Narrative of an Expedition into Central Australia Part 28

33. PACHYCEPHALUS PECTORALIS, VIG. AND HORSF.--Banded Thick-head.

Similar in habits to the last; and is abundant in all parts of South America.

34. COLLURICINCLA HARMONICA.--Harmonious Colluricincla.

A bird of dull plumage, with the habits of a thrush, keeping in the bushes or young sapling gum-trees, near water, and living on insects of various kinds. Its note is sweet, and amongst Australian birds it may be considered a good songster. Its range is extensive. It was numerous on Cooper's Creek, in lat. 27 1/2 degrees and long. 142 degrees.

35. OREOICA GUTTURALIS.--Crested piping Thrush.

I found this bird common on the plains eastward of the Darling, and also in the western interior. It visits the south-eastern parts of the continent, and is common in South Australia; frequenting open forests, and betraying its presence by its monotonous notes. It is a strong built bird, with a dull plumage, but its crest adds much to its beauty, and it has a deep yellow iris.

36. ERYTHRODRYAS RHODINOGASTER.--Pink-breasted wood Robin.

This pretty little bird is, like our own native Robin, fond of woodlands, and is generally found amongst thick brush, issuing from it to perch on dead branches. Its breast is a fine bright pink; its plumage is otherwise black and white, and it has a spot of white over the nostrils. The range of this bird is extensive, and it is common to many localities.

37. PETROICA GOODENOVII.--Red-capped Robin.

Similar in shape to the last, and essentially with the same plumage, with this exception, that the feathers over the nostril in this bird are a fine deep red, as well as its breast. It is found in South Australia, and was not uncommon in the interior.

38. PETROICA PHOENICEA, GOULD.--Flame-breasted Robin.

Similar in general appearance, but larger than either of the last; it is grey where it is black in the others, and is without any frontal mark. It has, like the others, a breast of red, approaching to a flame colour.

This species is not common in the interior. None of the three described are songsters, and cannot therefore rival our own sweet bird in that respect.

39. DRYMODES BRUNNEOPYGIA, GOULD.--Scrub Robin.

This bird is considerably larger than the last described, and is an inhabitant of scrubs.

40. SPHENOSTOMA CRISTATA, GOULD.--Crested Wedge Bill.

The note of this bird is generally heard when all the other birds are silent, during the heat of the day. Its range does not extend to the westward of the Barrier Range, or beyond 32 1/2 degrees of lat.i.tude.

41. MALURUS CYANEUS.--Blue Wren.

This beautiful little warbler, so splendidly ill.u.s.trated in the work of Mr. Gould, is common in South-Australia. There are six or seven species of the genus, all equally beautiful.

42. MALURUS MELANOTUS.

This beautiful description of Malurus, common in the brushes of South Australia, was frequently met with, particularly in scrubby places.

43. MALURUS LEUCOPTERUS.--White-winged.

The habits of this bird are exactly similar to those of a wren. It delights in being on the top of bushes, whence after singing for a minute or two it flies into the centre and secretes itself. The rich-coloured males of this family are generally followed by a number of small brown birds, their late offspring. This peculiarity has been mentioned fully by Mr. Gould in his splendid work on Australian birds.

41. EPTHIANURA AURIFRONS, GOULD.--Orange-fronted Epthianura.

The general appearance of this beautiful little bird is very different from that of Australian birds in general. A few years ago a specimen came accidentally into my hands, and it was so unlike any bird I had seen that I doubted its having been shot in Australia, but concluded that it was a South American specimen. Two or three however were procured by the Expedition, in lat.i.tude 29 degrees, longitude 141 1/2 degrees.

45. EPTHIANURA TRICOLOR, GOULD.--Tricoloured Epthianura.

This beautiful little bird was procured, both on the summit of the Barrier Range, and on the plains to the westward of it, generally inhabiting open brush. It was conspicuous amongst the smaller birds on account of its bright red plumage, but it was by no means uncommon. This bird evidently migrates from the north-west, and the second time, when it was seen so far to the westward of the ranges, it was most likely on its return from that point.

46. PYRRHOLAEMUS BRUNNEUS, GOULD.--Brown Red-throat.

A small and common brush bird, and a good warbler, more remarkable indeed for the sweetness of its song than for the beauty of its plumage.

47. CINCLORAMPHUS RUFESCENS.

A good songster, and generally distributed over the country.

48. AMADINA LATHAMI.--Spotted-sided Finch.

This is, I believe, the largest of its genus, and is a beautiful little bird. It was not seen to the westward of Stanley's Barrier Range. Its range is, however, extensive, as it is found in most parts of New South Wales, as well as South Australia.

49. AMADINA CASTANOTUS, GOULD.

This pretty little bird is perhaps more numerous than any other in the interior of Australia. Never did its note fall on our ears there but as the harbinger of good, for never did we hear this little bird but we were sure to find water nigh at hand, and many a time has it raised my drooping spirits and those of my companions, when in almost hopeless search for that, to us, invaluable element.

The Amadina castanotus is gregarious, collecting together in hundreds on bushes never very far from water, to which they regularly go at sunset.

They build in small trees, many nests being together in the same tree, and hatch their young in December. It was met with in every part of the interior wherever there was water, but hundreds must perish yearly from thirst, for the country must frequently dry up round them, to such a distance as to prevent the possibility of their flying to another place of safety. The hawks make sad havoc also amongst these harmless little birds, generally carrying off two at a time.

50. CINCLOSOMA CASTANOTUS, GOULD.--Chesnut-backed Ground Thrush.

This is a bird of the great Murray belt, and was first shot by my very valued friend Mr. Gould, when in a bush excursion with me in South Australia. It is by no means a common bird, and is exceedingly wary.

51. CINCLOSOMA CINNAMONEUS, GOULD.--Cinnamon-coloured Ground Thrush.

This third species of Cinclosoma appeared at the Depot in lat.i.tude 29 1/2 degrees, longitude 142 degrees, during the winter months in considerable numbers, and a good many specimens were procured. Mr. Gould tells me this is the only new species procured during my recent Expedition, a proof, I think, of his indefatigable exertions in the prosecution of his researches. Indeed I can bear abundant testimony as to the perseverance and ability he displayed whilst with me, and the little regard he had to personal comfort, in his ardent pursuit of information as to the habits of the feathered tribes in the singular region where he was sojourning.

52. ZANTHOMYZA PHRYGIA.--Warty-faced Honey-eater.

This Honey-eater, with alternate black and yellow plumage, frequented all the sand hills where Banksias grew, but as none of those trees are to be found to the westward of Stanley's Barrier Range, so these birds were confined to the country eastward of it.

They are found both in New South Wales and in South Australia; and most probably came to the latter place from the eastward.

52a. ACANTHORHYNCHUS-RUFO-GULARIS, GOULD.--s.h.i.+ny Honey-eater.

A larger Honey-eater, with grey mottled plumage, generally found on the Banksia, and not very common.

53. ZOSTEROPS DORSALIS.--Grey-backed white-eye.

Seen in many parts of the country through which the Expedition pa.s.sed, but more common in the settled districts of the colony. It is exceedingly mischievous amongst the grapes, and frequents the gardens in such numbers as to be formidable.

54. CRYSOCOCCYX LUCIDUS.--The s.h.i.+ning Cuckoo.

This is the smallest of the Cuckoo tribe, and is known by the metallic l.u.s.tre of its wings. It is beautifully figured in Mr. Gould's work. It was frequently seen in the interior.

55. CLIMACTERIS SCANDENS, TEMM.--Brown Tree-Creeper.