_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PTILONORHYNCHUS SMITHII, _Vig. & Horsf._
Cat Bird.
_Varied Roller_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iii. p. 86.
_Ptilonorhynchus Smithii_, Lath. MSS. Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans.,
vol. xv. p. 264.
—— _viridis_, Wagl. Syst. Av., sp. 3.
_Kitta virescens_, Temm. Pl. Col., 396.
_Cat Bird_ of the Colonists of New South Wales.
So far as our knowledge extends, this fine species is only found in New
South Wales, where it inhabits all those luxuriant forests that extend
along the eastern coast between the mountain ranges and the sea; those
of Illawarra, the Hunter, the MacLeay, and the Clarence and the cedar
brushes of the Liverpool range being, among many others, localities in
which it may always be found: situations suitable to the Regent and
Satin Birds are equally adapted to the habits of the Cat Bird, and I
have not unfrequently seen them all three feeding together on the same
tree, when the branches bore a thick crop of berries and fruits. The
wild fig, and the native cherry, when in season, afford it an abundant
supply. So rarely do they take insects, that I do not recollect ever
finding any remains in the stomachs of those specimens I dissected. In
its disposition it is neither a shy nor a wary bird, little caution
being required to approach it, either when feeding or while quietly
perched upon the lofty branches of the trees. It is at such times that
its loud, harsh and extraordinary note is heard; a note which differs so
much from that of all other birds, that having been once heard it can
never be mistaken. In comparing it to the nightly concerts of the
domestic cat, I conceive that I am conveying to my readers a more
perfect idea of the note of this species than could be given by pages of
description. This concert, like that of the animal whose name it bears,
is performed either by a pair or several individuals, and nothing more
is required than for the hearer to shut his eyes from the neighbouring
foliage to fancy himself surrounded by London grimalkins of house-top
celebrity.
While in the district in which this bird is found, my almost undivided
attention was directed to the acquisition of all the information I could
obtain respecting its habits, as I considered it very probable that it
might construct a bower similar to that of the Satin Bird; but I could
not satisfy myself that it does, nor could I discover its nest, or the
situation in which it breeds; it is doubtless, however, among the
branches of the trees of the forest in which it lives. It certainly is
not a migratory bird, although it may range from one portion of the
brushes to another, according as the supply of food may be more or less
abundant.
The sexes do not offer the slightest difference in plumage, or any
external character by which the male may be distinguished from the
female; she is, however, rather less brilliant in her markings, and
somewhat smaller in size.
Head and back of the neck olive-green, with a narrow line of white down
each of the feathers of the latter; back, wings and tail grass-green,
with a tinge of blue on the margins of the back-feathers; the
wing-coverts and secondaries with a spot of white at the extremity of
their outer web; primaries black, their external webs grass-green at the
base and bluish green for the remainder of their length; all but the two
central tail-feathers tipped with white; all the under surface yellowish
green, with a spatulate mark of yellowish white down the centre of each
feather; bill light horn-colour; irides brownish red; feet whitish.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
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