Chapter IV: Part 4

Upper beautiful soft light grayish-brown tinged yellow, finely
spotted blackish-brown and white; under white, few small
brownish spots; disc white edged buff; f., sim. Mice, rats.

[Page 87]

=180 Masked Owl=, _S. novae-hollandiae_, A.
[~179-183 _Genus, Tyto._]

Stat. r. _forests_, _rocky_ 14

Pale buff; head, back wings marked dark-brown, few white
spots; under paler, few brown spots; disc purplish-white,
edged with deep-brown spots; f., larger. Mice, rats.

=181 Chestnut-faced Owl=, _S. castanops_, N.S.W., V., S.A., T.
[~179-183 _Genus, Tyto._]

Stat. c. _brushes_, _swamps_; f., 17; m., 14.5

Disc deep-chestnut edged black; upper rufous-brown marked
dark-brown; few small spots on head, shoulders; under deep
sandy-brown with blackish spots; f., larger. Mice, rats.

=182 Sooty Owl=, Dusky Barn Owl, _S. tenebricosa_, N.G., E.A.
[~179-183 _Genus, Tyto._]

Stat. v.r. _dense brushes_; f., 16; m., 13.5

Disc sooty-gray deeper round eyes; upper brownish-black finely
spotted white; under brownish-black washed buff, fainter
spots; legs mottled brown, white; f., larger. Mice, rats.

=183 Grass Owl=, _S. candida_, India, Formosa, China,
Philippines to E.A.
[~179-183 _Genus, Tyto._]

Stat. v.r. _grass_ 14

Disc white or tinged pale-pink; brownish spot before eye; edge
disc dark-brown above, buff below; upper dark-brown finely
spotted white; under white tinged orange-buff with scattered
brown spots; tail whitish barred brown; legs long; f., sim.

====

While Australia possesses representatives of nearly all the important widely-spread families of birds this favored land also contains many birds that are unknown elsewhere. In addition, there are some groups which are found in other continents, but which reach their highest development here. Conspicuous amongst these are Parrots and Cockatoos. Australians are so accustomed to see these beautiful birds on every country road, and in cages outside their houses, that they do not appreciate their beauty or their interest, for "familiarity breeds contempt," even with bird life.

When one reflects that no figure of a Parrot is found in ancient Egyptian art, and that no Parrot is mentioned in the Bible, then one begins to understand the interest of Europeans in these "spoilt children" of the animal world, the "monkeys of the bird world," and "the cream of the Australian avifauna."

Their tameness, their affection, their entertaining habits, and their remarkable powers of speech, all help to render Parrots the favorites amongst birds. The brilliance of their plumage, their intelligence, and their longevity excite wonder, for Parrots have been known to live 100 years in captivity. Presumably, they would live even longer in a state of nature. Humboldt recorded, as quoted in Newton's "Dictionary of Birds," "that in South America he met with a venerable bird, which remained the sole possessor of a literally dead language, the whole tribe of Indians, Atures by name, who spoke it, having become extinct."

Australians will perhaps be surprised to learn that there are no Parrots or Cockatoos in Europe, and none in Asia, excepting India, none in Africa north of the Tropic of Cancer, and only two in North America, and that one of these is rapidly becoming extinct, and that Africa and India are poor in Parrots. Thus South America and Australasia alone are left as the lands that contain these interesting birds in any number. While South America contains the largest Parrots--the Macaws--all the South American species belong to one family. In the Australian region six families of Parrots are represented. Four of them are confined to the region, while but one species of the fifth family (Cockatoos) is found outside the region.

The Brush-tongued Parrots, or "Lorikeets," are a purely Australian family. Some of these are very common at times in flowering eucalypts, even in the public gardens and streets. The Blue Mountain Parrot, very common at times, is a giant of the family. It has been described as a "noble bird, gorgeously apparelled." Its vernacular name of Blue-bellied Lorikeet has been altered to Blue Mountain Lorikeet. We found these birds nesting in the big sugar-gums bordering Warunda Creek, Eyre Peninsula. They keenly and noisily resented our curiosity, and screeched much as we tried to discover them amongst the green foliage. Though so gaudy, they were picked out with difficulty. This bird was very troublesome in my garden at Bengworden, near the Gippsland Lakes, where, when the apples were about the size of marbles, they tore them to pieces to get the developing "pips." In common with the other members of the family, they have a swift, direct flight, and screech much when flying. The "Green Keets," generally called "Green Leeks," which are so very numerous at times, are often accompanied by two other Lorikeets, the Little and Purple-crowned Lorikeets. These green birds hang, head down, among the eucalyptus leaves, and brush up the honey from the flowers with their brush tongue. They follow the flowering of the eucalypts from district to district, and since the eucalypts flower at irregular intervals, these birds are not so regular in their movements as Swifts, Snipe, Curlews, Cuckoos, and other migratory birds. For this reason the birds may be absent from a district for some years, and then suddenly appear again in great numbers.

Cockatoos are almost confined to the Australian region. This includes the islands north-west of Australia out to Wallace's line, passing between Celebes and the Philippine Islands, Celebes and Borneo, and between the small islands of Lombok and Bali, east of Java. These islands, though but fifteen miles apart, "differ far more from each other in their birds and quadrupeds than do England and Japan. The birds of the one are extremely unlike those of the other." Another authority says that the faunas of Bali and Lombok are more unlike than those of South America and Africa. Bali has Woodpeckers, Barbets, Bulbuls, and Black and White Magpie-Robins, none of which is found in Lombok, where we find Screaming Cockatoos, Friar-birds, and other Honey-eaters, and the strange mound-building Megapodes and numerous other remarkable birds. This narrow strait is over 1000 fathoms in depth, and is probably one of the most ancient and most permanent dividing lines in the world. Instead of being united to Asia, it is probable that Australia has been more recently joined to New Zealand, South America, and South Africa. Only one Cockatoo transgresses Wallace's line to the west, and that is found in the Philippine Islands; evidently it has spread there from the adjacent part of the Australian region.

The sombre, slow-flying Black Cockatoo is the largest of all Cockatoos. It is seen fairly often in small companies, especially on wattles and eucalypts, the wood of which it tears to pieces with its powerful bill to get the insect larvae feeding there. It is a valuable forest-saving bird.

The Glossy or Leach Black Cockatoo is named after Dr. Leach, who did a great amount of work on Australian animals about 100 years ago. It is a rare bird, and may readily be distinguished by its smaller size and more glossy plumage.

The peculiar gray Gang-gang Cockatoos are common in parts of the forest country. The male is easily recognized by his red head and crest. I occasionally see these interesting birds in the big eucalypt forests of Gippsland. I was surprised to discover that, in South Gippsland, it is generally called the Galah, a name which belongs to quite a different bird (194).

The screeching, fussy White Cockatoo, with its delicate sulphur crest, is well known. Many country dwellers enjoy the privilege of often seeing these snowy-white birds almost covering a dead tree. They are favorites as pets, and live to a good old age. They render good service at times by digging up and eating grasshoppers' eggs, though they do damage to maize and other crops. As they post sentinels, they are difficult birds to approach.

The Pink Cockatoo (Major Mitchell) is unfortunately becoming rare. It was fairly common when I taught in a Mallee school, near where Hopetoun now is. It has been described as "quite the most beautiful of all the Cockatoos, being a harmony of delicate rose-pink and white, with a handsome crest of acuminate feathers barred in crimson, yellow, and white." It does not take kindly to captivity. It nested in the smaller "spouts" of the green "box-trees" in the "box-flats" and swamps about the Goyura School, south of Lake Corrong.

What is more glorious than a mob of Rose-breasted Cockatoos (Galahs), 500 strong, airing their beauties and graces as they take a constitutional before retiring for the night? Probably no other kind of bird shows better company-flying than Galahs; now one sheet of a delicate gray lavender, and the next instant a flash of brilliant salmon-pink, as the whole company turns and wheels, obedient to some command or signal unperceived by us; again, the sun lights up the pale-pink crests and gray backs, as they turn once more and wheel, screeching, to continue their evolutions further afield. It is a sight that lingers in the memory. They are charming pets, and some talk well. Their beauty adds charm to our almost perfectly level great inland plains.

The delicately-colored and friendly Cockatoo Parrot, with its immovable crest, takes a sub-family to itself. It migrates from the North, and, in a dry year, may even reach the South Coast. In 1908 some of these birds reached Colac, in Southern Victoria. They are favorite aviary birds, and thousands have been exported.

In the true Parrot family, Australia is strongly represented by many beautiful birds. The first is the Barraband Parrakeet of Gould, and the Green Leek of some ornithologists. As the name Green Leek is practically in universal use for the Musk Lorikeet (Green Keet) of the ornithologist, it seems desirable to sink an inappropriate name into a synonym, and use the earlier name, Superb Parrot, for it is a beautiful bird. Sad to say, it has become exceedingly rare, though Mr. A. W. Milligan informed me, a few days ago, that he saw six fly into some pines at Black Rock one day this month (January, 1911).

The Rock Pebble, or Smoker, of the country dweller, formally called the Black-tailed Parrot, is a fine bird. His tail, however, is not really black, but is strongly iridescent. He nested in numbers, at the beginning of the nineties, in the dead box-trees in Lake Corrong. After an early tea, we frequently went over to the lake and watched the birds feeding their young. No longer do they inhabit that district, which has been completely cleared and placed under cultivation.

The big King Parrot is a "showy, noble species," and is still common in parts, especially the moist forest districts.

The members of the next group form a sub-family--the Broad-tails--confined to Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. Judging by their names, they must be amongst the most beautiful of birds. The best known is the common Rosella, often quoted in European books as one of the most beautiful of birds. Its scientific name is eximius, which means excellent. Indeed, the scientific names of Australian parrots give a good indication of their place amongst the glories of the bird world. The cousin of the Rosella--the large blue-winged and blue-cheeked Crimson Parrot--is well named elegans; a grass parrot is also elegans, then follow splendidus, splendida, and pulchella, while that great ornithologist, Gould, has conferred the honor of pulcherrimus on another Australian parrot. These names, given by scientists, will show Australians in what high esteem these birds, so common with us, are held by observers from other lands.

The Crimson Parrot, previously mentioned, is, I think, becoming common, for I have lately seen it flying about in towns, notably in the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, the Zoological Gardens, Melbourne, and the school yard at Wangaratta.

The Yellow Parrakeet, with its blue cheeks, is a "harmony in blue and canary yellow, and is an exceedingly lovely bird." It is unfortunately rare.

The next bird is one of our well-known cage pets--the beautiful Ringneck--the Mallee Parrot. It flies ahead of one along the half-chain strip of scrub left on mallee roads, and is a feature of interest.

The next group contains some inland parrots. The "Bulloak," or "Blue Bonnet," is a beautiful bird, and is common on inland plains. It has a brownish-olive back and a gray chest. The bright, blue cheeks, forehead, and shoulder, red abdomen, and light yellow base to tail present a striking appearance. Its vernacular name--Yellow-vented Parrakeet--has now been altered to Blue Bonnet Parrot.

The Many-colored Parrot, with its large yellow shoulder patch, is a glory. It is, indeed, difficult to imagine a more beautiful bird as it flies about in the bright Mallee sunshine. The Red-backed Parrot is the common "Grass Parrot" of country dwellers. Large flocks of these birds are to be seen on the inland plains. The female is much plainer than her gaudy mate. This is unusual amongst parrots; for, as the work of sitting on the eggs is done in a hollow tree under good shelter, there is apparently no reason why the female should be plainer than the male, and in most parrots she is equally pretty.

The brownish female offers a strong contrast to her more brightly coloured mate, which is immediately distinguished by the large red patch on the back. (The Many-colored Parrot has a much smaller red patch on the back, near the base of the tail.)

The seven small Grass-Parrots (_Neophemas_) are amongst the most beautiful of parrots. These birds have become so rare that the South Australian Government has wisely placed them on the totally-protected list. Bird trappers formerly exported numbers to Europe each year. These rare Parrots are said to be worth about L7 each as cage birds.

We found the rare Rock Parrot nesting in the edges and hollows of a tiny travertine-limestone island (Goat Island) in an inlet at the eastern end of the Great Australian Bight. The eggs were laid on the bare earth, often within two or three feet of high-tide mark. The whole island was less than an acre in extent, and at no point was ten feet above high-tide level. Many similar islands on the Australian coast have not yet been explored ornithologically, so we do not know what matters of interest are awaiting us.

The next bird, the Swift-flying Lorikeet, is a honey feeder, like the first four Parrots (Lorikeets) mentioned. It is often found with them, and was common all the winter, and is common now in a clump of flowering gums outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It has given scientists much trouble as to its correct name and position. It can be distinguished from the "Green Keets" by having scarlet under the wings.

The beautiful and affectionate little Budgerigar (Warbling Grass Parrot), or Love Bird, has many names. It is migratory, and sometimes appears in thousands, though it may not be seen again for years. It is a favorite cage bird, and breeds as freely as caged canaries, so it is well-known in Europe.

The last two Parrots are ground birds, which never perch or climb. It was feared that the Ground Parrot was extinct, but it is seen occasionally in the National Park at Wilson's Promontory. The Night Parrot is better called the Western Ground Parrot. It is found amongst the Spinifex (_Triodia_) scrub of the interior.

Though Parrots are essentially "climbers," having the suitable arrangement of two toes in front and two behind, it is interesting to learn of these two Australian Parrots which cannot perch or climb. The Parrot's foot is of interest, further, in so far as it is used as a hand, and the food is held in it while being eaten. The powerful bill not only serves to reduce its food to powder, but also assists in climbing. It is sometimes amusing to note the "absurd caution," and great deliberation with which a parrot climbs down in his cage to pick up some dainty.

Possessing no less than 76 kinds of Parrots and Cockatoos, Australians should be alive to their privileges as contrasted with the dwellers of northern lands, where Parrots do not live. They should insist on the proper protection of these beautiful and wonderful birds.

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[Page 88]

[185] [186] [187] [188]]

ORDER XVII.--PSITTACIFORMES.

F. 72. _Nestoridae_, Nestor, Kaka, Kea, 4 sp. A. (N.Z.).

F. 73. LORIIDAE (9), BRUSH-TONGUED PARROTS, LORIES, LORIKEETS,
87 sp. A.

3 16

=184* Blue Mountain Lorikeet= (-Parrot), Rainbow Lory,
Blue--bellied (Swainson) Lorikeet, _Trichoglossus
novae-hollandiae_, N.A., E.A., S.A., T.

Nom. flocks c. _eucalypts_ 14

Head, throat, abdomen blue; chest blood-red tinged yellow;
back green; bill blood-red; f., sim. Honey. Screech.

[Page 89]

3 5

=185* Musk Lorikeet=, Green Keet, Green Leek (e),
_Glossopsittacus concinnus_, E.A., S.A., T.
[~185-187 _Genus, Glossopsitta._]

Nom. v.c. _flowering eucalypts_ 8.5

Green; forehead, behind ear red; bill black tipped red; f.,
sim. Honey. Screech.

=186 Purple-crowned Lorikeet=, _G. porphyrocephalus_, N.S.W.
V., S.A., W.A.
[~185-187 _Genus, Glossopsitta._]

Nom. flocks with 185. r. _eucalypts_ 6.5

Green; forehead red, yellow; behind ear fainter red,
yellow; crown purple; behind head yellowish-green; shoulder
light-blue; under wing crimson; under greenish-gray; flanks,
under-tail golden-green; bill black; f., sim. Honey. Screech.

=187 Little Lorikeet=, Jerryang, _G. pusillus_, E.A., S.A., T.
[~185-187 _Genus, Glossopsitta._]

Nom. flocks with 185. c. _eucalypts_ 6.5

Green; face deep-red; hind-neck brown; wings black edged
green; tail feathers grass-green, inner webs red at base,
yellowish at tip; f., smaller. Honey. Screech.

F. 74. CYCLOPSITTACIDAE (2), Fig-Parrots, 23 sp. A.

F. 75. CACATUIDAE (17), COCKATOOS, 29 sp.--28(28)A., 1(1)O.
(Philippine Is.).

7 7

=188 Black Cockatoo=, Funereal Black Cockatoo,
_Calyptorhynchus funereus_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., T., King
Is.

Small flocks, r. _timber_ 26

Black; ear-patch, under tail yellow; f., sim. Wood-boring
larvae. Seeds. "Wy-la."

[Page 90]

[190] [191] [192] [193]]

=189 Banksian Cockatoo=, Banksian Black Cockatoo, C. _banksi_,
E.A., S.A.

r. _timber_ 24

Glossy greenish-black; vermilion-red band on tail; f., yellow
side of head, neck. Caterpillars, seeds.

[Page 91]

=190 Glossy Cockatoo= (Leach Black), _C. viridis_, E.A., S.A.

Small flocks, r. _timber_ 19.5

Glossy greenish-black; deep vermilion-red on tail; f., no
vermilion on tail. Sheoak (_Casuarina_) seeds.

1 1

=191* Gang-gang Cockatoo= (Red-crowned), Red-crowned Parrot (e),
Galah (e), _Callocephalum galeatum_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., T., King Is.
[~191 _Genus, Callocephalon._

v.r. _forest_ 13.5

Head, crest fine scarlet; rest slate-gray barred
grayish-green; wings tinged green; under tinged red; f., head,
crest gray. Eucalypt seeds.

5 17

=192 White Cockatoo= (Sulphur-crested), _Cacatua galerita_,
A., T., King Is.
[~192-194 _Genus, Cacatoees._]

Nom. Flocks, v.c. _timber_, _open plains_ 20

White; crest, under wing, portion of tail sulphur-yellow; f.,
sim. Seeds, grain, native bread, bulbous roots, grasshoppers'
eggs. Screech.

=193* Pink Cockatoo= (Leadbeater), Major Mitchell, _C.
leadbeateri_, Int. A.
[~192-194 _Genus, Cacatoees._]

Nom. r. _lofty gums_ 16

"Most beautiful and elegant" cockatoo; white; forehead, neck,
under wing, middle abdomen, base of tail salmon pink becoming
deeper under wing; crest crimson, yellow, white; eyes black;
f., yellow in crest brighter; eyes reddish-brown. Plaintive
cry.

[Page 92]

[195] [196] [197] [198] [199]]

=194* Rose-breasted Cockatoo=, Galah, Willie-willock, Willock,
_C. roseicapilla_, A., T. (acc).
[~192-194 _Genus, Cacatoees._]

Nom. large flocks, c. _plains_ 14

Upper gray; under deep rose pink; head pinky-white; "the
second most beautiful of cockatoos;" f., sim. Seeds,
salt-bush.

[Page 93]

2 2

=195 Long-billed Cockatoo=, Corella, _Licmetis nasica_, N.
Ter., N.S.W., V., S.A.
[~195 _Licmetis tenuirostris._]

Flocks r. _ground_ 17

White; under wing pale-yellow; under tail bright-yellow;
forehead, face scarlet; neck, breast tinged scarlet; naked
blue skin round eye; long bill, 1-5/8 in.; f., sim. Bulbous
roots.

1 1

=196* Cockatoo-Parrot=, Cockatiel, Quarrion, _Calopsittacus
novae-hollandiae_, A.
[~196 _Calopsitta novae-hollandiae._]

Mig. flocks, c. _plains_, _timber_ 12

Forehead, crest lemon-yellow; ear-patch rich reddish-orange in
a patch yellow above white below; upper, under gray; white on
wings, chest; f., face, crest dull olive-yellow; tail barred
brown. Seeds.

F. 76. PSITTACIDAE (47), PARROTS, Macaws, 433 sp.--144(144)A.,
49(49)O., 42(42)E., 2(1)Nc., 197(196)Nl.

2 2

=197* Superb Parrot= (Scarlet-breasted), Green Leek, Barraband
Parrakeet, _Polytelis barrabandi_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.

Stat. v.r. _timber_ 16

Green; forehead, cheeks, throat rich gamboge-yellow; crescent
of scarlet next to yellow on chest; bill yellow; sometimes
red on thigh; f., green tinged dull rose on chest; thigh red.
Seeds.

=198* Black-tailed Parrot=, Rock-Pebbler, Rock-Pebble, Smoker,
_P. melanura_, N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A. (interior).
[~198 _Polytelis anthopeplus._]

Nom. v.r. _Box flats_, _timber_ 16

Head, neck, greenish-yellow; shoulders, under yellow;
upper-back olive; wing-quills, tail iridescent black; some
pink on wing; bill scarlet; f., duller. Seeds, honey.

1 9

=199* King Parrot= (Scarlet and Green, Spud), Blood Rosella,
King Lory (e), _Aprosmictus cyanopygius_, E.A., S.A.

Stat. c. _forest_ 16

"Showy, noble species;" head, neck, under scarlet; back, wings
green; rump, base tail rich dark blue; band bright green on
wing; bill scarlet; f., head, upper green; throat, chest green
tinged red; abdomen scarlet; young male like female for two
years. Bulbous roots, seeds.

[Page 95]

[220] [221] [223] [224] [227] [229] [230] [235]]

=219= Australian Roller
=220= Blue Kingfisher
=221= Laughing Kingfisher
=223= Sacred Kingfisher
=224= Australian Bee-eater
=227= Spine-tailed Swift
=229= Pallid Cuckoo
=230= Fan-tailed Cuckoo
=235= Bronze Cuckoo

[Page 97]

[240] [242] [244] [244^A] [245^A] [248] [248^A]]

=238= Welcome Swallow
=240= Tree Martin
=242= Brown Flycatcher
=244= Scarlet-breasted Robin
=244^A= Scarlet-breasted Robin (Female)
=245= Flame-breasted Robin
=245^A= Ditto (Female)
=248= Red Capped Robin
=248^A= Red Capped Robin (Female)

[Page 100]

[201] [202] [203] [204] [205]]

16 16

=200* Crimson Parrot=, Crimson Rosella, Pennant Parrakeet,
Red Lory (e), Mountain Lowry (e), _Platycercus elegans_, S.Q.,
N.S.W., V., S.A.

Stat. v.c. _timber_, _open_ 13.5

Head, neck, under, rump rich deep crimson; feathers of back
black, edged crimson; cheeks, shoulders blue; tail tipped
pale-blue; f., sim.; young all green at first. Grass, seeds,
insects, caterpillars.

[Page 101]

=201 Yellow Parrot=, Yellow Rosella, Murray Smoker (e), Swamp
Lory (e), Yellow-rumped Parrakeet, _P. flaveolus_, N.S.W., V.,
S.A. (interior).

Stat. v.r. _lofty river gums_ 13.5

"Exceedingly lovely bird, a harmony in blue and canary
yellow;" upper under canary-yellow; back feathers black edged
pale-yellow; wing blue; tip quills dark-brown; tail tipped
light blue and white; forehead crimson; cheeks blue; f.,
duller. Seeds.

=202* Rosella=, Rosehill Parrakeet, Nonpareil Parrot, _P.
eximius_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., T.

Stat. v.c. _open timber_ 12.5

Crown, hind-neck, chest, under base tail scarlet; cheeks
white; back feathers black edged rich yellow; rump, upper
base tail, lower abdomen pale-green; centre-abdomen yellow;
shoulders blue; tail tipped pale blue; f., young sim.

5 5

=203* Mallee Parrot= (Scrub), Barnard Parrakeet, Ring-neck,
Bulla-Bulla, _Barnardius barnardi_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.
(interior).

Stat. c. _mallee scrub_, _water courses_ 13

Crown, chest, abdomen, rump rich-green; yellow band on
hind-neck; forehead red; back bluish-gray; centre-abdomen
orange; wing-quills black; shoulder blue; centre tail feathers
green becoming deep iridescent blue at tip; side tail deep
blue at base becoming bluish white at tip; bill horn color;
f., sim. Seeds.

8 8

=204* Blue-Bonnet=, Bulloak Parrot, Yellow-vented Parrakeet,
_Psephotus zanthorrhous_, N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A. (inland).

c. _mallee-scrub_, _plains_ 12.5

Forehead, face blue; crown, upper, chest yellowish-gray; rump,
under base tail, abdomen deep yellow, about legs scarlet; edge
shoulder, patch on wing blue; wing-quills blackish-brown; f.,
duller. Seeds.

=205* Many-colored Parrot= (Varied, Mulga), _P. multicolor_,
N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A., N.W.A. (inland).

Stat. c. _plains_ 12

Head, neck, chest, back green; rump little red; abdomen,
thighs scarlet; forehead, shoulder, under base tail yellow;
f., brick red patch on shoulder, duller. Grass-seeds.

[Page 102]

[207] [208] [209] [210]]

=206* Red-backed Parrot= (Grass, Red-rumped, Ground), _P.
haematonotus_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.

Large flocks, v.c. _grass_ 11

Green; lower-back scarlet; tip-shoulder outer wing-quills
blue; centre-shoulder, abdomen yellow; f., brownish-olive
upper. Seeds.

7 7

=207 Bourke Grass-Parrot= (Night, Pink-bellied), _Neophema
bourkei_, N.S.W., V., S.A. (interior).

v.r. _plains_ 8.5

Upper olive-brown; under delicate brown tinged pink; forehead,
shoulder, flanks, under tail blue; f., forehead not blue.
Seeds.

=208 Blue-winged Grass-Parrot= (Blue-banded), _N. venusta_,
N.S.W., V., S.A., T., King Is.
[~208 _Neophema chrysostoma._]

Mig. r. _open timber_ 9

Forehead, large patch shoulder deep-blue; crown, neck, back,
breast green; face, abdomen light-yellow; tail tipped fine
yellow; f., sim. Grass seeds.

=209* Grass-Parrot= (Elegant Grass), _N. elegans_, S.Q.,
N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A.

Mig. r. _grass_ 9

Forehead, patch shoulder, wing-quills blue; about eye
rich-yellow; back golden-green; chest green; abdomen, side of
tail yellow; f., duller. Seeds. Musical whistle.

=210 Orange-breasted Grass-Parrot= (Orange-bellied), _N.
chrysogastra_, N.S.W., V., S.A., T.

Mig. r. _grass_ 9

Crown, upper grass-green; forehead blue; cheeks, breast
yellowish-green; shoulder, patch on wing deep-blue; abdomen,
under base tail yellow; lower abdomen much orange; f., less
orange. Seeds. Sharp snapping note.

=211 Red-Shouldered Grass-Parrot= (Chestnut-shouldered,
Beautiful), _N. pulchella_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.

Mig. c. _timber_ 8

Cheeks, shoulders rich metallic-blue; crown, hind-neck,
upper, flanks bright olive-green; bright patch chestnut-red
at insertion of wing; under rich-yellow, tail green tipped
yellow; f., sim. Seeds.

[Page 103]

[212] [213] [214] [215] [216]]

=212 Scarlet-chested Grass-Parrot= (Orange-throated,
Splendid), _N. splendida_, N.S.W., V., S., W.A.

v.r. _scrub_ 8

Head, neck beautiful deep-blue; shoulder blue; breast scarlet;
abdomen light-yellow; upper green; f., duller, breast green.
Seeds.

1 1

=213* Swift Parrot= (Red-shouldered), Swift-flying Lorikeet
(e), _Euphema discolor_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., T.
[~213 _Lathamus discolor._]

Mig. r. _flowering eucalypts_ 9.5

Green; forehead, throat, tip-shoulder, base tail above below,
under-wing red; crown, edge wing blue; f., smaller, duller.
Honey.

1 1

=214* Warbling Grass-Parrot= (Shell-, Canary-, Zebra-),
Betcherrygah, Budgerigar, Love-Bird (Flight-), _Melopsittacus
undulatus_, A. (int.).

Mig. flocks c. _timber_ 7.5

Head, throat yellow; under, rump green; upper green finely
barred black; several dark spots on throat; f., smaller.
Grass-seeds.

1 2

=215 Ground Parrot= (Swamp), _Pezoporus terrestris_, V., S.A.
W.A., T., Bass St. Is.

v.r. u. _sandy_, _swampy_ 13

Green uniformly barred black yellow; forehead scarlet; tail
long; never perches; f., sim. Seeds.

1 1

=216 Night Parrot= (Spinifex), Western Ground Parrakeet,
_Geopsittacus occidentalis_, V., S.A., C.A., W.A., N.W.A.

v.r. u. _swampy_ 10

Like 215, but forehead not red; under base short tail yellow.

F. 77. _Stringopidae_, Owl-Parrot, 2 sp. A. (N.Z.).

====

Australia is well represented in Order XVIII.--Picarian Birds. The Tawny Frogmouth is one of "the most peculiar," and is the "ugliest of birds." On account of its wide mouth, it is called the Frogmouth, and on account of the confusion connecting it with the Boobook Owl, which calls "Mopoke," this bird is also called the "Mopoke" (see p. 85). It so closely mimics a broken branch during the day that it is seldom seen, though it is fairly common.

Gould bears eloquent testimony to the value of Australian birds in general, and the _Podargus_ in particular, when he says: "In no other country is there a greater proportion of insectivorous birds, and certainly none in which nocturnal species such as the Podargi are more numerous."

The Australian Roller (Dollar-Bird) has the family beauty, and has a white circular patch on each wing, which shows clearly when the wing is expanded during flight. At the Tallangatta excursion a pair was working even after dusk near the schoolground. Flying from the topmost dead branch, one bird suddenly closed its wings, and cut queer antics in the air. After flying a considerable distance, it returned to its former perch, and the mate set off. On the return of the mate the first set off again, and so on. With their disagreeable, rough "treek treek," and peculiar antics, they are conspicuous birds. It is our one representative of a family most strongly developed in Africa.

While Kingfishers are cosmopolitan (world-wide in distribution), yet the Australian region contains far more of these beautiful birds than any other region. They are famous in legend and story, and we owe to them the expression, "halcyon days" (Gr. _alkuon_, a Kingfisher).

The great terrestrial Kingfishers, of which Australia has three species--the fourth being confined to New Guinea--are amongst the avine curiosities of Australia. Few birds are more famous than the Laughing Kingfisher (Jackass), first, on account of his gigantic size--hence his specific name, _gigas_--and, secondly, because of his laugh, which brightens many a gloomy, misty day in lonely country districts. Homesick travellers from foreign lands could only hear evil spirits laughing at their trials and loneliness, but, just as mountains, once thought ugly, are now considered beautiful, so other thoughts are now associated with the laugh of our remarkable Australian Kingfisher.

True to the law of representatives, Australia presents us with a beautiful representative of the Old World family of Bee-eaters. A writer has well said that there are "few so beautiful, and none so graceful." Its scientific name, _ornatus_, shows that our bird stands well amongst its fellows. One kind occasionally visits England (about thirty records in the last hundred years).

In the same order come the Goatsuckers, or Nightjars, wide-mouthed, swift-flying, insectivorous birds, which have an almost cosmopolitan range, being absent only from New Zealand and the Polynesian Islands. These Owl-like birds have very long wings, thus indicating their rapid flight. They are very valuable insect destroyers, though they are sometimes called "Night Hawks," and are shot by people who foolishly shoot hawks. Many destructive insects fly only at night, and these night-flying birds are a necessity to maintain the balance of Nature.

Swifts are cosmopolitan birds. One Swiftlet is world-famous on account of its saliva-built nest, which is the edible swallows' nest we used to read about. This bird occasionally visits Queensland. Two of the Australian birds breed in Japan. They are essentially creatures of the air; their long, pointed wings, shown much longer than the tail, indicate great speed. Gould said that a Swift might be hawking for insects over Victoria one hour, and over Tasmania the next hour; that is, it can cross Bass Strait in an hour. The spines at the end of the short tail feathers are thought to assist as a prop when the bird settles on a wall or a cliff face. In some Swifts the four toes point forward; this helps also in cliff clinging. Though so common in the upper air, Swifts have not, in Victoria, been recorded as having been seen to alight.

Most birds have hollow bones which are filled with air. It was claimed by those who like to find a use for everything that this was an obvious adaptation for purposes of flight, but when one reflects that, in some of the Ostrich and Emu group, the members of which never fly, the bones are strongly "pneumatic," while in Terns and Swifts, and some other flying birds, the bones are solid, one must hesitate before generalizing even about such an apparently obvious matter. Swifts are in no way related to Swallows, but are close to Humming Birds, which are born with a wide, Swift-like mouth.

====

[Page 104]

[218] [219] [220] [221] [222]]

ORDER XVIII.--CORACIIFORMES, PICARIAN BIRDS.

F. 78. _Steatornithidae_, Oil-Bird, Guacharo, 1 sp. Nl.

F. 79. PODARGIDAE (6), FROGMOUTHS, 32 sp.--20(20)A., 12(12)O.

4 7

=217 Tawny Frogmouth= (Tawny-shouldered), Mopoke (e),
_Podargus strigoides_, A.T.

Stat. c. _open forest_ 18

Upper brown freckled grayish-white and darker-brown; wings
lighter, spotted black and buff; tawny patch on wing; tail
tawny-brown barred blackish-brown; wide bill brown; nocturnal;
f., sim. Insects. "Oom, oom."

2 13

=218 Owlet Nightjar= (Little), Banded Goatsucker (e), Moth Owl
(e), _AEgotheles novae-hollandiae_, A., T.

Stat. r. _timber_ 8.5

Blackish-gray; tail faintly banded; obscure collar; short,
wide bill; bristles round bill; nocturnal; f., sim. Insects,
mosquitoes, moths.

F. 80. _Leptosomatidae_, Kirombos, Madagascar Rollers, 2 sp.
E.

[Page 105]

F. 81. CORACIIDAE (1), ROLLERS, 32 sp.--5(5)A., 6(3)O.,
3(0)P., 22(21)E.

1 11

=219* Australian Roller=, Dollar (Star) Bird, _Eurystomus
pacificus_, Cel., Mol., A. exc. S.A., W.A., Lord Howe Is.,
N.Z.

Mig. r. _timber_ 12

Head, upper dark-brown; inner-wing bluish, outer-wing
dark-blue with a silvery-blue patch (dollar); throat
dark-blue; eyelash, wide curved bill, feet red; many shades of
blue and green; abdomen light-green; f., sim. Insects.

F. 82. ALCEDINIDAE (14), KINGFISHERS, 200 sp.--112(105)A.,
52(44)O., 5(0)P., 31(30)E., 3(0)Nc., 11(8)Nl.

3 7

=220* Blue Kingfisher= (Azure, Water, River), _Alcyone
azurea_, E.A., S.A., T.

Mig. r. _water_ 8

Upper ultramarine-blue; behind ear yellowish-white patch;
wings black; throat whitish; under rusty-orange; bill black;
f., sim. Fish, insects.

3 4

=221* Laughing Kingfisher= (Great Brown, Giant), Laughing
Jackass, Bushman's (Settler's) Clock, Kookaburra, _Dacelo
gigas_, E.A., S.A.

Stat. v.c. _timber_ 17.5

Upper, line from bill past eye brown; side-head, under
whitish; blue, white spots on wing; tail barred brown, black,
tipped white; f., sim. Lizards, insects, snakes.

6 71

=222 Red-backed Kingfisher= (Golden), _Halcyon pyrrhopygius_,
A. (interior).

r. _open country_ 8

Back, rump reddish-brown; collar, under white; crown
dull-green streaked white; dark band from bill through
eye round back of head; wings, tail bluish; f., sim. Fish,
insects.

[Page 106]

[224] [225] [226] [227] [228]]

=223* Sacred Kingfisher= (Wood, Forest, Tree), _H. sanctus_,
Cel., Java to A., T., N. Heb.

Mig. c. _timber_, _near water_ 8

Head, upper greenish-blue; whitish collar; buffy-white under;
bill long black; f., sim. Insects, ants, lizards, fish.

F. 83. _Bucerotidae_, Hornbills, 71 sp.--4(4)A., 33(33)O.,
34(34)E.

F. 84. _Upupidae_, Hoopoes, 6 sp.--2(1)O., 2(0)P., 4(3)E.

F. 85. _Irrisoridae_, Wood-Hoopoes, 12 sp. E.

F. 86. MEROPIDAE (1), BEE-EATERS, 41 sp.--5(4)A., 10(6)O.,
2(0)P., 30(27)E.

[Page 107]

1 21

=224* Australian Bee-eater=, Rainbow Bird, Sandpiper (e),
Kingfisher (e), Spinetail, Pintail, _Merops ornatus_, Cel.,
Lesser Sunda Is., Mol., A.

Mig. c. _open forests_ 10

Crown, back, inner-wing brownish-green; wing-quills
orange-brown, tipped black; band on throat blackish; line
below eye, lower-back blue; throat orange; tail black; two
tail feathers longer; curved bill black: f., sim. Insects,
very rarely bees.

F. 87. _Momotidae_, Motmots, 24 sp. Nl.

F. 88. _Todidae_, Todies, 7 sp. Nl. (West Indies).

F. 89. CAPRIMULGIDAE (3), NIGHTJARS, GOATSUCKERS, 124
sp.--11(8)A., 22(17)O., 10(4)P., 30(26)E., 11(5)Nc., 57(51)Nl.

2 3

=225 White-throated Nightjar=, Night Hawk (e), Moth (Fern)
Owl, _Eurostopus albigularis_, N.G., E.A., S.A.
[~225 _Eurostopodus albigularis._]

Stat. r. _open forest_ 13

Upper mottled, striped gray, brown; head darker; wings
dark-brown marked gray, spotted buff, with white patch
(see figure); white patch side of throat; under buff marked
dark-brown; f., sim. Insects. Valuable nocturnal birds.

=226 Spotted Nightjar=, _E. argus_., Aru Is., New Ireland, A.

Stat. r. _open forest_ 12

Like 225, but uniform rusty-brown abdomen and under base tail;
f., sim. Insects. Valuable, nocturnal.

F. 90. _Macropterygidae_, Tree-Swifts, 7 sp.--3(3)A., 4(4)O.

F. 91. CYPSELIDAE (4), SWIFTS, 103 sp.--11(7)A., 33(24)O.,
9(1)P., 28(22)E., 4(0)Nc., 30(26)Nl.

1 34

=227* Spine-tailed Swift=, _Chactura caudacuta_, Sib., Jap.,
China, to A., T., N.Z.

Mig. c. _upper air_ 7.5

Throat, forehead, back edge wing, flanks, under base
tail white; wings, tail deep shining-green; under, back
grayish-brown; short tail ends in spines; f. smaller. Flying
insects.

1 25

=228 White-rumped Swift= (Australian), _Cypselus pacificus_,
E. Sib., Jap., Indo-China to A., T., N.Z.
[~228 _Apus pacificus._]

Mig. r. _upper air_ 7

Upper brownish-black; rump, throat white; under brown; long
forked tail; indistinct collar; f., sim. Flying insects.

F. 92. _Trochilidae_, Humming-Birds, 581 sp.--18 (5) Nc.,
576(563)Nl.

F. 93. _Coliidae_, Mouse-Birds, 14 sp. E.

F. 94. _Trogonidae_, Trogons, 54 sp.--16(16)O., 4(4)E.,
1(0)Nc., 34(33)Nl.

====

Few birds have attracted more notice, or have been more written about, than Cuckoos. To dwellers in lands with a dreary winter, the Cuckoo heralds the spring, so its call is most welcome. Then, too, the mysteries connected with its upbringing have proved of interest to all Nature and bird lovers. Its call, "Cuckoo," aptly described as the "most imitable of bird calls," has also assisted in making the bird a favorite.

The Pallid Cuckoo belongs to the same genus as the well-known Cuckoo of England. It also resembles that bird in appearance. Its note, however, is quite different. At times it seems to be endeavoring to run up a chromatic scale, so, in some districts, it is called the Scale Bird. At other times, after three running notes, it repeats one note strongly. So persistent is it in calling that it is called in places the Brain-fever Bird. Last September, in Castlemaine, it called all night in the street trees. Few, however, seemed to notice it, and fewer still knew what was uttering the persistent call.

Possibly other birds recognize the Cuckoo as an enemy, or possibly its remarkable superficial resemblance to a Hawk causes birds to chase it. However, in some cases, possibly, the male Cuckoo does not object to being chased. He draws the birds away, while the female Cuckoo quietly places an egg in a convenient nest, and retires unmolested.

The Fan-tailed or Ash-colored Cuckoo is not so conspicuous, as it keeps to more secluded places, and is a solitary bird. Its flight is heavy and labored. It also has a habit of elevating and lowering its tail several times both before and after flight. Its frequent, plaintive, trilling note often reveals its presence, which would otherwise be overlooked.

The Brush Cuckoo is rare. In fact, considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining a specimen for the photograph above, as there was no named specimen in the National Museum. Thanks to Messrs. Kershaw and French, the difficulty was at last overcome.

The Bronze Cuckoos are very similar. They will be immediately recognized by the under-surface barred brown and white, and the golden-green or bronze lustre of the dark back. The New Zealand Bronze-Cuckoo migrates from N.E. Australia and New Guinea. Apparently it sometimes migrates down the East Coast, instead of to New Zealand.

The Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo has a narrower bill, and the centre tail feathers are brownish-chestnut at the base. While the birds are so similar, their eggs are quite unlike. The Bronze Cuckoo lays a bronze egg, generally in dome-shaped or covered nests. It is sometimes found in Tits' nests. The Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo has a red-speckled egg, which is placed often in an open or cup-shaped nest.

The last Cuckoo--the Channel-bill--is one of the largest of Cuckoos. It is a northern bird, which very rarely reaches the southern part of the continent. Its large bill is characteristic. Its tail is large, and often spread out fanwise, thus giving a majestic appearance to the bird. Its call is not pleasing, as it is described by Gould as a "frightful scream," and again as consisting of "awful notes." It lays its eggs sometimes in the nest of a Sparrowhawk (not Kestrel), or in the nest of a Magpie, Bell-Magpie (_Strepera_), or even of a Crow. It appears with the first flood-waters, and follows the rivers from the Gulf of Carpentaria watershed down to Cooper's Creek and Lake Eyre.

One large Australian Cuckoo builds its own nest, and rears its own young. This bird, however, does not visit Southern Australia.

In addition to the interest of their habits and life history, Cuckoos are amongst the most valuable of insectivorous birds. Few birds will eat the vine caterpillar or hairy caterpillar. The Cuckoos, however, are very fond of these, and so should be encouraged. They do no harm to anything we need.

====

[Page 108]

[230] [231] [232]]

ORDER XIX.--COCCYGES.

F. 95. _Musophagidae_, Plantain-eaters, Touracos, 35 sp. E.

F. 96. CUCULIDAE (14), CUCKOOS (Cuckows), 202 sp.--61(50)A.,
57(42)O., 8(0)P., 55(51)E., 8(0)Nc., 43(35)Nl.

[Page 109]

2 11

=229* Pallid Cuckoo= (Unadorned), Harbinger-of-Spring, Scale
(Semitone, Brain-fever, Storm) Bird, Mosquito (Grasshopper)
Hawk, _Cuculus inornatus_, A., T. =vt Eur. Cuckoo.
[~229 _Cuculus pallidus._]

Mig. v.c. _open_, _timber_ 12

Upper brown; under gray; tail barred white, brown; eyelash
yellow; white at edge wing; wing spotted, marked lighter; f.,
upper mottled whitish, rufous. Caterpillars, insects. Runs up
scale, calls frequently at night.

3 13

=230* Fan-tailed Cuckoo=, Ash-colored, _Cacomantis rufulus
(flabelliformis)_, Aru Is., A., T.

Mig. c. _open_, _timber_ 10

Head, upper dark slate-gray; under rust-red; throat gray;
tail dark toothed with white; white edge of wing; eyelash
citron-yellow; f., smaller. Caterpillars, insects. Sad trill
often repeated.

=231 Square-tailed Cuckoo= (Brush), _C. flabelliformis
(variolosus)_, Mol., Timor, N.G., A.

Mig. v.r. _open timber_ 9.2

Like 230, but smaller; tail feathers toothed with white on
inner web only; f., sim. Insects.

1 1

=232 Black-eared Cuckoo=, _Mesocalius palliolatus_, Mol., Aru
Is., A.
[~232 _Misocalius palliolatus._]

Mig. v.r. _scrub_ 7.5

Head, upper, wings glossy olive-brown; shoulder darker; tail
olive-brown tipped white; side tail feather five white bars;
behind ear a narrow black streak; above this a lighter patch;
under pale-brown; f., duller. Insects. Feeble plaintive note.

[Page 110]

[234] [235] [236]]

5 15

=233 Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo=, _Chalcococcyx basalis_,
Mal. Pen., Java, Cel., to A., T.

Mig. c. _open_, _timber_ 6.2

Upper beautiful bronze-green; under barred brown, white; like
234 but bill narrower; lighter brown head; paler back; outer
tail feathers strongly barred blackish-brown, white; centre
abdomen not barred; base tail much chestnut; f., duller.
Insects, caterpillars.

[Page 111]

=234 Broad-billed Bronze Cuckoo= (New Zealand, Shining),
Pipiwharauroa, _C. lucidus_, E.A., T., N.Z., Chatham Is.,
Macquarie Is. (acc).

Mig. v.r. _open_, _timber_ 6.2

Like 233, but outer tail feathers barred white; next feathers
barred rufous; forehead freckled with white; crown, hind-neck
shining-green; bill broader; f., duller. Insects.

=235* Bronze Cuckoo=, _C. plagosus_, A., T., Pac. Is.

Mig. c. _open_, _timber_ 6.2

Like 233, 234; crown, hind-neck dark violet-brown; very little
rufous on tail; f., duller. Insects, caterpillars.

1 1

=236 Channel-bill=, Giant Cuckoo, Storm (Flood, Rain) Bird,
Toucan (e), Hornbill (e), _Scythrops novae-hollandiae_, Cel.,
Flores, Mol., A., T. (once).

Mig. r. _plains_ 24

Gray; tail banded black; tipped white barred black, white
below; bill very large, light horn-color; red about eye; f.,
smaller. Insects, berries.

F. 97. _Indicatoridae_, Honey-Guides, 18 sp.--2(2)O., 16(16)E.

F. 98. _Capitonidae_, Barbets, 140 sp.--40(40)O., 82(82)E.,
18(18)Nl.

F. 99. _Rhamphastidae_, Toucans, 60 sp. Nl.

F. 100. _Galbulidae_, Jacamars, 22 sp. Nl.

F. 101. _Bucconidae_, Puff Birds, 45 sp. Nl.

F. 102. _Picidae_, Woodpeckers, Piculets, Wrynecks, Flickers,
440 sp.--6(5)A., 124(117)O., 41(33)P., 54(53)E., 44(32)Nc.,
197(181)Nl.

F. 103. _Eurylaemidae_, Broadbills, 16 sp. O. The only family
of birds restricted to the Oriental Region.

====

One of the most interesting birds in the world is the Lyre Bird, whose beautiful tail, alas, often brings early death to its rightful owner. There are three species of these birds, found only in the mountainous parts of South-eastern Australia, and as far as Wide Bay, in Southern Queensland. Two of the species are found in New South Wales and Southern Queensland, while the third is found in Victoria. Though these beautiful birds are supposed to be protected, hundreds of their tails are sold annually in London.

The Lyre Bird is responsible for the statement that Australia possesses "Wrens as large as peacocks," whereas most Wrens are very small. However, the Lyre Bird is not now classed with Wrens. In all its ways, the Lyre Bird is of interest. Its dancing mounds, its large domed nest, containing but one egg, and its remarkable mimicking powers have frequently been written about. Dr. Sharpe has lately placed the Lyre Birds in an Order by themselves--Order XX.

Gould considered the Lyre Bird the most shy of birds, for he spent days in the forest gullies surrounded by them, but though he was entertained by their many and varied calls, he caught no sight of a bird. The wonderful tail is not attained until the male bird is four years old. It is unique, and is the most beautiful tail ornament worn by any bird. Dr. Newton hoped that "so remarkable a form as the Lyre Bird, the nearly sole survivor, apparently, of a very ancient race of beings, will not be allowed to become extinct--its almost certain fate, so far as can be judged--without many more observations of its manners being made, and fuller details of them placed on record." Australians please note. You alone can assist by collecting facts and recording reliable observations. Bird-lovers hope that the Lyre Bird will be successfully established in the National Park, Wilson's Promontory, where some have already been placed, and so be preserved for future generations. Its large, domed nest is usually placed on the ground, and the large single egg (or the young one) is often taken by the fox. Further, its natural haunts--dense forest scrubs--are being rapidly cleared, so that the bird is doomed, except in special sanctuaries.

The Lyre Bird is now generally acknowledged to be the prince of mocking birds. It mimics clearly all bush noises, the chopping of trees, sawing of logs, barking of dogs, clucking of hens, the singing of native birds. Its dancing mounds are interesting. Near one of these mounds, on the Upper Snowy River, in the wild cherry scrub, we observed a nest at a height of about thirty feet from the ground.

Australians! you owe it to mankind in general to see that the protection supposed to be given to the Lyre Bird is a reality. Recently, after passing a lady much bedecked with Bird of Paradise plumes, I thought it was fortunate the Lyre Bird's tail was too large for a lady's hat. Imagine my surprise when, at the next street corner (Collins and Spring Streets), I met a lady with a Lyre Bird's tail stuck through her head-dress. However, I have seen no other tail used for such a purpose.

In America the Audubon Society has done splendid work by disseminating knowledge about American birds, and arousing public interest in the value of birds. There, also, thorough scientific investigation has been made of the value of insect-eating and seed-eating birds. It has been stated, as the result of full research, that one wild pigeon, in whose crop over 7000 weed seeds were found, was as efficacious in destroying weeds as two farm laborers.

It is to be noted that no less an agricultural authority than Professor Gilruth, of the Veterinary School, Melbourne University, has given it as his deliberate opinion that the Australian farmer would find life impossible without the aid of the detested Sparrow as a weed destroyer. This is the judgment of a man whose opinion is worthy of serious consideration.

It is open to serious doubt if it pays commercially to kill indiscriminately any kind of bird found on this continent. It may, of course, happen that one individual bird has learnt where to get an easy food supply at the expense of a farmer or orchardist. Such a bird could be kept away. To kill birds at all times, because of the damage done by a few at a particular time, is foolish.

On the lines of the American Audubon Society, the Gould League of Bird Lovers has recently been established. Just as Audubon was the great father of American ornithology, so "John Gould, the bird man," was the father of Australian ornithology. Hence his name has been associated with this movement to save our birds. The movement is progressing by leaps and bounds.

The Victorian branch has a very large body of members, about 40,000 certificates having already been issued to adults and children. Tasmania has a branch in full operation. In South Australia bird clubs are doing excellent work, especially amongst the young people, and Queensland and New South Wales bird-lovers have taken active steps to develop the movement in their States. A Bird Day, by order of the Minister of Education, Hon. A. A. Billson, and the Director, Mr. F. Tate, was observed in Victorian schools in 1909 and 1910, with gratifying results. Bird-nesting, for the collection of eggs, has practically wholly disappeared from our schools, while at most country schools native birds can be seen nesting on the school grounds, the children keeping observation notes of nesting and feeding habits of the birds as part of their work in Nature-study. What study is of greater economic importance to this wealthy, though occasionally insect-troubled, land?

====

[Page 112]

]

ORDER XX.--MENURIFORMES, LYRE-BIRDS.

F. 104. MENURIDAE (3), LYRE-BIRDS, 3 sp. A. (South-Eastern
A.).

3 3

=237 Victoria Lyre-Bird=, Pheasant (e), _Menura victoriae_, V.

Stat. r. _dense scrubs_, m., 36; f., 27

Beautiful lyre tail; f., sooty-brown; all tail feathers fully
webbed. Insects, centipedes, snails.

====

Order XXI.--Perching-Birds--contains 11,500 species, more than three-fifths of the world's 19,000 birds. As Perching-Birds (_Passeres_) are still undergoing evolution, connecting links still live, so that it is very difficult to divide the Perching Birds into well-defined families. Sharpe has divided them into sixty-one families, but, for several of these, no exact characters that exclude other birds can be assigned, so that some of these, at least, are "not worthy of family rank." However, Sharpe's classification represents the latest thought of scientists on this difficult matter, so it must be adopted here.

This large order of birds is divided into two sub-orders:--

1. Songless Perching-Birds, made up mainly of South American birds, though two families are included that are represented in the Australian region--_viz._, Pittas (_Pittidae_) and New Zealand Wrens (_Xenicidae_).

2. Song-Birds.

Birds of the second division are again divided into two:--A.: Abnormal Song-Birds. B.: Normal Song-Birds.

The first group, Abnormal Song-Birds, comprises only the two remarkable Scrub-Birds (_Atrichornithidae_) of Australia. One of these inhabits West Australian scrubs only, while the other inhabits East Australian (Richmond River) scrubs only.

The breast bone and the muscles of the voice apparatus are unusual. These birds are about the size of a thrush, and form "one of the most curious ornithological types of the many furnished by that country" (Australia).

So far, no female bird has been examined, and little is known about these remarkable, noisy, scrub-haunting birds.

The remaining forty-eight "families" of birds belong to the Normal Song-Birds. It is interesting to note that Australia contains representatives of twenty-nine families of Song-Birds. Representatives of but nineteen families have been recorded from Britain. The Indian Empire, including Burmah and Ceylon, contains representatives of twenty-two families, North America, also, of twenty-two families, while in South America twenty-three families are represented in this highest division of birds.

Again, while only 89 Song-Birds have been recorded as permanent residents of, or regular visitors to, Britain, almost 500 species of Song-Birds have, so far, been recorded from Australia and Tasmania. Of these, 157 have been recorded from Victoria, and are illustrated in this volume. And yet, we are told, this is a land of songless birds.

Swallows have always attracted much notice, perhaps, because of their airy play when enjoying themselves after their long migration flight. It is very difficult to realize that Cuvier and most scientists of one hundred years ago believed that Swallows hibernated by burying themselves in the mud in the bottom of lakes and pools. It is interesting to note, in Gilbert White's _Natural History of Selborne_, the growing doubt concerning this belief; but, as it was supported by apparently good authority, he is cautious. Fuller observation shows that there are well-marked lines of migration, so that the European Swallow migrates sometimes even as far as South Africa, and the Swallows of North Asia are said to migrate even to Australia. However, in our winterless clime, migration is not complete, and this year (1910) there was probably little migration of Swallows. As Swallows are such rapid fliers, and spend much of their time on the wing, it is not a matter of surprise to find that they have spread the world over, except to New Zealand, though Tree Swallows are said to reach even that distant land occasionally.

The Australian members of the Swallow family present very different nesting habits. While the Welcome Swallow builds the well-known cup-like mud nest, the rare White-backed Swallow drills a two-inch hole into a bank for two or three feet, and there builds its nest. The Tree Martin (Swallow), on the other hand, makes no nest, but lays its eggs on leaves placed on the rotten wood in the hollow of a tree. The Fairy Martin builds a long, bottle-shaped mud flask, under a bridge, or a ledge, and so is sometimes called the Bottle or Retort Swallow. Wood-Swallows and Swifts do not belong to the Swallow family.

The Flycatcher family is a large one, nearly 700 species being accepted by Dr. Sharpe. More than half of these are restricted to the Australian region.

The Brown Flycatcher is almost as common as the Willie Wagtail (Black and White Fantail). The white feather on each side of the tail is a valuable guide, though the Groundlark also has this. So often does it sit on fence posts looking at the passer-by that it has been called the "Post-Sitter." Its Sydney name, Jacky Winter, is less formal than Brown Flycatcher--a name which is already in use for another bird.

The Robin Redbreast of Britain is regarded with affection by all English children. That feeling has been transferred to the externally slightly similar "Robin Redbreasts" of this country, though they are not at all related to the British Robins. Redbreast is really the name of the English bird, and Robin is perhaps a term of endearment added to the name Redbreast. While the British bird has a rufous breast, the Australian birds have a scarlet breast, and are much handsomer birds. The British Robin is now placed in the Thrush family.

Once given to members of this family, the name Robin has been adopted for related birds that have no red--_e.g._, the black and white Hooded Robin, and the Tasmanian Dusky Robin. The Shrike Robins belong to the Shrike family, so they need not be mentioned here. The Scrub Robin of the inland dry scrubs belongs to the same family as the Coachwhip Bird and the Babbler.

The Fantails and some, at least, of the Flycatchers proper are known to all. Who does not know and admire the plucky, though fussy Black and White Fantail (Willie Wagtail), as it drives a cat or a dog away from the vicinity of its nest, or as it waits impatiently about the mouth of a grazing cow or horse, or as it expresses its opinion of itself in the melodious "sweet, pretty creature," heard even late on moonlight nights? The friendly White-shafted Fantail is almost as well known, as it flits about a camp or catches flies near some water-course.