525. Porphyrio melanotus, _Temm._ Vol. VI. Pl. 69.
526. Porphyrio bellus, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 70.
Genus TRIBONYX, _DuBus_.
527. Tribonyx Mortieri, _DuBus_ Vol. VI. Pl. 71.
Inhabits the southern parts of Australia and Van Diemen’s Land.
528. Tribonyx ventralis, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 72.
Inhabits the interior of Australia.
“This bird,” says Captain Sturt, “appeared suddenly in South Australia
in 1840. It came from the north, fresh flights coming up and pushing on
those which had preceded them. It was moreover evident that they had
been unaccustomed to the sight of man, for they dropped in great numbers
in the streets and gardens of Adelaide and ran about like fowls. At last
they increased so much in number as to swarm on all the waters and
creeks, doing great damage to the crops in their neighbourhood. They
took the entire possession of the creek near my house, and broke down
and wholly destroyed about an acre and a quarter of wheat as if cattle
had bedded on it. They made their first appearance in November, and left
in the beginning of March, gradually retiring northwards as they had
advanced.”
Genus GALLINULA, _Briss._
The true _Gallinulæ_ are very numerous, and are found in nearly every
part of the world. Australia is inhabited by a species peculiarly its
own, distributed over all the southern parts of the continent.
529. Gallinula tenebrosa, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 73.
Nearly allied to, and a representative of, the Water-Hen of Europe,
_Gallinula chloropus_.
Genus FULICA, _Linn._
_Fulicæ_ are found in nearly every part of the great continents of
Europe, Asia, Africa and America, and one species in Australia.
530. Fulica Australis, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 74.
This bird, which is strictly confined to Australia, is rather smaller
than its European ally.
Genus PARRA, _Linn._
A tropical form, the structure of which is admirably adapted for
progression over the aquatic plants and floating leaves of the lagoons
and inland waters it frequents and over which it passes with facility;
its expansive feet, spreading over a large surface of fallen grasses and
leaves, readily sustaining it, which they would not do were they of the
ordinary form.
Species of this form are found in India, Africa and America.
531. Parra gallinacea, _Temm._ Vol. VI. Pl. 75.
Inhabits the northern parts of Australia and New Guinea.
Genus RALLUS, _Linn._
We have here again a genus of birds the range of the species of which is
most extensive, for there is no country in which one or other of them is
not to be found.
532. Rallus pectoralis, _Cuv._ Vol. VI. Pl. 76.
533. Rallus Lewinii, _Swains._ Vol. VI. Pl. 77.
Genus EULABEORNIS, _Gould_.
Generic characters.
_Bill_ longer than the head, nearly straight, but slightly curved
downwards; compressed laterally; _nostril_ long and open, situated in a
large groove which runs along the upper mandible for nearly two-thirds
of its length from the base; _wings_ rather short and feeble, very much
rounded; _tertiaries_ long, nearly reaching to the end of the wing;
_legs_ rather long, more powerful than in the genus _Rallus_; _toes_ not
so much lengthened as in that genus; _tail_ long cuneiform; the _webs_
loose and of a decomposed character.
A genus established for the reception of a singular species of Rail
inhabiting the north coast of Australia, and in which Mr. G. R. Gray has
since placed four other species from different localities.
534. Eulabeornis castaneoventris, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 78.
Genus PORZANA, _Vieill._
The _Porzanæ_ inhabit Europe, Africa, India and Australia; the four
species inhabiting the latter country are generally distributed, even
within the tropics.
535. Porzana fluminea, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 79.
536. Porzana palustris, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 80.
537. Porzana leucophrys, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 81.
538. Porzana immaculata Vol. VI. Pl. 82.
Order NATATORES, _Ill._
Upon taking a general view of the birds of this Order inhabiting Europe
and Australia, our attention cannot fail to be arrested by some
remarkable contrasts which present themselves to our notice. I allude to
the great excess in the number of species of some of the principal
groups, and the paucity of others; for instance, of the true _Anatidæ_
or Ducks, exclusive of the Mergansers, the European fauna comprises at
least forty species, while eighteen are all that are known in Australia;
of the _Laridæ_ or Gulls, exclusive of the Terns, twenty species inhabit
Europe, while three are all that are known in Australia; on the other
hand, sixteen species of Terns frequent the shores of Australia, while
only twelve resort to those of Europe; of the family _Procellaridæ_ or
Petrels, nearly forty species enliven the Australian seas, while seven
are all that are known to inhabit the seas of Europe; no Puffins or
Guillemots are found in the seas south of the Equator; while the
Penguins are unknown north of the line; and the Grebes and Cormorants
are equally numerous in both hemispheres.
Family ANATIDÆ, _Leach_.
Genus CEREOPSIS, _Lath._
But one species of this singular and strictly Australian form has yet
been discovered.
539. Cereopsis Novæ-Hollandiæ, _Lath._ Vol. VII. Pl. 1.
Genus ANSERANAS, _Less._
Like _Cereopsis_, this genus contains but a single species, which is
equally confined to Australia.
540. Anseranas melanoleuca Vol. VII. Pl. 2.
Genus BERNICLA, _Steph._
The Australian bird hitherto referred to this genus should certainly
receive a new generic appellation, since it does not agree either in
form or habits with the true _Berniclæ_.
541. Bernicla jubata Vol. VII. Pl. 3.
Genus NETTAPUS, _Brandt._
Of this beautiful genus of Pygmy Geese there are at least four species
known; one inhabiting Africa, one India, and two Australia.
542. Nettapus pulchellus, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 4.
543. Nettapus albipennis, _Gould_.
Nettapus Coromandelianus Vol. VII. Pl. 5.
I feel confident that the Australian bird which I have figured under the
name of _N. Coromandelianus_, is quite distinct from the Indian, and I
have therefore assigned it a new name.
My figures are stated to be of the natural size, but this is an error:
they are considerably smaller.
Genus CYGNUS, _Linn._
Only one species, the _C. atratus_, is, I believe, found south of the
line; for the Black-necked Swan of Chili will doubtless prove to be
generically distinct.
544. Cygnus atratus Vol. VII. Pl. 6.
This “rara avis in terris” is not only strictly confined to Australia,
but is so exclusively an inhabitant of the southern districts, that no
notice has been recorded of its having been seen in Torres’ Straits, or
on any part of the north coast.
Genus CASARCA, _Bonap._
This ornamental section of the _Anatidæ_ is not very numerous in
species.
545. Casarca Tadornoïdes Vol. VII. Pl. 7.
A beautiful representative of the _C. rutila_ of Europe.
Genus TADORNA, _Leach_.
546. Tadorna Radjah Vol. VII. Pl. 8.
An equally beautiful representative of the _T. Vulpanser_.
Genus ANAS, _Linn._
Of true Ducks three species are found in Australia.
547. Anas superciliosa, _Gmel._ Vol. VII. Pl. 9.
This bird assimilates very closely in its structure and in its economy
to the _Anas Boschas_ of Europe, but in its plumage it is very
different.
548. Anas nævosa, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 10.
A very singular Duck, perhaps more nearly allied to _Chaulelasmus_ than
to _Anas_. It is a very rare bird, and has only yet been seen on the
western and southern coasts of Australia; its true habitat is probably
the distant interior.
549. Anas punctata, _Cuv._ Vol. VII. Pl. 11.
This species has much the appearance of the Teal (genus _Querquedula_),
but in its structure is nearly allied to the true ducks (genus _Anas_),
with which I have provisionally placed it.
Genus SPATULA, _Boie_.
The great continents of America, Africa, Asia and Australia, are each
inhabited by one or more species of this restricted genus.
550. Spatula Rhynchotis Vol. VII. Pl. 12.
This bird is, I believe, restricted to Australia.
Genus MALACORHYNCHUS, _Swains._
A very delicate form, of which the single species, confined to
Australia, is the only one known.
551. Malacorhynchus membranaceus Vol. VII. Pl. 13.
Genus DENDROCYGNA, _Swains._
This form is found in India, Africa, America and Australia: the bird I
have separated into a distinct genus, under the appellation of
_Leptotarsis_, should be included in this genus, the difference which it
presents being too slight to warrant their separation.
552. Dendrocygna arcuata Vol. VII. Pl. 14.
553. Dendrocygna Eytoni.
Leptotarsis Eytoni, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 15.
“Many of the reaches,” says Captain Stokes, when speaking of the river
Adelaide of the north-western part of Australia, “swarmed with wild
fowl, consisting almost wholly of ducks, which, from a habit of perching
on the trees, have received the name of Wood Ducks. Their singularly
long legs, with the web very much arched near the toes, gives great
pliability to the foot and a power of grasping, which enables them to
perch on trees. When on the wing they make a peculiar pleasing,
whistling sound, that can be heard at a great distance, and which
changes as they alight into a sort of chatter. Their perching on trees
is performed in a very clumsy manner, swinging and pitching to and fro.
We subsequently often found them on the rivers of the north coast, but
not within some miles of their mouths or near their upper waters, from
which it would appear that they inhabit certain reaches of the rivers
only; we never found them in swamps. The farthest south they were met
with was on the Albert River, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, in lat. 18°
S., which gives them a range of six and a half degrees of latitude over
the northern part of the continent. These ducks are the _Leptotarsis
Eytoni_ of Mr. Gould.”
Genus NYROCA, _Flem._
Two species at least of this genus are known, one inhabiting Europe and
India and the other Australia: both have the irides white.
554. Nyroca Australis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 16.
Genus ERISMATURA, _Bonap._
The members of this genus, although but few in number, are found in
Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Australia.
555. Erismatura Australis Vol. VII. Pl. 17.
This species, the only one of the genus inhabiting Australia, is, I
believe, strictly confined to the western parts of the country, as
hitherto it has not been seen elsewhere.
Genus BIZIURA, _Leach_.
A genus of which only a single species is known to exist, and which is
singularly different from every other member of the family. It is
strictly Australian, and may be regarded as one of the anomalies of its
fauna.
556. Biziura lobata Vol. VII. Pl. 18.
Family LARIDÆ, _Leach_.
Genus LARUS, _Linn._
The members of this genus are distributed over the sea-shores of every
part of the globe. Only one species inhabits Australia, to which country
it is confined, and where it represents the _Larus marinus_ of Europe
and America.
557. Larus Pacificus Vol. VII. Pl. 19.
Genus XEMA, _Leach_.
A genus of Gulls, the members of which are delicate in their structure,
elegant in their appearance, and graceful in all their actions. Many
species are found in Europe and America, and others inhabit Africa; one
species only has been characterized as Australian, but I believe that
another will be found in Torres’ Straits very similar to, but much
larger than, the _X. Jamesonii_ of the southern parts of that continent.
558. Xema Jamesonii Vol. VII. Pl. 20.
Subfamily ——?
Genus LESTRIS, _Ill._
The high latitudes of both the northern and southern hemispheres are
frequented by parasitic Gulls.
One species of this form has been found in the Australian seas, and
another has been discovered within the Antarctic circle.
559. Lestris Catarractes Vol. VII. Pl. 21.
Although I have figured and described this Australian bird as identical
with the Skua Gull of Europe, it is likely that hereafter reasons may be
found for separating them.
In a letter just arrived from Mr. J. M’Gillivray, dated on board H.M.S.
Rattlesnake, Feb. 6, 1848, that gentleman says, “The _Lestris
Catarractes_ was noticed on various occasions in different parts of the
South Indian Ocean; while off the Cape of Good Hope a solitary
individual and subsequently two in company were seen. I have observed it
following and hovering over a bait towing astern, and once saw it chase
a Cape Petrel and force it to alight on the water. This bird seldom
remained with us for more than half an hour at a time, during which it
made a few circular flights about the ship.”
Subfamily STERNINÆ, _Bonap._
The members of this family inhabiting Australia and Europe are nearly
equal in number, and in each country examples of the same forms are
found to exist; the Australian fauna has also a _Gygis_ and an
_Onychoprion_ neither of which inhabit the European seas, and four
species of _Anoüs_, of which only one frequents the northern hemisphere.
Genus SYLOCHELIDON, _Brehm_.
560. Sylochelidon strenuus Vol. VII. Pl. 22.
A representative of the _S. Caspius_ of Europe.
Genus THALASSEUS, _Boie_.
The members of this genus, the type of which is the _T. Cantiacus_ of
the British Islands, are widely dispersed over most parts of the Old
World, and three distinct species inhabit Australia.
561. Thalasseus Pelecanoïdes Vol. VII. Pl. 23.
562. Thalasseus poliocercus, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 24.
563. Thalasseus Torresii, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 25.
Since my account of this species was printed I have seen adult specimens
from Southern India, which country is in all probability its true
habitat.
Genus STERNA, _Linn._
The members of this genus, as now restricted, enjoy so wide a range over
the globe, that they may be said to be universally dispersed: three
species are found in Australia.
564. Sterna melanorhyncha, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 26.
565. Sterna gracilis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 27.
566. Sterna melanauchen, _Temm._ Vol. VII. Pl. 28.
“This beautiful bird,” says Mr. M’Gillivray, “is very local in its
breeding-places, the only one known to me being one of the ‘three
sand-banks’ near Sir Charles Hardy’s Islands. The eggs are two in
number, deposited in a slight hollow in the sand. I have seen this bird
on another neighbouring sand-bank, also on Solitary Island, near Cape
York, and in Endeavour Straits, but was unable to procure a specimen
from any of the three last-mentioned localities, on account of its
excessive shyness. It is one of the most noisy of the Terns, and I
generally saw it in small parties of half-a-dozen, or thereabouts. The
fully-fledged young of the year differs from the adult in having the
black on the head dark brown mottled with white, and the whole of the
upper surface and wings variegated with dark brownish grey.”
Genus STERNULA, _Boie_.
Europe and Australia are both tenanted by little Terns, the specific
distinctness of which cannot be questioned, however much that of the
large Terns (genus _Sylochelidon_) may be: ought we not then to infer
that some peculiar law prevails, and that if one be distinct the other
is also? However that may be, it is certain that birds regarded as
identically the same, because no external difference is perceptible,
breed at opposite seasons in the two hemispheres, and that if the birds
of one hemisphere be brought and retained in the other, they continue to
moult their feathers and to breed at the same period that they would
have done had they remained in their native country.
567. Sternula Nereis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 29.
Genus GELOCHELIDON, _Brehm_.
It would be strange if this form did not exist in Australia, when all
the other European genera of Terns are found there; still I have no
other evidence of such being the case, than that of a specimen in the
collection of King’s College, London, which is said to be from Van
Diemen’s Land, and to which in the year 1837 I gave the name of _Sterna
macrotarsa_.
568. Gelochelidon macrotarsus, _Gould_.
_Sterna macrotarsa_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 26;
and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part II.
Crown of the head and back of the neck black; all the upper surface and
primaries light silvery-grey; remainder of the plumage white; bill and
feet black.
As I did not meet with this bird myself either in Van Diemen’s Land or
in any other of the Australian regions, I have not figured it.
Genus GYGIS, _Wagl._
One species of this Polynesian genus of Terns is found in Australia.
569. Gygis candida Vol. VII. Pl. 30.
Genus HYDROCHELIDON, _Boie_.
The value of minor genera or subgenera, as naturalists may choose to
designate them, is much strengthened, when species, which have been
assigned to either of them from countries so distant from each other as
Australia and Europe, are found to possess similar habits, but differing
from those of the other members of the family. Thus the members of the
present little group inhabit the inland waters and marshes of both
countries; make their nests among the rushes, and lay thickly-marked
eggs, in both of which particulars they differ from the other Terns; the
generality of which deposit their eggs on the shingles of the sea-shore,
while others, the _Gygis candida_ for instance, lay their single egg on
the horizontal branch of a tree, so totally unprotected, that how it is
retained in its position during windy weather is a perfect mystery;
others again, such as the Noddies, bring together large masses of
sea-weed, which they either pile upon the swinging branch of a Mangrove
or on the jutting point of a rock. All these facts should be studied by
ornithologists before they discard subgenera proposed by their
fellow-labourers, and replace the species they may have so divided in
the genera of the older writers, who must necessarily have known less of
the subject; for wherever a difference occurs in the habits of the
members of any great family a variation more or less marked will be
found in their structure. So far as my own observations go, and they
have not been few, if I have read the great book of nature aright, the
genera, instead of being reduced, might with propriety be multiplied
without the risk of our being burthened with a genus for every species,
as some writers affect to fear would then be the case.
570. Hydrochelidon fluviatilis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 31.
A fine marsh Tern differing from its European prototypes _H. nigra_, _H.
leucoptera_ and _H. leucopareia_.
Genus ONYCHOPRION, _Wagl._
Of this form two species frequent the Australian seas.
571. Onychoprion fuliginosus Vol. VII. Pl. 32.
Although I have figured one of the two Australian birds of this genus
under the above appellation, rather than run the risk of unnecessarily
adding to the number of species, I have no doubt it will prove to be
distinct from the American bird.
“Found breeding in prodigious numbers on Raine’s Islet and Bramble Key
in May and June, associated with Noddies (_Anoüs stolidus_). The Sooty
Tern deposits its solitary egg in a slight excavation in the sand
without lining of any kind. The egg varies considerably in its markings.
After the party employed in building the beacon on Raine’s Islet had
been on shore about ten days, and the Terns had had their nests robbed
repeatedly, the birds collected into two or three large flocks and laid
their eggs in company, shifting their quarters repeatedly on finding
themselves continually molested; for new-laid eggs were much in request
among people who had for some time been living upon ship’s fare. By
sitting down and keeping quiet I have seen the poor birds dropping their
eggs within two yards of where I sat, apparently glad to get rid of
their burthen at all hazards. During the month of June 1844 about 1500
dozen of eggs were procured by the party upon the Island. About the 20th
of June nearly one half of the young birds (hatched twenty-five or
thirty days previously) were able to fly, and many were quite strong
upon the wing. Great numbers of young birds unable to fly were killed
for the pot;—in one mess of twenty-two men the average number consumed
daily in June was fifty, and supposing the convicts (twenty in number)
to have consumed as many, 3000 young birds must have been killed in one
month; yet I could observe no sensible diminution of the number of
young, a circumstance which will give the reader some idea of the vast
numbers of birds of this species congregated on a mere vegetated
sand-bank like Raine’s Islet.”—_J. M’Gillivray._
572. Onychoprion Panaya Vol. VII. Pl. 33.
Genus ANOÜS, _Leach_.
Unlike other Terns which frequent the sea-shores and rivers, the Noddies
inhabit the wide ocean, far remote from land, and which, like the
Petrels, they seldom quit, except at the breeding season, when they
congregate in vast multitudes on small islands suited to the purpose.
Great nurseries of this kind are to be found in every ocean; in the
North Atlantic, one of the Tortugas, called Noddy Key, is a favourite
resort, and the Bahama Islands are another; in the South Pacific and
Indian Oceans, beside other situations, the Houtmann’s Abrolhos, off the
western coast of Australia, are resorted to in such immense numbers that
Mr. Gilbert was perfectly astonished at the multitudes with which he
found himself surrounded, upon landing on those remote and
little-explored islands.
573. Anoüs stolidus Vol. VII. Pl. 34.
“The large Noddy,” says Mr. M’Gillivray, “is abundantly distributed over
Torres’ Straits, but I never met with it to the southward of Raine’s
Islet, on which, as at Bramble Key, it was found breeding in prodigious
numbers. Unlike its constant associate, the Sooty Tern, it constructs a
shallow nest of small twigs arranged in a slovenly manner, over which
are strewed about a handful of fragments of coral from the beach,
shells, and occasionally portions of tortoise-shell and bones of turtle.
The nest is sometimes placed upon the ground, but more usually upon
tufts of grass and other herbage, at about a foot from the ground.”
574. Anoüs melanops, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 35.
575. Anoüs leucocapillus, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 36.
576. Anoüs cinereus, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 37.
Family PROCELLARIDÆ, _Bonap._
There is perhaps no group of birds respecting which so much confusion
exists and the extent of whose range over the ocean is so little known,
as that forming the present family.
Having, as I have before stated, paid much attention to these birds
during my voyages to and from Australia and in its neighbourhood, my
researches were rewarded by my obtaining a knowledge of at least forty
different species, nearly all of which are peculiar to the seas of the
southern hemisphere. The powers of flight with which these birds are
endowed are perfectly astonishing: they appear to be constantly
performing migrations round the globe from west to east; and Australia
lying in their tract, all the species may be found near its shores at
one or other season of the year.
It is but natural to suppose that this great group of birds has been
created for some especial purpose, and may we not infer that they have
been placed in the Southern Ocean to prevent an undue increase of the
myriads of mollusks and other low marine animals with which those seas
abound, and upon which all the _Procellaridæ_ mainly subsist?
Genus DIOMEDEA, _Linn._
Of this genus, which comprises among its members the largest of the
Oceanic birds, three species range over the North Pacific Ocean; and six
others the seas southward of the equator.
577. Diomedea exulans, _Linn._ Vol. VII. Pl. 38.
The weight of this species varies from seventeen to twenty pounds, and
the expanse of its extended wings averages the enormous breadth of 11
feet.
578. Diomedea brachyura, _Temm._ Vol. VII. Pl. 39.
579. Diomedea cauta, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 40.
580. Diomedea culminata, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 41.
581. Diomedea chlororhynchos, _Lath._ Vol. VII. Pl. 42.
582. Diomedea melanophrys, _Temm._ Vol. VII. Pl. 43.
583. Diomedea fuliginosa Vol. VII. Pl. 44.
584. Diomedea gibbosa, _Gould_.
_Diomedea gibbosa_, Gould in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol.
xiii. p. 361.