An Australian Bird Book Part 42

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]

[Ill.u.s.tration: [320] [321] [322] [323] [324]]

3 3

=320* Yellow-breasted Shrike-t.i.t= (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]

[Ill.u.s.tration: [325] [326] [327] [328] [329]]

=325 Olive Whistler=, Olivaceous Thickhead, _P. olivacea_, N.S.W., V., T., Ba.s.s 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--t.i.tmice or t.i.ts--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 t.i.ts belong to this family, so it is not desirable to use the name "t.i.t" for the Australian birds of the genus _Acanthiza_, for they belong to the Warbler family (_Sylviidae_), and not to the t.i.t 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 Ba.s.s Strait was formed before they reached Southern Victoria. Thus bird-study supports the geographer and ethnologist when they declare that Ba.s.s Strait is of comparatively remote formation. As the Tasmanian blacks were ignorant of boats, they evidently reached Tasmania before Ba.s.s 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 Woodp.e.c.k.e.r in Australia, but it is a fact, nevertheless. Our so-called "Woodp.e.c.k.e.r"

is the Tree-Creeper. It never chisels mortice-holes in a tree to get out a grub, as the true Woodp.e.c.k.e.r 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 j.a.pan, 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 ill.u.s.trations 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.

The Skunk also has this white patch on the hind quarters, but here a different explanation is required, for the Skunk does not trouble to run away when a possible enemy appears. The bright color is here regarded as an "advertizing color." The Skunk has other means of protection, and he is labelled dangerous or objectionable, just as our one poisonous Spider is plainly labelled dangerous by means of a red stripe. An inexperienced enemy may rush at the Skunk, but the means of protection enjoyed by it effectively protects it, and the enemy retires.