_A. pyrrhopygia_, N.S.W., V., S.A. (interior).
Stat. v.r. _mallee_, _scrubs_ 4
Upper pale olive-brown; forehead blackish-brown, feathers
tipped white; throat, chest mottled gray, white; abdomen
whitish; upper base tail rufous; tail olive, black band, white
tip; f., sim. Insects.
=291* Striated Tit-Warbler=, Striped Tit, Striped-crowned
Thornbill, _A. lineata_, E.A., S.A.
Stat. c. _timber_ 3.7
Throat, chest whitish streaked black; head brown streaked
whitish; back olive-brown; flanks, abdomen yellowish; tail
black band; f., sim. Insects. Songster.
=292 Chestnut-rumped Tit-Warbler= (Thornbill), _A.
uropygialis_, A. exc. C.A., N. Ter.
Stat. r. _scrubs_, _forests_ 3.6
Upper brown; upper base tail rich reddish-chestnut; tail
brownish-black tipped white; under whitish; f., sim.
=293* Yellow-tailed Tit-Warbler=, Yellow-rumped Thornbill
(-Tit), Yellow-tail, Geobasileus, _A. chrysorrhoa_, E.A.,
S.A., W.A., T.
Stat. v.c. _gardens_, _timber_ 3.8
Upper olive-brown; base tail bright-yellow; under
yellowish-white; forehead black spotted white; cheeks, throat,
line over eye grayish-white; f., sim. Insects. Singer.
=294 Buff-tailed Tit-Warbler=, Buff-rumped Thornbill (Tit),
_A. reguloides_, E.A., S.A.
Stat. c. _open timber_ 4.3
Upper olive-brown; upper base tail pale yellow; throat, chest
white slightly marked brown; forehead feathers tipped lighter;
f., sim. Insects. Song.
10
16
=295 Redthroat=, Red-throated Scrub-Wren, _Sericornis
brunnea_, N.S.W., V., S., C., W.A.
Stat. v.r. _scrubs_ 4.5
Upper dark-brown; tail brownish-black tipped white; throat
rufous; under brownish-gray; f., sim. Insects. "Fine song
equal to that of any small bird."
[Page 144]
[Illustration: [296] [297] [298] [299] [300] [301]]
=296 Yellow-throated Scrub-Wren=, Devil Bird, _S. barbata_,
E.Q., E.N.S.W., E.V.
Stat. r. _coastal scrubs_ 5.5
Crown, upper brown tinged yellow; side of face, round eye,
ear black; white line over eye; throat yellow; chest, flanks
olive-brown; centre abdomen white; f., smaller; duller.
Insects. Pleasing rich note.
=297* White-browed Scrub-Wren= (White-fronted), _S.
frontalis_, E.A., S.A., Kent Group.
Stat. c. _undergrowth_ 4.5
Upper dark-brown; throat white streaked dusky; brow white;
chest, abdomen light-yellow; flanks olive-brown; small
distinct white marks on shoulder; f., duller, throat not
streaked. Insects. Inward warble.
=298 Large-billed Scrub-Wren=, _S. magnirostris_, E.A.
Stat. v.r. _tree-tops_, _coast_, _gully scrubs_ 4.7
Brown; rump rufous; about bill tawny; eye, long bill black;
legs flesh-color; f., sim. Insects.
=299 Spotted Scrub-Wren= (Striated), _S. maculata_, V., S.A.,
Kangaroo Is., W.A.
Stat. v.r. _scrubby_ 4.5
Upper brown; tail black band tipped white; forehead, side of
face black; stripe above, very small patch below eye, marks
on edge of wing white; under grayish-white, sometimes washed
yellow; throat, chest grayish-white spotted (striated) black;
f., duller. Insects.
23
23
=300* Superb-Warbler=, Blue-Wren (-Bonnet, -Tit, -Cap, -Head),
Mormon-Wren, Cocktail, _Malurus cyanochlamys_, E.A., S.A.,
Kangaroo Is.
Stat. v.c. _gardens_ 5
Crown, behind ear, upper-back enamel-blue; throat, chest,
hind-neck, lower-back black; tail deep-blue; f.,* brown; round
eye reddish-brown; under lighter; bill reddish-brown. Insects.
"Animated song." "Lovely bird."
=301 Black-backed Superb-Warbler= (Wren), _M. melanonotus_,
E.A., C.S.A. (inland).
Stat. r. _scrubs_ 4.7
Crown, under, upper-back, upper and under base tail beautiful
metallic blue; behind ear verditer-blue; side of face, band
on back, faint band across chest black; wing green; tail
greenish-blue; f., side of face, round eye reddish-brown;
upper brown; under whitish; wings brown; tail green. Insects.
[Page 145]
[Illustration: [302] [303] [304] [305] [306] [307]]
=302* White-winged Superb-Warbler= (Wren), _M. cyanotus
(leucopterus)_, A. (exc. N. Ter.).
r. _saltbush_, _plains_ 4.8
Above, below deep cobalt-blue; wings white; quills brown; tail
dark-blue; f., upper brown, under white tinged brown. Insects.
=303 Purple-backed Superb Warbler= (Wren), _M. assimilis_, A.
Stat. v.r. _scrubs_ 5
Crown, side of head, back purplish-blue; throat, chest, band
on upper back, rump black; chestnut-red patch inner wing; rest
wing brown; abdomen white; tail dark-blue tipped white;
f., brown; about eye rich chestnut; under whitish; tail
greenish-blue. Insects.
4
4
=304* Emu-Wren=, Stick-tail, _Stipiturus malachurus_, S.A.,
E.A., W.A., f., throat brown. Insects.
Stat. c. _tussocks_ 7
Upper brown streaked rufous; tail feathers long loosely
webbed, erect; throat blue; abdomen brown; runs.
=305 Mallee Emu-Wren=, _S. mallee_, N.W.V.
Stat. v.r. _Spinifex (Triodia)_ 5
Like 304, but forehead chestnut; throat, chest light
purplish-blue; abdomen grayish-brown.
4
4
=306* Bristle-Bird=, _Sphenura brachyptera_, N.S.W., E.V.,
Insects. Rich, varied notes.
Stat. v.r. _undergrowth_ 8.8
Brown; throat, centre-breast lighter; shy; runs; f., sim.
=307 Rufous Bristle-Bird= (Rufous-headed), _S. broadbenti_,
W.V., S.A. (Otway Ranges to Mt. Lofty).
Stat. v.r. _dense scrub_ 10.5
Rufous-brown; f., sim. Insects.
[Page 146]
[Illustration: [308] [309] [310] [311] [312] [313]]
10
10
=308 Grass-Wren=, _Amytornis textilis_, V., C.A., W.A.
Stat. v.r. _plains_, _dense scrubs_ 6.2
Upper dark-brown striped white; under paler; flanks rust-red;
seldom flies; progresses like a rubber ball; tail erect; f.,
sim. Insects.
=309 Striated Grass-Wren= (Black-cheeked), _A. striatus_,
N.S.W., V., C.A., W.A.
Stat. v.r. _dense scrubs_ 6.8
Like 308, but black stripe on cheek; plumage strongly rufous;
runs, seldom flies; f., sim. Insects.
[Page 147]
F. 128. _Vireonidae_, Vireos, Greenlets, 112 sp.--24(7)Nc.,
105(88)Nl.
F. 129. _Ampelidae_, Waxwings, Cedar-Bird, 10 sp.--1(0)O.,
2(0)P., 3(0)Nc., 7(5)Nl.
F. 130. ARTAMIDAE (12), WOOD-SWALLOWS, Swallow-Shrikes, 17
sp.--15(14)A., 2(1)O., 1(1)E.
9
16
=310 White-rumped Wood-Swallow= (Swallow-Shrike), _Artamus
leucogaster_, Andaman Is., Mal. Arch., Papuan Is., A.
Mig. r. _timber_ 7.4
Head, neck grayish-black; back brown; tail, wing-quills black;
rump, breast, abdomen white; f., sim. Insects. Plaintive note.
=311* White-browed Wood-Swallow=, Summer-Bird, Martin (e), _A.
superciliosus_, E.A., S.A., N.W.A.
Mig. v.c. _timber_ 8
Slaty-gray; white eyebrow; abdomen rich chestnut; tail tipped
white; f., faint white eyebrow. Insects, honey. "Sweet, clear
whistling note."
=312* Masked Wood-Swallow=, Bush (Blue) Martin (e), _A.
personatus_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A., N.W.A.
Mig. c. _timber_ 8
Dark-gray upper; pure white edge to jet-black throat patch;
under gray; tail tipped white; f., duller. Insects.
=313* Wood-Swallow= (Sordid, Dusky), Jacky-Martin, Martin (e),
_A. tenebrosus_, A., T., Bass St. Is.
Part-Mig. v.c. _timber_ 7.3
Smoky vinous-gray; wing-quills black; white line in edge of
wing; tail tipped white; bill blue tipped black; f., sim.
Insects.
F. 131. _Vangidae_, 12 sp. E. (Madagascar).
====
Order XXI. (continued)
Family 132--Wood-Shrikes--contains two of the best known of Australian
birds, for they are to be found about almost every town and city, as
well as in the country. The well-known Magpie-Lark has but one close
cousin in the world, a New Guinea bird. Its mud nest is familiar to
country boys. It is notable that, excepting Swallows, only two other
Australian birds build a mud nest. These birds, the Apostle-Bird and
the White-winged Chough, are mentioned later. Its dainty, well-kept
plumage renders the Magpie-Lark one of the most graceful of birds. Its
flight is "unlike that of any bird known to me." (Gould.) "It flies in
a straight line, with a heavy, flapping motion of the wings." Its
loud call is responsible for the name of Pee-wee, a common name for
a European Plover; its black and white coloring for the vernacular
name--Magpie-Lark.
This bird is of great value, as it consumes large quantities of pond
snails, the necessary host of the early stages of the liver fluke.
Exterminate the pond snails, and immediately the liver fluke is
completely destroyed, and all future loss from its ravages is saved
to the pastoralists. In 1846, fluke caused a loss of L10,000,000
in England alone, so it is a serious pest, and may yet prove a very
expensive one to Australia.
This bird's scientific position is disputed. It has been classed with
Crows and with Thrushes. Gould placed it by itself. Dr. Sharpe has,
however, placed it in the family _Prionopidae_. Its vocal organs are
anomalous, and it may be that its position is not finally settled yet.
Placed by Sharpe in the same family are the Shrike-Thrushes, strictly
Australian birds. The glorious "powerful swelling notes" of our common
bird caused Latham to bestow the well-deserved name _harmonica_ on it.
Yet there are some who talk of Australia as a land of songless birds.
This falsehood seems to have had its origin in a note written by
Caley, who, about 1825, collected near Sydney, for the Linnean Society
of London. As quoted by North, he said, "They (Superb-Warblers) are
good songsters, and, I may say, almost the only ones in the colony."
Fortunately, the Harmonious Shrike-Thrush is becoming common and tame
about school grounds and most towns. It is occasionally to be heard in
the Melbourne Botanic Gardens.
Family 134 contains the famous Shrikes, those birds which are said
to keep a butcher's shop. Not being "birds of prey," they do not hold
their prey in their feet, so they fasten it in the fork of a tree, or
on a thorn. Then they proceed to eat it, or leave it until they are
hungry. Our Shrike or Butcher-Bird has the same habit.
The Australian Butcher-Bird has a rich, mellow, flute-like note, which
is more frequently heard in autumn. Some consider his one of the best
of bird-notes. His strongly-hooked bill renders him a terror to small
birds, including caged Canaries.
That glorious songster, the Australian Magpie, is placed in this
family. These Australian songsters are now divided into five
closely-similar species, all possessing the same rich carol. The
Tasmanian bird was formerly called the "Organ-Bird." This Australian
musician is responsible for the European epigram of "white Crows that
sing." These birds are not Crows, nor are they white, but they _sing_,
so that Alfred Russel Wallace has declared that no European songbird
can equal them. Gould found it impossible to describe their "carol,"
and regretted that "his readers could not," as he had done, "listen to
the birds in their native wilds." Their early morning carol lives
in the memory. The Australian Magpie is not related to the European
Magpie, which is a member of the Crow family (164), but is a glorified
Butcher-Bird. However, it would be a difficult matter to displace the
name magpie for the Australian bird.
In the same family, though in the next sub-family, are some peculiar
Australian birds. The two Shrike-Tits are found one in Eastern
Australia and the other in Western Australia. Gould said feelingly--he
was nipped by one--that "no bird of its size has stronger mandibles."
It is to be seen in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, tearing off bark as
it seeks for insects.
The Crested Bell-Bird is restricted to Australia. Being a perfect
ventriloquist, it is very difficult to locate it. Some of its
notes are bell-like, and have misled those seeking horses. I met it
frequently in the Mallee and in the Maryborough and Ararat districts.
It often hopped out on to the road on frosty mornings. It is one of
Australia's singular and interesting birds.
Those badly-named, but often attractive, songsters--the Thickheads
(now called Whistlers)--are placed next. Eighty-eight of these birds
are known from the Australian region, though but twenty occur in
Australia itself and Tasmania. On account of the difficulty of
skinning these birds, they were given the name _Pachycephala_. It is
unfortunate that the literal translation--thick head--was the name
used by bird people for these beautiful singers. It is now proposed to
change the name to Whistler. Strange to say, we have not heard a good
local name for these attractive and often gorgeous birds.
To complete this interesting sub-family, we have the Yellow-breasted
Shrike-Robin--a confiding favorite, found in most dark scrubs. Its
single, often-repeated, piping note is responsible for its name,
_Eopsaltria_, "Psalm of the Dawn." This delightful forest-dweller
frequently perches sideways on a sapling. Six kinds are known from
Australia, and two more from adjacent islands.
(continued below)
====
[Page 148]
[Illustration: [314] [314^A] [315] [316] [317] [318] [319]]
F. 132. PRIONOPIDAE (11), WOOD-SHRIKES, 95 sp.--55(55)A.,
15(15)O., 25(25)E.
1
2
=314 Magpie-Lark=, Murray (Little) Magpie (e), Mudlark (e),
Soldiers, Peewee (e), Peewit (e), Pugwall, _Grallina picata_,
A., T. (acc).
Stat. v.c. (near water) _open_, _timber_ 10.5
Black and white; slender stilt-like legs; throat white (f.),
black (m.); mud nest. Insects, pond-snails. "Pee-wee."
[Page 149]
10
10
=315* Gray Shrike-Thrush= (Harmonious), Gray (Native) Thrush,
Pluff, Mourner, _Colluricincla harmonica_, E.A., S.A.
Stat. c. _timber_ 9.5
Gray; back umber-brown; face whitish; under lighter: f.,
throat streaked dusky. Insects. Powerful swelling harmonious
note.
F. 133. _Aerocharidae_, 1 sp. E. (Madagascar).
F. 134. LANIIDAE (42), SHRIKES, 313 sp.--134(132)A., 36(22)O.,
33(10)P., 140(127)E., 6(6)Nc., 1(1)Nl.
5
5
=316 Black-backed Magpie=, Piping Crow-Shrike (Varied), Organ
(Flute) Bird, Singing White Crow (e), _Gymnorhina tibicen_,
E.A., S.A., W.A.
Stat, v.c. _open_ 17
Black; hind-neck, upper under base tail, patch on wing white;
f., grayish instead of white. Insects. "To describe the
note of this bird is beyond the power of my pen." (Gould.)
"Wonderfully modulated whistle ... unequalled among European
birds." (Alfred Russel Wallace).
=317 White-backed Magpie= (Crow-Shrike), _G. leuconota_,
N.S.W., V., S.A., C.A., W.A.
Stat. v.c. _open_ 18
Upper white, except head, tip-tail, wing-quills black; under
black; f., back gray. Insects. Glorious carol, see 316.
8
11
=318 Black-throated Butcher-Bird= (Crow-Shrike), _Cracticus
nigrigularis_, A. exc. N. Ter.
Stat. v.r. _timber_ 13.5
Head, neck, chest black; hind-neck, centre-wing, rump, under
white; tail black, side tipped white; f., sim. Insects, mice.
One of the best of songsters, rich notes.
=319* Australian Butcher-Bird= (Shrike), Collared Crow-Shrike,
Derwent (Tasmanian, Whistling) Jackass, Durbaner, _C.
destructor_, E.A., S.A., W.A.
Stat. v.c. _timber_ 11.2
Head, neck black; back gray; side hind-neck, upper base tail,
patch on wing white; under grayish-white; f., duller. Insects,
mice, birds. Fine song (autumn); rich notes.
[Page 150]
[Illustration: [320] [321] [322] [323] [324]]
3
3
=320* Yellow-breasted Shrike-Tit= (Yellow-bellied, Frontal,
Crested), Falcon-Shrike, _Falcunculus frontatus_, E.A., S.A.
Stat. r. _timber_ 7.5
Upper green; crest, throat, line through eye black; patch
above eye, patch below eye white; under bright-yellow; strong
hooked bill; f., throat green. Insects. Musical notes.
1
1
=321* Crested Bell-Bird=, _Oreoica cristata_, A.
Stat. c. _timber_ 9
Upper brown; top of head black, side-head gray; white on face,
throat; black from eye to black chest band; abdomen white
tinged sandy-buff; f., duller. Caterpillars, insects. Bell
notes, ventriloquist.
20
88
=322* Golden-breasted Whistler=, White-throated Thickhead,
Thunder-Bird, Cutthroat, Coachwhip-Bird (e), _Pachycephala
pectoralis (gutturalis_), E.A.
Stat. c. _timber_ 7
Throat white; black head, band on chest; outside black band,
under golden-yellow; back olive green; f.,* brown; throat
whitish faintly streaked dusky. Caterpillars, insects. Fine
songster, many melodious calls; whip-like smack ends one of
notes.
=323* Rufous-breasted Whistler= (Thickhead), Little Thrush,
Ring Coachman, Coachwhip-Bird (e), _P. rufiventris_, E.A.,
S.A., C.A., W.A.
Stat. c. _timber_ 6.7
Upper gray; throat white; head blackish; black side of neck,
band on chest; rest under light rufous-brown; f.,* upper
brownish-gray; throat white streaked blackish-brown; rest
under buff; breast, sides streaked blackish-brown. Insects,
caterpillars, wild berries. Famous songster; whip-like smack
at end of one of its calls.
=324 Red-throated Whistler=, Gilbert Thickhead, _P. gilberti_,
N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A.
Stat. v.r. _timber_ 7.2
Dark-gray; black before eye; throat dull rust-red; under gray;
f., no black on face; throat gray. Insects. Clear whistling
note.
[Page 152]
[Illustration: [325] [326] [327] [328] [329]]
=325 Olive Whistler=, Olivaceous Thickhead, _P. olivacea_,
N.S.W., V., T., Bass St. Is.
Stat. r. _humid scrubs_ 8
Olive brown; head dark-gray; throat whitish marked brown;
faint gray band across chest; under reddish-brown; f., no band
on chest. Insects. "Liquid, whistling note."
6
8
=326* Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin=, Yellow Robin (e), Wild
Canary (e), _Eopsaltria australis_. N.S.W., V.
Stat. c. _timber_ 5.3
Dark-gray; upper base tail olive-yellow; throat grayish-white;
under bright yellow. Tame, perches on side of sapling; f.,
sim. Insects. Piping note often repeated.
====
Order XXI. (continued)
In Family 135--Titmice or Tits--Australia has but five
representatives--the peculiar Wedgebill, "Kitty-lin-tof," and the four
Australian "Whitefaces." The Whiteface is "lively, with sweet chirping
notes." Its former scientific name (_Xerophila_) means "dry lover,"
for it is found mainly in the drier parts.
The European Tits belong to this family, so it is not desirable to use
the name "Tit" for the Australian birds of the genus _Acanthiza_, for
they belong to the Warbler family (_Sylviidae_), and not to the Tit
family (_Paridae_).
The Nuthatches of the Old World and America are represented by
closely-related birds, with somewhat similar habits, in Australia.
These run spirally down a tree-trunk, searching every crack or piece
of bark. Eight of these birds occur in Australia. Latham called them
Nuthatches. It is now proposed to return to this name, as it is used
for the British, Indian, and North American birds of this family
(_Sittidae_).
The male Black-capped Nuthatch (Tree-runner) is true to name, but the
female has the head and hind-neck black, instead of a black cap only.
Nuthatches are not found in Tasmania. Possibly Bass Strait was formed
before they reached Southern Victoria. Thus bird-study supports the
geographer and ethnologist when they declare that Bass Strait is of
comparatively remote formation. As the Tasmanian blacks were ignorant
of boats, they evidently reached Tasmania before Bass Strait was
formed. They are a more primitive type than the Australian blacks, who
were improved by later influxes of more highly-developed Caucasians.
Many country dwellers will not admit that there is no Woodpecker in
Australia, but it is a fact, nevertheless. Our so-called "Woodpecker"
is the Tree-Creeper. It never chisels mortice-holes in a tree to get
out a grub, as the true Woodpecker does. These birds occur all over
the continent, and are often to be seen alighting on the side of a
tree or fence post and then running up spirally to the top. They soon
fly off to another tree, alighting lower than the place they started
from. The bright-brown band on the wing is conspicuous as they fly.
Their lively notes brighten a country drive.
The White-eye is one of a large genus, for no less than 157 species
have been accepted by Dr. Sharpe. However, one of the rarest of these
was a Victorian species. It was based on one specimen, a female, taken
at Marong, near Bendigo. It was said to be slightly different from the
common White-eye. Hence Dr. Horne, of Clifton Hill, one of our most
enthusiastic bird-lovers, created a new species, and named it in honor
of his niece, Miss Bowie, who is a favorite with all the birds in
Dr. Horne's extensive aviaries. White-eyes are found from Africa
and Madagascar to India and Japan, and from Australia out past New
Zealand.
Our common White-eye is one of the interesting birds of the world at
the present time, for it is showing that man is not the only animal
with a colonizing instinct. It was unknown in New Zealand until, in
1856, it was first recorded. The Maoris, keen Nature-students,
who have a name for every native animal and plant, called it the
"Stranger." Its presence has been accounted for by some authorities as
being due to the fierce winds that accompanied Black Thursday having
blown it over from Australia. However, not satisfied with spreading
throughout New Zealand until it is said to be the commonest bird
there, it has spread out to Chatham Island, and a flock was reported
recently a considerable distance from the coast, apparently looking
for fresh fields, or rather islands, to colonize. It is a well-known
city dweller. Though it destroys grapes and other soft fruits, it also
so completely destroys aphides that it is appropriately called the
Blight-Bird. Again, the balance is strongly in its favor, for it is
probably but taking fair toll of that which will probably not have
reached maturity but for its labors, and the laborer, even if a bird,
is worthy of his hire.
A bird's color usually affords it protection from its natural enemies.
These are mainly birds of prey flying overhead. Thus, speaking
generally, protective coloration applies only to the upper surface,
so that a white throat or under surface does not necessarily render a
bird conspicuous to its natural enemies.
Again, a bird may be very conspicuous when seen away from its natural
surroundings, but the concealment may be perfect under natural
conditions. It has been already mentioned that the gorgeous Blue
Mountain Lorikeet was very difficult to discern in its native
sugar-gums. A tiger is said to be invisible at a distance of ten yards
in a jungle; the black stripes being similar to the shadows of the
bamboos, and the light bands to the sunlight between the vegetation.
The White-eye and Tree-Creepers just noticed may be considered
protectively colored, for they are difficult to see in a tree. Still,
the brown patch on the wing of the Tree-Creeper is conspicuous as it
flies. Alfred Russel Wallace, the great evolutionist, supplied a
good explanation, when he regarded bright wing bands, white rump,
and white-tipped tail, as "warning colors." An enemy is, perchance,
perceived by a bird. This individual flies away quietly; others see
the bright wing patch disappear, and they seek shelter as quickly and
quietly as possible. This is often a great advantage, for, in many
cases, all reach safety, possibly, before the enemy has seen one of
them. If the first bird had given an alarming call, it would have
warned the enemy too.
It is noteworthy that these bright markings on the upper surface are,
usually, not visible when the bird is at rest. The white wing patch
folds in, the white rump is covered, while, in a white-tipped tail,
it is usual for the two centre feathers to be plain throughout (see
illustrations of species 313 and 329). The tail is folded, and the
white tips are covered by the two non-white centre feathers. The
introduced Indian Turtle-Dove, common about nearly every city in
Australia, shows the spread-out, white-tipped tail splendidly when
flying. The bird itself is barely visible if it settles in the shade
or on the soil. The Indian Myna, a city bird, has both white wing-patch
and white-tipped tail.
This explanation is also applied to other wild animals; thus many Deer
have the white patch on the hind quarters. Other Deer, seeing this
warning signal displayed in flight, immediately make for safety.
Similarly, Wallace has explained the white tail of a Rabbit.