_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
MICRŒCA MACROPTERA.
Great-winged Micrœca.
_Myiagra macroptera_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
254.
_Micrœca macroptera_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p. 172.
_Loxia fascinans_, Lath. Ind. Ora. Supp., p. xlvi.?—Shaw, Gen. Zool.,
vol. ix. p. 298?
_Fascinating Grosbeak_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 197.—Ib.
Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 266?
_Brown Flycatcher_, of the Colonists.
This bird is generally dispersed over the colonies of New South Wales
and South Australia, where it inhabits nearly every kind of situation,
from the open forest lands of the interior to the brushes of thickly
grown trees near the sea-coast; shrubs not a yard high, and the branches
of the highest gum-trees being alike resorted to. It is certainly the
least ornamental of the Australian birds, for it is neither
gay-coloured, nor is it characterized by any conspicuous markings; these
deficiencies, however, are, as is usually the case, amply compensated
for by the little sombre tenant of the forest being endowed with a most
cheerful and pleasing song, the notes of which much resemble, but are
more clear and powerful than the spring notes of the Chaffinch
(_Fringilla Cœlebs_), and which are poured forth at the dawn of day from
the topmost dead branch of a lofty gum-tree, an elevated position which
appears to be frequently resorted to for the purpose of serenading its
mate, its usual place of abode being much nearer the ground. It is
mostly met with in pairs, and may be frequently seen perched on the low
bushy twigs of a thistle-like plant, occasionally on the gates and
palings and in the gardens of the settlers; Mr. Caley states that “it
has all the actions of the British _Robin Red-breast_, except coming
inside houses. When a piece of ground was fresh dug it was always a
constant attendant.” It appeared to me that its actions resemble quite
as much those of the Flycatchers as of the Robins, and at the same time
are sufficiently distinct from either to justify the bird being made the
type of a new genus; I may particularly mention a singular lateral
movement of the tail, which it is continually moving from side to side.
Its food consists of insects, which it captures both among the foliage
of the trees and on the wing, frequently flying forth in pursuit of
passing flies and returning again to the branch it had left.
It generally rears two broods in the course of the year.
The nest, which is built in October, is a slight, nearly flat and very
small structure, measuring only two inches and a half in diameter by
half an inch in depth; it is formed of fine fibrous roots, decorated
externally with lichens and small flat pieces of bark, attached by means
of fine vegetable fibres and cobwebs; and is most artfully placed in the
fork of a dead horizontal branch, whereby it is rendered so nearly
invisible from beneath, that it easily escapes detection from all but
the scrutinizing eye of the aboriginal native. The eggs are generally
two in number, of a pale greenish blue, strongly marked with dashes of
chestnut-brown and indistinct blotches of grey; they are eight and a
half lines long by five and a half lines broad.
The sexes are alike in colour; the young differs from the adult in being
much paler, and in being spotted with white on the head and back and
with brown on the breast.
The adult has all the upper surface and wings pale brown; wing-coverts
slightly tipped with white, and a wash of white on the margins of the
tertiaries and tips of the upper tail-coverts; tail dark brown, the
external feather white, and the next on each side with a large spot of
white on the inner web at the tip; all the under surface pale brownish
white, fading into nearly pure white on the chin and abdomen; bill,
irides and feet brown.
The figures represent the two sexes of the size of life.
[Illustration:
MICRŒCA FLAVIGASTER: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
MICRŒCA FLAVIGASTER, Gould.
Yellow-bellied Micrœca.
_Micrœca flavigaster_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 132.
_Brown Flycatcher_, Residents at Port Essington.
This little Flycatcher, which is a native of the northern portions of
Australia, is met with in the neighbourhood of Port Essington in every
variety of situation, and is particularly abundant on all the islands in
Van Diemen’s Gulf. “Its habits and manners,” says Mr. Gilbert,
“assimilate more nearly to those of the _Petroicæ_ than to those of any
other group. It gives utterance to many different notes, pouring forth
at the dawn of day a strain much resembling that of some of the
_Petroicæ_, and like them remaining stationary for a long time while
giving utterance to its very pretty and agreeable melody. In the middle
of the day, when the sun is nearly vertical, it leaves the trees and
soars upward in regular circles, like the Skylark, until it arrives at
so great a height as to be scarcely perceptible; it then descends
perpendicularly until it nearly reaches the trees, when it closes its
wings and apparently falls upon the branch on which it alights. During
the whole of this movement it pours forth a song, some parts of which
are very soft and melodious, but quite different from that of the
morning; in the evening its song is again varied, and then so much
resembles the unconnected notes of the _Gerygones_, that I have
frequently been misled by it. The _Micrœca flavigaster_ is a very
familiar species, inhabiting the trees and bushes close around the
houses, and is little alarmed or disturbed at the approach of man. At
times it is extremely pugnacious; I have seen a pair attack a crow and
beat it until it was obliged to seek safety by flight, all the while
calling out most lustily. Notwithstanding it is so abundant everywhere,
and it must have been breeding during my stay here, as is proved by my
killing young birds apparently only a few days old, I did not succeed in
finding the nest; and on inquiring of the natives, they could give me no
information whatever respecting it or the period of incubation.”
The sexes do not differ in colour or size.
The stomach is tolerably muscular, and the food consists of insects of
various kinds.
All the upper surface brownish olive; wings and tail brown, margined
with paler brown; throat white; all the under surface yellow; irides
blackish brown; feet blackish grey.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration: