 126.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p.
92, female.
_Myiagra Rubeculoides_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
253, female.
—— _nitida_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 142; and in Syn.
Birds of Australia, Part IV, male.
_Satin Sparrow_, of the Colonists of Van Diemen’s Land.
The _Myiagra nitida_ arrives in Van Diemen’s Land about the end of
September, commences breeding soon after its arrival, rears a somewhat
numerous progeny during the months of summer, and departs again in
February. In performing these migrations it necessarily passes directly
over the colonies of South Australia and New South Wales, yet it seldom
occurs in collections from those countries, and I believe is only seen
there during the passage. It is a most lively, showy and active bird,
darting about from branch to branch and sallying forth in the air in
pursuit of its insect prey with a most singular, quick, oscillating or
trembling motion of the tail.
I experienced but little difficulty in obtaining several of its nests
and eggs among the gullies and forest lands on the north side of Mount
Wellington, particularly those immediately in the rear of New Town, near
the residence of the Rev. Thomas J. Ewing, who frequently accompanied
and aided me in my search. The nest is usually placed at the extreme tip
of a dead branch, at a height varying from twenty to forty feet from the
ground. Some nests are formed of a minute species of light green moss,
others are constructed of fine threads of stringy bark; all are rendered
very warm by a dense lining of soft hair, probably that of the opossums
or kangaroo rats, and wool, or the soft silk-like threads of the
flowering stalks of moss, the down of the tree-fern, and the blossoms of
many other kinds of plants; and the outsides of all are very similar,
being alike ornamented with small pieces of lichen stuck on without any
degree of regularity; these different materials are all felted together
with cobwebs, or vegetable fibres. The form of the nest appears to
depend upon the nature of the site upon which it is built: if placed on
a level part of the branch, the nest is large and high; if in a fork,
then it is a more shallow structure; in each case the opening is as
perfect a circle as the nature of the materials will admit: the height
varies from two inches to three inches and a quarter, the average
breadth of the opening is about one inch and three-quarters, and the
depth one inch. The eggs are generally three in number, somewhat round
in form, and of a greenish white spotted and blotched all over with
umber brown, yellowish brown, and obscure markings of purplish grey;
their medium length is nine lines and breadth seven lines.
The weight of this bird is nearly three ounces and three-quarters; the
stomach is muscular, and those examined contained the remains of
dipterous and coleopterous insects.
The note is a loud piping whistle frequently repeated.
The male has the lores deep velvety black; all the upper surface, wings,
tail and breast of a rich deep blackish green with a metallic lustre;
primaries deep brown; under surface of the shoulder, abdomen and under
tail-coverts white; bill lead-colour at the base, passing into black at
the tip; irides and feet black.
The female, as will be seen on reference to the accompanying Plate,
differs considerably from the male; the upper surface being much less
brilliant, and the throat and breast of a rich rusty red, a style of
colouring which is also characteristic of the young males during the
first autumn of their existence.
The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.
[Illustration:
MYIAGRA LATIROSTRIS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
MYIAGRA LATIROSTRIS, _Gould_.
Broad-billed Flycatcher.
_Myïagra latirostris_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p.
172.
I possess two examples of this species, one of which was procured on the
north coast by Mr. Dring, and the other at Port Essington by Mr.
Gilbert. It is in every respect a true _Myïagra_, and is rendered
remarkably conspicuous by the great breadth or lateral dilatation of the
bill. As no notes accompanied the specimens, I am unable to give any
particulars as to its habits and economy; in all probability they are
very similar to those of the other members of the genus.
All the upper surface, wings and tail dark bluish gray, with a shining
greenish lustre on the head and back of the neck; throat and chest sandy
buff; under surface white; bill black; irides blackish brown; feet
black.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration: