that of its comprising several forms endowed with the power of
sustaining and enjoying life without a supply of water, that element
without which most others languish and die; for instance, the Halcyons,
which I found living and even breeding on the parched plains of the
interior during the severe drought of 1838–39, far removed from any
water; the food of these birds being insects and lizards.
A considerable number of the older-known of the Australian birds have
been described in the general works of Vieillot, Latham, Shaw and
others; but their descriptions are so vague, and the species themselves
so frequently referred to genera widely different from those to which
they really belong, that it has been impossible to identify the whole of
them; but wherever they could be identified with certainty their names
have been adopted, or quoted in the synonyms.
The “Birds of Europe” were arranged according to the views of the late
Mr. Vigors; and in the “Birds of Australia” the arrangement is mainly
the same, with some modifications of my own which appeared to me to be
necessary.
I have been constrained, for the sake of uniformity in size, to divide
the present work into seven volumes; the first of which comprises the
RAPTORES, the small number of which will account for its being somewhat
thinner than the others; the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth
volumes comprise the INSESSORES, RASORES and GRALLATORES in one
continuous series, and the seventh the NATATORES.
The following synoptical table will give a general view of the whole; it
contains all the additional information I have received, or been able to
procure, during the progress of the work; the characters of the new
genera I have found it necessary to institute, &c.; and the references
to the volumes in which the respective plates are arranged will render
it easy to consult and to quote them.
Order RAPTORES, _Ill._
Family FALCONIDÆ, _Leach._
Genus AQUILA, _Briss._
Numerous species of this genus exist in Asia and Europe; the form also
occurs in Africa, and in North America; so far as I am aware it is not
found in South America, and two species are all that are known in
Australia.
1. Aquila fucosa, _Cuv._ Vol. I. Pl. 1.
_Vultur audax_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. ii.
_Aquila cuneicaudata_, Brehm, Isis, 1845, p. 356.
—— (_Uroaëtus_) _audax_, Kaup, Classif. der Säug. und Vög., p. 12.
This fine Eagle ranges over the whole of the southern portion of
Australia and Van Diemen’s Land, but I have no positive evidence of its
having been seen in the intertropical regions of the country.
2. Aquila Morphnoïdes, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 2.
A beautiful representative of the _Aquila pennata_ of Europe and India.
Since the discovery of this bird at Yarrundi in New South Wales, when I
obtained only a single specimen, T. C. Eyton, Esq. has received a second
example in a collection obtained at Port Phillip, and a third was
procured by Captain Sturt at the Depôt in South Australia.
Genus ICHTHYIAËTUS, _Lafr._
The members of this genus inhabit India and the whole of the Indian
Islands, and enjoy an equally extensive range over the continent of
Africa. Their natural abode is the margins of large rivers and inlets of
the sea; and their chief food consists of fish, dead cetacea and
carrion.
3. Ichthyiaëtus leucogaster Vol. I. Pl. 3.
_Haliaëtus_ (_Pontoaëtus_) _leucogaster_, Kaup, Classif. der Säug.
und Vög., p. 122.
_Cuncuma leucogaster_, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part I.
2nd edit. p. 24.
Found all round the coast of Australia, and said to extend its range to
India and even to Africa; but this wants confirmation.
An opinion has been lately expressed that the enormous nests observed by
Captains Cook and Flinders had been constructed by some species of
_Dinornis_; but it is quite evident from the account given by Flinders
that they must have been formed by a bird of the Raptorial order, and I
have no doubt that they were the nests of the present bird.
“Near Point Possession,” says Flinders, “were found two nests of
extraordinary magnitude. They were built upon the ground, from which
they rose above two feet; and were of vast circumference and great
interior capacity, the branches of trees and other matter, of which each
nest was composed, being enough to fill a small cart. Captain Cook found
one of these enormous nests upon Eagle Island, on the east coast.”
Subsequently Flinders found another of these nests in which were
“several masses resembling those which contain the hair and bones of
mice, and are disgorged by the Owls in England after the flesh is
digested. These masses were larger, and consisted of the hair of seals
and of land animals, of the scaly feathers of penguins, and the bones of
birds and small quadrupeds. Possibly the constructor of the nest might
be an enormous Owl; and if so, the cause of the bird being never seen,
whilst the nests were not scarce, would be from its not going out until
dark; but from the very open and exposed situations in which the nests
were found, I should rather judge it to be of the Eagle kind; and that
its powers are such as to render it heedless of any attempts of the
natives upon its young.”—Flinders’ Voyage, vol. i. pp. 64 and 81.
The accumulation of so large a mass of materials is readily accounted
for when we remember that the bird is in the habit of resorting to the
same eyry for a long succession of years, and of annually carrying
additional materials to reconstruct the nest.
I myself found and took young birds of this species from similar nests
placed on the points of rocks and promontories of the islands in Bass’s
Straits.
Genus HALIASTUR, _Selby._
The range of the members of this genus extends over Australia and all
the islands to India.
4. Haliastur leucosternus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 4.
_Falco Ponticerianus_, Shaw, Nat. Misc., pl. 389.
_Haliaëtus (Ictinoaëtus) leucosternon_, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 277.
Confined, so far as I am aware, to Australia, and forming a beautiful
representative of the _Haliastur Ponticerianus_ of India.
5. Haliastur sphenurus Vol. I. Pl. 5.
_Milvus sphenurus_, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 211.
_Haliaëtus (Ictinoaëtus) canorus_, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 277.
Inhabits all parts of Australia yet visited by travellers, even the
Depôt in the interior.
Genus PANDION, _Sav._
Of the genus _Pandion_ four species are now known; one inhabiting
America, another Europe and Asia, a third the Indian Islands, and the
fourth Australia.
6. Pandion leucocephalus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 6.
_Pandion Gouldii_, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 270.—List of Birds in
Brit. Mus. Coll., Part I. 2nd edit. p. 22.
This species of _Pandion_ performs precisely the same office in
Australia that the _P. haliaëtus_ does in Europe and the _P.
Carolinensis_ in America; to both of which species it is very nearly
allied.
Genus Falco, Linn.
As they are the most typical of all the Hawks, so are the members of the
genus _Falco_ the most universally dispersed over the face of the globe;
and I question whether the law of representation is in any case more
beautifully and clearly shown than by the members of the present group.
7. Falco hypoleucus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 7.
Up to the present time only four examples of this fine Falcon have been
procured; it is a species admirably adapted for the sport of Falconry,
and is a beautiful representative of the _Falco Gyrfalco_ of Europe. Its
native habitat is the interior of the southern and western portions of
Australia.
8. Falco melanogenys, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 8.
_Falco macropus_, Swains. Anim. in Menag., p. 341.
—— _melanogenys_, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 75.
India, Europe, and North America on the one hand, and Cape Horn, the
Cape of Good Hope and Australia on the other, are all inhabited by
Falcons so nearly allied to each other as to favour the opinion that
they are merely varieties of each other; but I agree with the Prince of
Canino and Professor Kaup in considering them to be distinct and
representatives of each other in the respective countries they inhabit.
It will doubtless be found that the habits and economy of the whole are
as similar as they are in outward appearance; and that the _Falco
melanogenys_ is as destructive to the ducks of the interior of Australia
as the _Falco Anatum_ is in North America.
9. Falco subniger, _Gray_ Vol. I. Pl. 9.
A powerful Falcon differing somewhat in structure from the _F.
hypoleucus_ and _F. melanogenys_. Nothing is known of its habits, and as
yet I have only seen four examples, all of which were procured in the
interior of South Australia.
10. Falco frontatus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 10.
_Falco lunulatus_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl., p. xiii.?
_Sparvius lunulatus_, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. x. p.
324.
_Falco longipennis_, Swains. Anim. in Menag., p. 341.?
—— _subbuteo_, Brehm, Isis, 1845, p. 347.?
—— (_Hypotriorchis_) _frontatus_, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 65.
A little Falcon with the habits of the Hobby and Merlin combined; found
in all parts of Australia to the southward of the 25th degree of S.
lat.; among other birds it preys upon the Quails and the little
Partridges belonging to the genus _Synoïcus_.
Genus IERACIDEA, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
_Bill_ and general form of _Falco_, but the _wings_ less powerful, and
the third quill-feather the longest; _tarsi_ more elongated, slender,
and covered anteriorly with hexagonal scales; _toes_ more feeble, the
hind-toe shorter, and the _claws_ less robust.
So far as our present knowledge extends, the members of this genus are
only three in number, all of which are confined to Australia and New
Zealand.
11. Ieracidea Berigora Vol. I. Pl. 11.
_Ieracidea Berigora_, Kaup, Class, der Säug. und Vög., p. 112.
Professor Kaup considers this species and the succeeding one, _I.
occidentalis_, to be identical, but having had numerous opportunities of
observing them, I am satisfied that they are distinct; and in
confirmation of this opinion I may state that the _I. Berigora_, which
is from the eastern coast, is always the largest, has the cere
blue-grey, and the plumage of the adult light brown, sparingly blotched
with white on the breast; while the _I. occidentalis_, from the western
coast, is a more delicately formed bird, has the cere yellow and the
breast white, with faint lines of brown down the centre of each feather.
12. Ieracidea occidentalis, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 12.
Genus TINNUNCULUS, _Vieill_.
13. Tinnunculus Cenchroïdes Vol. I. Pl. 13.
_Cerchneis immaculatus_, Brehm, Isis.
A beautiful representative of the Kestrils of Europe and India, where,
as well as in Africa and in most parts of America, members of this group
are to be found.
The range of the _Tinnunculus Cenchroïdes_ extends over the whole of the
southern parts of Australia, and that it extends far towards the
northern portion of the country is proved by Mr. Gilbert having found
it, as well as its nest, during the expedition of Dr. Leichardt from
Moreton Bay to Port Essington.
The following is an extract from his Journal:—“October 2. Found, for the
first time, the eggs of _Tinnunculus Cenchroïdes_, four in number,
deposited in a hollow spout of a gum-tree overhanging a creek; there was
no nest, the eggs being merely deposited on a bed of decayed wood.” They
are freckled all over with blotches and minute dots of rich reddish
chestnut on a paler ground, and are one inch and five-eighths in length
by one inch and a quarter in breadth.
Genus ASTUR, _Lacep._
14. Astur Novæ-Hollandiæ Vol. I. Pl. 14.
15. Astur Novæ-Hollandiæ, albino Vol. I. Pl. 15.
_Astur Novæ-Hollandiæ_, Cuv. Règ. An., 1817, p. 320.
_Sparvius niveus_, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. x. p.
338.
_Dædalion candidum_, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 66.
_Falco leucaëtos_, Forst. Descr. Anim. and Drawings, No. 35.
_Astur (Leucospiza) Novæ-Hollandiæ_, Kaup, Class, der Säug. und
Vög., p. 119.
I think Professor Kaup is right in proposing a new generic title for
this species, differing as it does both in structure and habits from the
true _Asturs_; he also, like myself, considers the white birds to be
merely albino varieties of the other; but my friends, the Rev. T. J.
Ewing and Ronald C. Gunn, Esq. of Van Diemen’s Land, are both most
decidedly opposed to this view of the subject, and found their dissent
upon the circumstance of there being none other than white individuals
in Van Diemen’s Land.
So far as it is at present known, the southern and eastern portions of
Australia and the island of Van Diemen’s Land constitute the habitat of
the species.
16. Astur radiatus Vol. I. Pl. 16.
_Astur testaceus_ (_Ernest._), Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 367.
A curious form not quite agreeing with _Astur_; it is very rare, and
nothing whatever is known of its habits.
17. Astur approximans, _Vig. & Horsf._ Vol. I. Pl. 17.
_Astur radiatus_, Cuv. Règ. An., 1829, p. 332.
_Nisus_ (_Urospiza_) _radiatus_, Kaup, Mus. Senckenb., 1845, p.
259.
—— (——) _approximans_, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 182.
_Accipiter approximans_, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part
I. 2nd edit. p. 74.
The _Astur approximans_ has been with propriety removed to the genus
_Accipiter_ by Mr. G. R. Gray, and to this genus my _A. cruentus_ is
also referable; for although of a larger size than the other members of
that form, their structure, except in the shorter middle toe, is very
similar.
18. Astur cruentus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 18.
_Astur cruentus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 113.
This species and the preceding are representatives of each other in the
eastern and western portions of the continent.
I have lately seen specimens from Port Essington.
Genus ACCIPITER, _Briss_.
19. Accipiter torquatus Vol. I. Pl. 19.
_Sparvius cirrhocephalus_, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom.
x. p. 328.
—— _tricolor_, Vieill. ibid. p. 329.
_Falco melanops_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. 12?
_Sparvius melanops_, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. x. p.
239?
_Astur_ (_Micronisus_) _torquatus_, Kaup, Mus. Senckenb. 1845, p.
259.
_Nisus_ (_Urospiza_) _torquatus_, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 181.
_Accipiter cirrhocephalus_, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll.,
Part I. 2nd edit. p. 73.
Precisely similar in all its actions and in its economy to the Sparrow
Hawk, _Accipiter nisus_ of Europe.
Genus BUTEO, _Cuv._
Species of the genus _Buteo_ are dispersed over the great continents of
Europe, Asia, Africa and America, but only one has yet been discovered
in Australia.
20. Buteo melanosternon, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 20.
This bird departs somewhat in form from the typical species of the genus
_Buteo_; but so little is known respecting it that we are ignorant how
far this departure may influence its habits and economy. One most
singular story has been transmitted to me and is here given as I
received it; without vouching for its truth, I may remark that the
testimony of the natives may generally be relied upon.
“The natives, Mr. Drummond, and his son Mr. Johnson Drummond, tell me,”
says Mr. Gilbert, “that this bird is so bold, that upon discovering an
Emu sitting on her eggs it will attack her with great ferocity until it
succeeds in driving her from them; when it takes up a stone with its
feet, and while hovering over the eggs lets the stone fall upon and
crush them, and then descends and devours their contents. I have had
numerous opportunities of observing the bird myself, and can bear
testimony to its great powers of scent or vision; for upon several
occasions, when the natives had placed a small kangaroo or kangaroo-rat
in the fork of a tree or on the top of a _Xanthorrhæa_ with the
intention of taking it again on our return, we have found that the bird
during our short absence had discovered and devoured every part of it
except the skin, which was left so perfect, that at first I could not
believe that it had not been done by the hand of man.”
Genus MILVUS, _Cuv._
Asia is the great stronghold of the Kites or restricted genus _Milvus_;
a few species occur in Europe, Africa, and the Indian Islands, and two
are natives of Australia.
21. Milvus affinis, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 21.
_Milvus_ (_Hydroictinia_) _affinis_, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 118.
This representative of the _Milvus ater_ of Europe is found all over
Australia, even at Port Essington: Captain Sturt observed it flying over
the far interior of South Australia in great numbers.
22. Milvus isurus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 22.
This species, which is sparingly dispersed over the whole of the
southern part of Australia, is an equally beautiful representative of
the common Kite, _Milvus regalis_ of Europe.
Genus ELANUS, _Sav._
Species of this well-defined genus inhabit nearly every part of the
world: two are natives of Australia.
23. Elanus axillaris Vol. I. Pl. 23.
_Elanus melanopterus_, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
185.
The _Elanus axillaris_ is a representative of the _Elanus melanopterus_
of Europe.
24. Elanus scriptus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 24.
A fine new species rendered conspicuously different from all the other
members of the genus by the black-lettered form of the markings under
the wings.
Captain Sturt found this bird abundant at the Depôt towards the interior
of Australia.
Genus LEPIDOGENYS, _J. E. Gray_.
Of this genus three species are known; they inhabit India, the Indian
Islands and Australia.
25. Lepidogenys subcristatus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 25.
_Baza subcristata_, G. R. Gray, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll.,
Part I. p. 19. 2nd edit. p. 41.
_Pernis (Hyptiopus) subcristatus_, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 343.
I have no additional information respecting this noble species; all the
examples of which, that have come under my notice, have been obtained in
the brushes of the east coast of Australia.
Genus CIRCUS, _Lacep_.
Two if not three kinds of Harriers inhabit Australia, consequently the
number of species is nearly equal in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and
Australia; those inhabiting the latter country are precisely of the same
form, and perform the same offices as their near allies do in the other
parts of the world.
26. Circus assimilis, _Jard. & Selb._ Vol. I. Pl. 26.
27. Circus Jardinii, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 27.
_Circus (Spilocircus) Jardinii_, Kaup, Isis, 847, p. 102.
Family STRIGIDÆ, _Leach_.
Genus STRIX, _Linn_.
While as a general rule other countries are only inhabited by a single
species of the restricted genus _Strix_, the Fauna of Australia
comprises no less than four, all of which appear to be necessary in
order to prevent an inordinate increase of the smaller quadrupeds which
there abound.
28. Strix castanops, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 28.
29. Strix personata, _Vig._ Vol. I. Pl. 29.
30. Strix tenebricosus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 30.
31. Strix delicatulus, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 31.
_Strix flammea?_ Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 190.
Genus ATHENE, _Boie_.
A genus of diurnal Owls, of which five species are natives of Australia;
the smaller kinds are represented in Europe and Asia by the _Athene
noctua_, _A. Cuculoides_ and _A. Brama_; the larger kinds have no
representatives in the northern hemisphere.
32. Athene Boobook Vol. I. Pl. 32.
33. Athene maculata Vol. I. Pl. 33.
34. Athene marmorata, _Gould_.
_Athene marmorata_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIV. p. 18.
All the upper surface, wings and tail dark brown, obscurely spotted with
white round the back of the neck, on the wing-coverts and scapularies;
inner webs of the primaries at their base, and the inner webs of the
lateral tail-feathers crossed by bands, which are buff next the shaft
and white towards the extremity of the webs; face and chin whitish;
under surface dark brown, blotched with white and sandy brown; legs and
thighs fawn-colour; bill horn-colour; feet yellow.
Inhabits South Australia, is much larger than _A. maculata_, but so
nearly allied to, and so much like that species, that I have not thought
it necessary to give a separate figure of it.
35. Athene connivens Vol. I. Pl. 34.
_Buteo connivens_, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. iv. p.
481.
36. Athene strenua, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 35.
37. Athene rufa, _Gould_ Vol. I. Pl. 36.
Order INSESSORES, _Vig._
Family CAPRIMULGIDÆ, _Vig._
Genus ÆGOTHELES, _Vig. & Horsf._
The known species of this genus are two in number, both of which, so far
as has yet been ascertained, are confined to Australia. In many of their
actions, and in their nidification, they are very owl-like, depositing,
like those birds, their four or five round white eggs in the hollows of
trees, without any nest.
38. Ægotheles Novæ-Hollandiæ Vol. II. Pl. 1.
Inhabits the whole of the southern parts of Australia and Van Diemen’s
Land.
39. Ægotheles leucogaster, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 2.
Inhabits the northern or intertropical parts of Australia, where it
represents the _Æ. Novæ-Hollandiæ_.
Genus PODARGUS, _Cuv._
With no one group of the Australian birds have I had so much difficulty
in discriminating the species as the genus _Podargus_. It is almost
impossible to determine with certainty the older species described by
Latham; could this have been done satisfactorily, even in a single
instance, it would have greatly facilitated the investigation of the
remainder. Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield regarded the specimens in the
Linnean Collection as referable to three species, and have described
them under the names of _Stanleyanus_, _humeralis_, and _Cuvieri_;
Latham’s description of the species named by him _megacephalus_ accords
so well with the _P. Stanleyanus_, that I suspect both those terms have
been applied to one and the same species, an opinion strengthened by
Latham’s remarks as to the great size of the head and mandibles of his
bird, the total length of which he states to be thirty inches, which is
evidently an error.
After examining a large number of specimens comprising individuals of
all ages, I have come to the conclusion that the Australian members of
this genus constitute six species; four of which, namely, _P.
megacephalus_, _P. humeralis_, _P. Cuvieri_, and _P. brachypterus_, are
most closely allied to each other; and two, namely, _P. plumiferus_ and
_P. Phalænoides_, which present specific characters that cannot be
mistaken. We have then in Australia a large group of nocturnal birds of
this form destined, as it would seem, to keep in check the great
families of _Cicadæ_ and _Phasmidæ_, upon which they mainly subsist; but
they do not refuse other insects, and even berries have been found in
their stomachs. They are an inanimate and sluggish group of birds, and
do not procure their food on the wing so much as other _Caprimulgi_, but
obtain it by traversing the branches of the various trees upon which
their favourite insects reside; at intervals during the night they sit
about in open places, on rails, stumps of trees, on the roofs of houses
and on the tombstones in the churchyards, and by superstitious persons
are regarded as omens of death, their hoarse disagreeable voice adding
not a little to the terrors induced by their presence.
In their nidification the _Podargi_ differ in a most remarkable manner
from all the other _Caprimulgidæ_, inasmuch as while the eggs of the
_Ægothelæ_ are deposited in the holes of trees, and those of the members
of the other genera of this family on the ground, these birds construct
a flat nest of small sticks on the horizontal branches of trees for the
reception of theirs, which are moreover of the purest white.
Although I have no satisfactory evidence that these birds resort to a
kind of hybernation for short periods during some portions of the year,
I must not omit to mention that I have been assured that they do
occasionally retire to and remain secluded in the hollow parts of the
trees; and if such should prove to be the case, it may account for the
extreme obesity of many of the individuals I procured, which was often
so great as to prevent me from preserving their skins. I trust that
these remarks will cause the subject to be investigated by those who are
favourably situated for so doing; for my own part I see no reason why a
bird should not pass a portion of its existence in a state of
hybernation as well as some species of quadrupeds, animals much higher
in the scale of creation.