Australia, over every portion of which country it is dispersed; and it
may be considered one of the anomalies of the Australian ornithology,
since its alliance to any group of birds with which we are acquainted is
very remote.
98. Grallina Australis Vol. II. Pl. 54.
Genus GRAUCALUS, _Cuv._
The woods of every part of the Old World from India to Australia are
tenanted by species of this genus, which, from their great size, their
being strictly insectivorous, and individually very numerous, must tend
to keep insect life in check, and consequently perform a most important
part in the economy of nature.
In my description of _Graucalus melanops_, I have stated that New South
Wales, Van Diemen’s Land, Swan River and Port Essington, are each
inhabited by _Grauculi_ so nearly allied to each other that it was
questionable whether they were not one and the same species, and that
the slight differences they present were attributable to some
peculiarity in the districts they inhabit; after much attention to the
subject, I have been induced to regard the Van Diemen’s Land bird as
distinct, and I have therefore assigned it a name, _parvirostris_; those
of the other countries appear to be local varieties or races peculiar to
their respective habitats.
All the members of the group build a flat slight nest of fine short dead
twigs, curiously joined together with cobwebs, on which they lay two
eggs.
99. Graucalus melanops Vol. II. Pl. 55.
_Graucalus melanotis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p.
143; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV. Young.
100. Graucalus parvirostris, _Gould_.
_Graucalus parvirostris_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p.
143; and Syn. Birds of Australia, Part. IV.
Forehead, sides of the face and the throat jet black; crown of the head,
all the upper surface and centre of the wings delicate grey; primaries
and the inner webs of the secondaries deep brownish black, the former
narrowly and the latter broadly margined with greyish white; tail grey
at the base, passing into deep brownish black and largely tipped with
white, the grey colour predominating on the two centre feathers, which
are destitute of the white tips; chest grey, into which the black of the
throat gradually passes; lower part of the abdomen, under surface of the
wing and under tail-coverts white; flanks and thighs grey; bill and feet
brownish black.
Total length, 12 inches; _bill_, 1½; _wing_, 7½; _tail_, 6; _tarsi_, 1.
Inhabits Van Diemen’s Land.
101. Graucalus mentalis, _Vig. & Horsf._ Vol. II. Pl. 56.
102. Graucalus hypoleucus, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 57.
103. Graucalus Swainsonii, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 58.
Genus PTEROPODOCYS, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
_Bill_ small, shorter than the head, nearly cylindrical; _tomia_ curved
and pointing downwards; a well-defined notch at the extremity of the
upper mandible; _nostrils_ basal, round, and covered with the short
feathers of the forehead; _wings_ long and pointed, the fourth feather
the longest; _tail_ lengthened, the four middle and the lateral feather
on each side shorter than the rest; _tarsi_ long, stout; _toes_ rather
short, the inner toe longer than the outer one, hind-toe large and
lengthened, the toe and nail nearly equalling in length the middle toe
and nail.
The general structure of the only known species of this form resembles
that of _Graucalus_ and of _Campephaga_, but the bill is so small as to
be quite out of proportion with the body; its lengthened wings and tarsi
adapt it both for flight and for moving rapidly over the surface of the
ground.
104. Pteropodocys Phasianellus, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 59.
Inhabits the whole of the interior of Southern Australia from east to
west; the extent of its range northward has not been ascertained. It has
many habits in common with the _Graucali_; but while those birds are
destined for the trees the present bird is adapted for the ground, where
it procures and feeds upon insects of various genera, particularly
locusts and grasshoppers. It frequents the open plains in small
companies of from three to six or eight in number, and is very animated
in its actions, but at the same time most cautious and shy.
Genus CAMPEPHAGA, _Vieill._
The members of this genus are spread over India and the Indian Islands,
and the fauna of Australia comprises four species; they are allied to
the _Graucali_, but are much smaller in size, and more active among the
branches.
The sexes are generally very dissimilar in colour and markings, while in
_Graucalus_ they are alike. The nidification and the form of the nests
of the two genera are very similar.
105. Campephaga Jardinii, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 60.
106. Campephaga Karu Vol. II. Pl. 61.
107. Campephaga leucomela, _Vig. & Horsf._ Vol. II. Pl. 62.
108. Campephaga humeralis, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 63.
Genus PACHYCEPHALA, _Swains._
The _Pachycephala gutturalis_ may be regarded as the type of this group
of birds, which is peculiarly Australian, and comprises many species,
universally distributed over the country. Their habits differ from those
of most other insectivorous birds, particularly in their quiet mode of
hopping about and traversing the branches of the trees in search of
insects and their larvæ: caterpillars constitute a great portion of
their food; but coleoptera and other insects are not rejected. The more
gaily-attired species, such as _P. gutturalis_, _P. glaucura_, _P.
melanura_ and _P. pectoralis_, resort to the flowering _Acaciæ_,
_Eucalypti_ and other stately trees, while the more dull-coloured ones
frequent the ground: they all build a neat, round, cup-shaped nest, and
the eggs are generally four in number. Their powers of flight are not
great: some of the species enjoy a wide range of habitat, while others
are extremely local. The song of some is loud and rather pleasing, while
others merely emit a whistling note, slowly but frequently repeated.
109. Pachycephala gutturalis Vol. II. Pl. 64.
110. Pachycephala glaucura, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 65.
111. Pachycephala melanura, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 66.
112. Pachycephala pectoralis Vol. II. Pl. 67.
_Sylvia rufiventris_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. liv.
_Rufous-vented Warbler_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p.
248.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 696.
_Turdus prasinus_, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. v. p. 121?
113. Pachycephala falcata, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 68.
114. Pachycephala Lanoïdes, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 69.
115. Pachycephala rufogularis, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 70.
116. Pachycephala Gilbertii, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 71.
_Pachycephala inornata_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII.
p. 164. Young?
117. Pachycephala simplex, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 72.
118. Pachycephala olivacea, _Vig. & Horsf._ Vol. II. Pl. 73.
The two birds described by me in the Proceedings of the Zoological
Society, Part V. p. 164, as _P. xanthoprocta_ and _P. longirostris_, are
both immature birds, and are, I believe, from Norfolk Island.
Genus COLLURICINCLA, _Vig. & Horsf._
Like the last group, the present is strictly confined to Australia,
every one of the colonies of which country, from north to south and from
east to west, is inhabited by a species peculiarly and restrictedly its
own. They have many characters in common with the _Pachycephalæ_, which
they also resemble in their actions, food, economy and nidification.
They are neither Shrikes nor Thrushes, but are most nearly allied to the
former; they are insect-feeders to a very great extent, but occasionally
partake of mollusks and berries. Some of them defend themselves
vigorously with both bill and claws when attacked. Their voice is a loud
whistle, some parts of which are not devoid of melody, particularly the
loud swelling notes.
The nest is rather slightly built, round and cup-shaped in form, and is
mostly placed in the hollow spout of a tree: the eggs are four in
number.
119. Colluricincla harmonica Vol. II. Pl. 74.
_Certhia canescens_, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. iv. p. 180?
Inhabits New South Wales.
120. Colluricincla rufiventris, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 75.
Inhabits Western Australia.
121. Colluricincla brunnea, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 76.
Inhabits Port Essington.
122. Colluricincla Selbii, _Jard._ Vol. II. Pl. 77.
Inhabits Van Diemen’s Land.
123. Colluricincla parvula, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 78.
Inhabits the northern parts of the country.
124. Colluricincla rufogaster, _Gould_.
_Colluricincla rufogaster_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part
XIII. p. 80.
I have assigned this name to a bird lately sent to me by Mr. Strange
from the brushes of the Clarence in New South Wales; it may hereafter
prove to be identical with the last-mentioned species, _C. parvula_, the
form and admeasurements being precisely the same; but the bird from New
South Wales has a lighter coloured bill, and the whole of the under
surface washed with deep rufous.
The locality of the bird described by me in the Proceedings of the
Zoological Society, Part IV. p. 6, as _Colluricincla fusca_, being still
unknown, that species has not been included.
Genus FALCUNCULUS, _Vieill._
The two species of this genus are not only strictly Australian, but are
confined to the southern parts of the country; the _F. frontatus_
inhabiting New South Wales and South Australia, and the _F. leucogaster_
Western Australia. When attacked by their natural enemies or by man,
both species defend themselves with their powerful bill and claws with
the utmost fury; they also by the same means readily tear off pieces of
rotten wood and the thin scaly bark of the _Eucalypti_ in search of
insects. The branches of trees are their usual place of resort, and in
many of their actions and habits they closely resemble the Tits of
Europe and India (genus _Parus_), while they also assimilate to the
_Pachycephalæ_. They build a round, cup-shaped nest.
125. Falcunculus frontatus Vol. II. Pl. 79.
126. Falcunculus leucogaster, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 80.
Mr. Gilbert states that while staying in the Toodyay district of Western
Australia in the month of October, he found the nest of this species
among the topmost and weakest perpendicular branches of a Eucalyptus, at
a height of at least fifty feet: it was of a deep cup-shaped form,
composed of the stringy bark of the gum-tree, and lined with fine
grasses, the whole matted together externally with cobwebs; the eggs,
which are three or four in number, are of a glossy white with numerous
minute speckles of dark olive most thickly disposed at the larger end;
they are seven-eighths of an inch long by five-eighths of an inch in
breadth. He adds, that under ordinary circumstances it is a somewhat shy
bird, but when breeding becomes bold and familiar; as an evidence of
which he adduces the fact that a flock of sheep were driven every night
beneath the tree upon which the nest was being constructed without
giving the least alarm to the birds.
Genus OREOÏCA, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
_Bill_ shorter than the head, stout, compressed laterally, and notched
at the tip; _culmen_ bent gradually downwards from the base; lower
mandible nearly as stout as the upper; _nostrils_ basal, round, and
nearly covered with very fine short hair-like feathers directed
forwards, among which are intermingled a few long fine hairs; _wings_
rather long, the first quill short, the third the longest; tertiaries
very long, and nearly equalling the primaries; _tail_ short and very
slightly rounded; _tarsi_ moderately long and stout, entire posteriorly,
and defended anteriorly with hard scuta; feet adapted for the ground;
_toes_ very short, particularly the hind one, inner toe rather shorter
than the outer; _claws_ short, and nearly straight.
The only species known of this form is strictly Australian, and is a
sprightly animated bird frequenting the sterile districts studded with
large trees, scrubs, and open glades, where it hops about on the ground
in search of insects. Notwithstanding the singularly lengthened form of
its scapularies and its terrestrial habits, it appears to me to belong
to the same type of form as the _Pachycephalæ_; its loud piping note and
mode of nidification also favours this opinion. It lays three or four
eggs, in a round, cup-shaped nest, placed either in a grass tree
(_Xanthorrhœa_) or in a hole or stump of a decayed upright tree.
127. Oreoïca gutturalis Vol. II. Pl. 81.
Genus DICRURUS, _Vieill._
A genus of which many species inhabit India and Africa, but of which
only one has yet been found in Australia.
128. Dicrurus bracteatus, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 82.
Family MUSCICAPIDÆ, _Vig._
Genus RHIPIDURA, _Vig. & Horsf._
Many species of this genus occur in India, the Indian Islands, New
Guinea, and Polynesia; and five or six are comprised in the fauna of
Australia, over every part of which country, including Van Diemen’s
Land, one or other member of the group is found to exist.
129. Rhipidura albiscapa, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 83.
130. Rhipidura rufifrons Vol. II. Pl. 84.
131. Rhipidura Dryas, _Gould_.
Inhabits the north coast. I have not figured this species because it
only differs from _R. rufifrons_ in being of a smaller size, and in the
red colouring at the base of the tail-feathers being more extensive.
132. Rhipidura isura, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 85.
133. Rhipidura Motacilloïdes, _Vig. & Horsf._ Vol. II. Pl. 86.
134. Rhipidura picata, _Gould_.
Not figured, being similar in colour but much smaller than _R.
Motacilloïdes_; it inhabits Port Essington.
Genus SEÏSURA, _Vig. & Horsf._
The present genus and _Rhipidura_ are mere modifications of each other;
a difference of structure, however, exists of sufficient importance to
justify their separation, and, as is always the case, a corresponding
difference is found in the habits of the species.
The present form is restricted to Australia.
135. Seïsura inquieta Vol. II. Pl. 87.
_Turdus muscicola_, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. v. p. 123.
—— _dubius_, Lath.
Genus PIEZORHYNCHUS, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
_Bill_ longer than the head; deeper than broad, almost cylindrical;
compressed on the sides, notched at the tip; _nostrils_ basal, small and
round; _wings_ short; first primary moderate, the fourth the longest;
_tail_ rather short and round; _tarsi_ moderately long and somewhat
feeble; the inner and middle toes connected as far as the first joint,
the outer one the longest.
The only species of this genus yet discovered is a native of the
northern parts of Australia, from Cape York to Port Essington, where it
frequents the dense beds of Mangroves.
136. Piezorhynchus nitidus, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 88.
Genus MYIÄGRA, _Vig. & Horsf._
A group of insectivorous birds, the greater number of which inhabit the
Indian Islands and Polynesia, and of which four species are found in
Australia.
137. Myiägra plumbea, _Vig. & Horsf._ Vol. II. Pl. 89.
138. Myiägra concinna, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 90.
139. Myiägra nitida, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 91.
140. Myiägra latirostris, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 92.
Genus MICRŒCA, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
_Bill_ shorter than the head, depressed, broad at the base; _gonys_
straight; curving downwards and slightly notched at the tip; _nostrils_
round, placed at the base of the bill, which is beset with strong
bristles; _wings_ lengthened and powerful, first primary short, the
third the longest; _tail_ rather short and nearly square; _tarsi_
moderate and feeble; _toes_ feeble, the external toe much longer than
the internal one.
Three species of this genus inhabit Australia, to which country they are
confined.
141. Micrœca macroptera. Vol. II. Pl. 93.
_Sylvia leucophœa_, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. vii. p. 139.
142. Micrœca assimilis, _Gould_.
_Micrœca assimilis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p.
172.
All the upper surface brown, primaries dark brown; tail brownish black;
the tips and the terminal half of the external margins of the two outer
feathers white; the three next on each side also tipped with white, the
extent of the white becoming less upon each feather as they approach the
centre of the tail; the four middle feathers without the white tip;
throat, centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts white, passing into
pale brown on the sides of the chest and flanks; irides reddish brown;
bill and feet blackish brown.
Total length, 4⅝ inches; _bill_, 9/16; _wings_, 3⅜; _tail_, 2⅛; _tarsi_,
9/16.
Inhabits Western Australia; and is so nearly allied to the _Micrœca
macroptera_, from which it only differs in being much less in size and
in having the base of the outer tail-feather brown, that I have not
considered it necessary to figure it.
143. Micrœca flavigaster Vol. II. Pl. 94.
Genus MONARCHA, _Vig. & Horsf._
Several species of this genus occur in the Indian Islands and two in
Australia. They are insectivorous birds, and procure their food by
quietly hopping about among the branches of the trees.
144. Monarcha carinata Vol. II. Pl. 95.
145. Monarcha trivirgata Vol. II. Pl. 96.
Genus GERYGONE, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
_Bill_ shorter than the head, swollen, notched at the tip; commissure
straight; _nostrils_ basal, lateral, oval; _rictus_ beset with two or
three extremely fine and weak bristles; _wings_ moderately long, first
quill almost spurious, second long, third, fourth and fifth equal and
longest; _tail_ rather short and square; _tarsi_ entire, slender,
moderately long; _toes_ extremely short and small, the lateral toes
even, and united to the middle one nearly to the first joint; _claws_
much curved.
The term _Psilopus_ was originally proposed by me for this genus, but
that name having been previously employed, _Gerygone_ was substituted
for it.
A group inhabiting every part of Australia, and probably New Guinea and
Polynesia. Their chief food consists of insects of the most diminutive
size, such as aphides, gnats and mosquitos. The more thickly-billed
species may probably feed upon larger insects and their larvæ. They
mostly frequent the thick umbrageous woods, where they dart about for
insects under the canopy of the dense foliage, or sally forth into the
open glade like true Flycatchers. Their nests are of a domed form, with
the entrance near the top, some species protecting the opening by
constructing a projection above it like the eaves of a house; the eggs
are generally four in number, and spotted with red like those of the
_Maluri_ and _Pari_.
146. Gerygone albogularis, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 97.
_Psilopus olivaceus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p.
147, Young.
147. Gerygone fusca, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 98.
148. Gerygone culicivorus, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 99.
149. Gerygone magnirostris, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 100.
150. Gerygone lævigaster, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 101.
151. Gerygone chloronotus, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 102.
Genus SMICRORNIS, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
_Bill_ very small and short, swollen at the sides; _nostrils_ basal,
oblong and protected by an operculum; at the base of the bill a few fine
hairs; _wings_ moderately long, first quill very short; the first,
third, fourth and fifth equal and the longest; _tail_ short and square;
tarsi moderate; _toes_ rather short, adapted for clinging; the hinder
and the middle toes equal in length.
The members of this genus are the smallest birds of the Australian
fauna. I have described two species, one inhabiting New South Wales and
the other Port Essington; and had I characterized the bird of this form
inhabiting Western Australia as distinct, I should most likely not have
been in error, as it is probable that when the subject has been more
fully investigated it will prove to be so.
152. Smicrornis brevirostris, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 103.
153. Smicrornis flavescens, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 104.
Family SYLVIADÆ, _Vig._
Subfamily SAXICOLINÆ, _Bonap._
Genus ERYTHRODRYAS, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
As in _Petroïca_, but with the _bill_ shorter and more flattened at the
base, where it is beset with a number of fine hairs which curve forward
and overhang the nostrils; _wings_ shorter and more rounded; first and
second primaries much shorter than the rest; the fifth the longest;
_tarsi_ shorter; _toes_ more lengthened; lateral toes nearly even;
_claws_ much sharper and more curved.
The members of the genus _Erythrodryas_ are much more delicate in
structure than the _Petroïcæ_, have their feeble bill strongly beset
with bristles, and are more arboreal in their habits; their usual places
of resort being the innermost recesses of the forest, where, in a state
of quiet seclusion, they flit about in search of insects; the true
_Petroïcæ_, on the other hand, frequent open plains, are more bold and
vigorous, and possess a structure which adapts them for the ground over
which they pass like the _Saxicolæ_.
The two species of this genus, all that are at present known, are
confined to the south-eastern portions of Australia and Van Diemen’s
Land.
154. Erythrodryas rhodinogaster Vol. II. Pl. 1.
155. Erythrodryas rosea, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 2.
Genus PETROÏCA, _Swains._
The birds I have retained in this genus might with propriety be divided
by separating the pied Robins from the red-breasted species. The dusky
Robin of Van Diemen’s Land and the white eyebrowed Robin of the
north-east coast of Australia would also constitute another group of
equal value with _Erythrodryas_, _Drymodes_ and _Eöpsaltria_.
The red-breasted _Petroïcæ_ are confined to the south-eastern portions
of Australia, Van Diemen’s Land and Norfolk Island; but I believe that
the range of the pied birds extends to New Guinea.
Each of the sections I have indicated present some difference in their
nidification and in the colouring of their eggs, which tends to confirm
the propriety of the view I have taken of the subject.
156. Petroïca multicolor Vol. II. Pl. 3.
157. Petroïca erythrogastra Vol. II. Pl. 4.
158. Petroïca Goodenovii Vol. II. Pl. 5.
159. Petroïca phœnicea, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 6.
_Muscicapa erythrogaster_, var. Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. vi. p. 217.
160. Petroïca bicolor, _Swains._ Vol. II. Pl. 7.
161. Petroïca fusca, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 8.
_Muscicapa vittata_, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de l’Astrolabe, pl. 3,
fig. 2?
162. Petroïca superciliosa, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 9.
Genus DRYMODES, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
_Bill_ straight, rather compressed on the sides near the tip, nearly as
long as the head; a slight notch at the tip; beset at the base with a
few fine bristles; _wings_ moderately long, rounded, the first quill
very short, the fifth the longest; _tail_ rather long, slightly rounded;
_tarsi_ long, slender, entire before; _toes_ moderately long, the outer
toe rather longer than the inner; the hind-toe and nail shorter than the
middle toe and nail.
The only species of this genus yet discovered ranges over the whole of
the country from Southern to Western Australia. Its form is adapted for
the ground, but it occasionally resorts to low shrubby trees.
163. Drymodes brunneopygia, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 10.
Genus EÖPSALTRIA, _Swains._
Three species of this genus are all that are yet known; two of these are
natives of Western Australia, and the third of New South Wales.
164. Eöpsaltria Australis Vol. II. Pl. 11.
_Sylvia flavigastra_, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. vii. p. 137?
165. Eöpsaltria griseogularis, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 12.
_Muscicapa Georgiana_, Quoy. et Gaim. Voy. de l’Astrolabe, pl. 3,
fig. 4?
166. Eöpsaltria leucogaster, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 13.
_Muscicapa gularis_, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de l’Astrolabe, pl. 4,
fig. 1?
Subfamily MENURINÆ, _G. R. Gray_.
Genus MENURA, _Dav._
It might have been expected that the various explorations which have of
late years been made into the previously unknown regions of Australia
would have led to the discovery of some additional species of this
genus, or of some new form more nearly allied to it than those with
which it is associated, but nothing of the kind has occurred.
167. Menura superba, _Dav._ Vol. II. Pl. 14.