_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ZANTHOMYZA PHRYGIA, _Swains._
Warty-faced Honey-eater.
_Merops Phrygius_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xxxiv.—Shaw, Zool. of New
Holl., p. 13. pl. 4,—Vieill. 2nde édit. du Nouv. d’Hist.
Nat., tom. xxvii. p. 428.
_Philedon_, Temm. Men., 2nde édit., tom. i. p. lxxxvii.
_Warty-faced Honey-eater_, Lewin, Birds of New Holl., pl. 14.
_Black and Yellow Bee-eater_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 154.
_Black and Yellow Honey-eater_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 165.
_Embroidered Bee-eater_, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 167. pl. 20.
_Philemon Phrygius_, Vieill. Ency. Méth., Part II. p. 617.
_Le Merle écaillé_, Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr., tom. iii. pl. 116.
_Meliphaga Phrygia_, Lewin, Birds of New Holl., p. 13. pl. 4.—G. R.
Gray, Gen. of Birds, 2nd Edit., p. 20.
_Anthochæra Phrygia_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
322.
_Zanthomiza Phrygia_, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 326.
_Mock Regent Bird_, Colonists of New South Wales.
This is not only one of the handsomest of the Honey-eaters, but is also
one of the most beautiful birds inhabiting Australia, the strongly
contrasted tints of its black and yellow plumage rendering it a most
conspicuous and pleasing object, particularly during flight. It is a
stationary species, and enjoys a range extending from South Australia to
New South Wales; I also met with it in the interior nearly as far north
as the latitude of Moreton Bay. Although it is very generally
distributed, its presence appears to be dependent upon the state of the
_Eucalypti_, upon whose blossoms it mainly depends for subsistence; it
is consequently only to be found in any particular locality during the
season that those trees are in full bloom. It generally resorts to the
loftiest and most fully-flowered tree, where it frequently reigns
supreme, buffeting and driving every other bird away from its immediate
neighbourhood; it is, in fact, the most pugnacious bird I ever saw,
evincing particular hostility to the smaller _Meliphagidæ_, and even to
others of its own species that may venture to approach the trees upon
which two or three have taken their station. While at Adelaide in South
Australia I observed two pairs that had possessed themselves of one of
the high trees that had been left standing in the middle of the city,
which tree during the whole period of my stay they kept sole possession
of, sallying forth and beating off every bird that came near. I met with
it in great abundance among the brushes of New South Wales, and also
found it breeding in the low apple-tree flats of the Upper Hunter. I
have occasionally seen flocks of from fifty to a hundred in number,
passing from tree to tree as if engaged in a partial migration from one
part of the country to another, probably in search of a more abundant
supply of food.
Its note is a peculiar loud whistle, not entirely devoid of harmony.
The nest, which is usually constructed on the overhanging branch of a
_Eucalyptus_, is round, cup-shaped, about five inches in diameter,
composed of fine grasses, and lined with a little wool and hair. The
eggs are two in number, of a deep yellowish buff, marked all over with
indistinct spots and irregular blotches of chestnut-red and dull
purplish grey, particularly at the larger end, where they frequently
form a zone; they are eleven lines long by eight lines and a half broad.
The stomachs and intestines of those specimens that I killed and
dissected among the brushes of the Hunter were entirely filled with
liquid honey only; insects, however, doubtless form a considerable
portion of their diet.
The sexes are nearly alike in colouring, but the female is much smaller
than the male, and the young are destitute of the warty excrescences on
the face, that part being partially clothed with feathers.
Head, neck, upper part of the back, chin and chest black; scapularies
black, broadly margined with pale yellow; lower part of the back black,
margined with yellowish white; upper tail-coverts like the scapularies;
wings black, the coverts margined with yellow; spurious wing yellow;
primaries black, with an oblong stripe of yellow occupying the margin of
the outer and a portion of the inner web next the quill, which is black;
secondaries black, broadly margined on the outer web with yellow; under
surface black, with an arrow-shaped mark of yellowish white near the
extremity of each feather; two centre tail-feathers black, slightly
tipped with yellow; the remainder black at the base, and yellow for the
remainder of their length, the black decreasing and the yellow
increasing as the feathers recede from the two central ones; irides
reddish brown; bill black; feet blackish brown; warty excrescences
covering the face dirty yellowish white.
The figures represent two males, a female, and the nest of the natural
size.
[Illustration:
MELICOPHILA PICATA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
MELICOPHILA PICATA, _Gould_.
Pied Honey-eater.
_Melicophila picata_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., April 9, 1844.
The accompanying illustration represents an entirely new species of
Honey-eater, differing both in form and in colouring from every other at
present known; in the pied style of its plumage it so strongly resembles
the _Petroica bicolor_, that it might be easily mistaken for that bird;
its structural difference is, however, so apparent on comparison that no
doubt can for a moment be entertained as to its proper situation in the
‘Systema Avium.’ Its flight is also very different from that of the
_Petroica bicolor_. Like many other of the Honey-eaters, its actions
when on the wing are extremely varied, and some of them exceedingly
graceful; it frequently ascends in a perpendicular direction to a
considerable height above the trees with its tail very much spread, when
the contrast presented by its black and white plumage renders it a
conspicuous and pleasing object. It is at all times exceedingly shy, and
invariably perches on the top of an isolated bush or dead branch. It
usually utters a peculiar plaintive note, slowly repeated several times
in succession; it also emits a single note, which so closely resembles
that of the _Myzomela nigra_, as to be easily mistaken for it. It is at
all times extremely difficult of approach, particularly the female,
which, if possible, is even more shy and wary than her mate. Mr. Gilbert
mentions, that unlike the other members of the family, this species
assembles in vast flocks, which continue soaring about during the
greater portion of the day. It is a periodical visitant to Western
Australia, where it arrives simultaneously with the _Artamus personatus_
and _Melopsittacus undulatus_ in the latter part of October.
Specimens of this bird have been forwarded to me from South Australia by
my excellent friend George Grey, Esq., Governor of that province, and
from Swan River by Mr. Gilbert; they reached me simultaneously, the
latter fortunately in good order, the former sadly mutilated “by a cat,”
writes His Excellency, “which got into the room and ate the heads off
the male and female of this entirely new bird, of which I have no other,
and which I had ridden fifty miles to procure.” One of Mr. Gilbert’s
specimens had been given to him by Mr. Lock Burgess, to which gentleman
I am also indebted for several other rare species kindly presented by
him to Mr. Gilbert for me, whereby the interest and value of this work
is much enhanced.
I regret to say that nothing more than is stated above is present at
known respecting it.
The male has the head, throat, sides of the chest, back, wings, inner
webs of the upper tail-coverts, two centre and the tips of the remaining
tail-feathers black; the wing-coverts, the base and the margins of both
webs of the secondaries, the rump, outer webs of the upper tail-coverts,
the under surface and the lateral tail-feathers for three-fourths of
their length pure white; irides reddish brown; bill bluish grey,
becoming black on the culmen near the tip; naked skin beneath the eye
ash-grey; legs and feet greenish grey.
The female is light brown, each feather being darkest in the centre;
wings and tail dark brown, the former margined with huffy white; under
surface buffy white, with a small streak of black near the tip of each
feather.
The figures represent a male and a female of the natural size.
[Illustration:
ENTOMOPHILA PICTA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ENTOMOPHILA PICTA, _Gould_.
Painted Honey-eater.
_Entomophila picta_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 154.
This beautiful little Honey-eater is strictly peculiar to the interior
of New South Wales, where it inhabits the myalls (_Acacia pendula_), and
other trees bordering the extensive plains of that part of Australia. On
a comparison of skins of this species with those of the other
_Meliphagidæ_ prior to my visit to the country, I had been led to
suspect that the actions and economy of the Painted Honey-eater would be
found to differ materially from those of the other members of its
family, and such proved to be the case, for it is much more active among
the branches, captures insects on the wing, and darts forth and returns
to the same spot much after the manner of the Flycatchers. Its song is a
loud but not very harmonious strain, which is frequently uttered when on
the wing. I have generally met with it in pairs, flying and chasing each
other from top to top of the most lofty trees. During flight they
repeatedly spread their tails, when the white portion of the feathers
shows very conspicuously; the yellow colouring of the wing also
contributes to the beauty of their appearance, which somewhat resembles
that of the Goldfinch. I found the nest of this bird with two nearly
fledged young on the fifth of September; the nest was the frailest
structure possible, round, of small size, most ingeniously suspended by
the rim to the thick drooping leaves of the _Acacia pendula_, and
entirely composed of very fine fibrous roots. The female is much less
brilliant than the male, but does not differ in the distribution of the
markings.
I have never seen this bird from any other part of Australia than that
above-mentioned, nor in any other collection than my own.
Head, cheeks, and all the upper surface black, the posterior edges of
the ear-coverts tipped with white; wings black, the outer edges of the
primaries and secondaries rich yellow at their base, forming a
conspicuous broad mark on the wing; tail black, margined externally with
rich yellow, each feather except the two centre ones more or less
largely tipped on the internal web with white; throat and all the under
surface white, the flanks having a few longitudinal faint spots of
brown; bill soft and pulpy, and of a deep pink red; irides hazel;
eyelash darker hazel; feet purplish lead-colour.
The figures represent the two sexes and the nest of the natural size.
[Illustration:
ENTOMOPHILA ALBOGULARIS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ENTOMOPHILA ALBOGULARIS, _Gould_.
White-throated Honey-eater.
_Entomophila? albogularis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p.
137.
_Me-lȕd-be-re_, Aborigines of Port Essington.
This new species is a native of the northern portion of Australia. “I
first met with it,” says Mr. Gilbert, “on Mayday Island in Van Diemen’s
Gulf, where it appeared to be tolerably abundant; I afterwards found it
to be equally numerous in a large inland mangrove swamp near Point
Smith. It is an extremely active little bird, constantly flitting from
branch to branch and taking irregular flights, during which it utters
its pretty Goldfinch-like song; it also pours forth its agreeable melody
for a length of time without intermission while sitting on the topmost
branches of the trees. I never observed it in any other than swampy
situations, or among the mangroves bordering the deep bays and creeks of
the harbours; small breaks in the mangroves formed by little coves or
bays having a narrow entrance, and thus secluded from the effects of
every wind, are the situations it chooses for the purpose of rearing its
young. Its small pensile nest is suspended from the extremity of a weak
projecting branch in such a manner that it hangs over and at about two
feet from the water, the bird always selecting a branch bearing a
sufficient number of leaves to protect the entrance, which is invariably
at the top; in form the nest is deep and cup-like, and is composed of
narrow strips of the soft paper-like bark of the _Melaleucæ_, matted
together with small vegetable fibres, with which also the nest is firmly
bound to the branch; the inside is slightly lined with soft grass. The
eggs appear to vary from two to three in number, as I found a nest in
the latter part of November and another in the early part of December
which contained three in each, while a third procured towards the end of
January had only two; they are rather lengthened in form, and not very
unlike those of _Malurus cyaneus_ in the colour and disposition of their
markings; their ground colour being white, thinly freckled all over with
bright chestnut-red, particularly at the larger end; they are nine lines
long and six lines broad. During the breeding-season it exhibits
considerable pugnacity of disposition, and instead of its usual pretty
note, utters a chattering and vociferous squeaking; at other times it is
rather familiar and may be easily approached.
“The stomach was very small, but tolerably muscular, and its food
consisted of insects generally.”
Head dark grey; all the upper surface brown; wings and tail darker
brown; primaries, secondaries and basal half of the tail-feathers
margined with wax-yellow; throat pure white; chest and flanks reddish
buff; centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts white; irides bright
reddish brown; bill blackish grey; feet bluish grey.
The figures are those of the two sexes, and the nest of the natural
size.
[Illustration:
ENTOMOPHILA? RUFOGULARIS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ENTOMOPHILA RUFOGULARIS, _Gould_.
Red-throated Honey-eater.
_Entomophila rufogularis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p.
137.
This is another of the novelties that has rewarded the researches of the
Officers of H.M.S. Beagle on the northern coast of Australia; the
specimens from which my figures were taken were transmitted to me by my
friend Benjamin Bynoe, Esq., of that vessel.
The _Entomophila rufogularis_ is the least of the genus yet discovered,
and is more nearly allied to _E. albogularis_ than to _E. picta_, from
both of which it may at once be distinguished by the red colouring of
its throat. The sexes, judging from the specimens sent me by Mr. Bynoe,
are very similar in their markings.
Nothing whatever is known of its habits and economy.
Head and all the upper surface brown; wings and tail darker brown;
primaries, secondaries and tail-feathers margined externally with
wax-yellow; throat rust-red; sides of the head and all the under surface
very pale brown; bill and feet dark purplish brown.
The figures are those of the natural size.
[Illustration:
ACANTHOGENYS RUFOGULARIS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ACANTHOGENYS RUFOGULARIS, _Gould_.
Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater.
_Acanthogenys rufogularis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p.
153; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.
Numerous and diversified as are the forms of the great family of the
_Meliphagidæ_, the present species has always appeared to me more than
usually interesting, because in the first place few are more elegantly
formed, and in the second it differs widely from all others in plumage,
and in the singular spiny processes which adorn its cheeks and
ear-coverts. In its habits and general economy it bears a close alliance
to the Wattle-birds (_Anthochæræ_), but still presents in these respects
sufficient differences to warrant its separation into a distinct genus
or subgenus, as naturalists may think fit to designate the division.
The Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater ranges very widely over the interior of
Australia. I observed it to be very numerous on the Lower Namoi to the
northward of the Liverpool Plains in New South Wales. It was the
commonest species of Honey-eater I encountered in the interior of South
Australia; and I have also received a pair of this or a closely allied
species from the interior of Western Australia; as, however, some
difference exists between these latter and the birds from New South
Wales, I refrain, until I have seen other examples, from stating that it
goes so far to the westward as the Swan River Settlement. It is not at
all improbable that there may be two or more species of this singular
form. Like the Brush Wattle-bird it is rather a shy species, but its
presence may at all times be detected by the loud hollow whistling note
which it frequently utters while on the wing, or while passing with a
darting diving flight from tree to tree. It appears to give a decided
preference to the Banksia and other trees growing upon sandy soil; its
presence therefore is a certain indication of the poverty of the land in
the immediate neighbourhood. It is very active among the trees, clinging
and creeping about with the greatest ease and elegance of position,
passing its brush-like tongue over the flowers of the Banksias as well
as inserting it into the interstices for lurking insects, upon which,
like all the other Honey-eaters, it partially subsists.
The nest, which is a round, rather deep, cup-shaped structure, is
suspended from a fine branch of a low tree, and is composed of long wiry
grasses, and now that the sheep is a denizen of the country, matted
together both internally and externally with wool. The eggs are three in
number, of a dull olive-buff, strongly dotted with deep chestnut-brown
and bluish grey, the markings being most numerous at the larger end.
Their average length is one inch, and breadth nine lines.
The sexes are so much alike, that, with the exception of the female
being slightly inferior to her mate in size, no difference is
perceptible.
Crown of the head, back and wings dusky brown, each feather margined
with pale brown; upper tail-coverts with each feather dusky brown in the
centre; stripe behind the eye and on the sides of the neck black, above
which on the side of the neck another line of whitish mingled with
dusky; hairs on the cheeks white; below the lower mandible a line of
feathers, which are white crossed by black lines; throat and fore-part
of the chest pale rufous; under surface dirty white, each feather
striated with dusky brown; tail blackish brown, tipped with white; bare
part of the face and base of the bill soft, pulpy, and of a pinky
flesh-colour; irides bluish lead-colour; feet olive.
The Plate represents a male and female on a branch of one of the
Banksias, all of the natural size.
[Illustration: