An Australian Bird Book Part 50

[Page 187a]

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=382^B Common Myna= (Indian, Calcutta), _Acridotheres tristis_, India, Afghanistan, V. (Introduced).

Stat. v.c. _houses_ 10

Head, neck black; upper brown; under rich vinous-brown; tip-tail, large patch on wing white; about eye, bill, legs yellow; f., sim. Insects, fruit. Many notes.

F. 157. EULABETIDAE (2), s.h.i.+NING STARLINGS, 139 sp.--51(51)A., 20(20)O., 1(1)P., 67(67)E.

F. 158. _Paramythidae_, 1 sp. A. (N.G.).

F. 159. _Buphagidae_, Oxp.e.c.k.e.r, Rhinoceros-Bird, 2 sp. E.

F. 160. ORIOLIDAE (4), ORIOLES, Fig-Birds, 70 sp.--27(27)A., 29(26)O., 3(0)P., 15(14)E.

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=383* Olive-backed Oriole=, Green Thrush (e), _Mimetes sagittata (Oriolus viridis)_, E.A., N.W.A.

Stat. r. _open forest_ 11.5

Upper yellowish olive-green; wings, tail brown, tipped white; under whitish, streaked black; bill flesh-red; eyes scarlet; variable in color; f., sim. Insects, fruit. "Or-ree-ee-oale."

Mimic.

F. 161. DICRURIDAE (1), DRONGOS, 73 sp.--24(23)A., 39(38)O., 11(11)E.

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=384* Spangled Drongo=, Drongo-Shrike, King-Crow, _Dicruropsis (Chibia, Dicrurus) bracteata_, N.G., N. Ter., E.A., N.W.A., T.

(acc.).

Nom. r. _timber_ 12.2

Black glossed, spotted green; spotted white under wing; f., sim. Insects. Noisy, harsh peculiar notes.

F. 162. PARADISEIDAE (4), BIRDS OF PARADISE, Rifle-Bird, 70 sp. A.

Order XXI. (continued)

Mr. A. J. North, C.M.B.O.U., the ornithologist of the Australian Museum, Sydney, and one of the greatest of living Australian ornithologists, has declared that "without exception, the bower-building birds of Australia are the most extraordinary and interesting group of birds found in the world."

These wonderful birds construct, apart from their nests, play-houses--structures that "are perfectly anomalous in the architecture of birds." Gould considered the accounts of the "extraordinary habits" of the Bower Birds "as some of the valuable and interesting portions" of his work. Though the bird was known before Gould's time, its "extraordinary habits had never been brought before the scientific world until I (Gould) had the gratification of publis.h.i.+ng an account of them after my return from Australia."

This month I had the gratification of seeing the Satin Bower Birds playing about a perfect bower within one chain of a country school, and within one yard of a busy roadside. The birds have quite made friends with the school children. They have helped themselves to the blue flowers from the school garden, pieces of blue paper, and even a blue hair ribbon, besides blue parrot's feathers. These are used to decorate this very interesting playhouse.

Unfortunately, Satin Bower Birds are mainly fruit-eaters, and so will possibly do some damage, but they are amongst the wonders of the world, and it is hoped all will hesitate to shoot them, "for their highly-decorated halls of a.s.sembly must be regarded as the most wonderful instances of bird-architecture yet discovered." The male gets his beautiful blue-black coat after he is seven years old.

Many of the schools of South Gippsland can show Satin Bower-Birds regularly in attendance at lunch-time to gather the crusts. We have destroyed their native fruits, and should submit to some slight loss to enable young Australians to become familiar with the "most interesting group of birds" in the world.

(continued below)

[Page 187b]

F. 163. PTILONORHYNCHIDAE (11), BOWER-BIRDS, Regent-Bird, Cat (Gardener) Bird, 37 sp. A.

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=385* Satin Bower-Bird=, Satin Bird, _Ptilonorhynchus violaceus_, E.A.

Stat. r. _coast-scrubs_, _mt.-gullies_ 12.5

l.u.s.trous blue-black, with black centres to feathers; f.,*

upper grayish-green; quills dark-brown; tail golden-brown; under yellow, washed bluish-green, marked blackish-brown; young male up to 3 years sim. to f. Gets fully adult blue-black after 7 years of age. Fruits, berries, insects.

Many notes, mimics.

[Page 188a]

[Ill.u.s.tration: [386] [387] [388] [389] [390]]

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=386* Spotted Bower-Bird=, Cabbage-Bird, _Chlamydera maculata_, E.A, S.A. (inland).

Stat. v.r. _dry scrubs_ 12

Upper dark-brown spotted buff; rose-lilac opalescent plumes on nape; tail tipped buff, white; abdomen pale creamy-buff, flanks barred dusky brown; f., no rose-lilac plumes. Varied, harsh, plaintive notes, mimics.

Order XXI. (continued)

The members of the Crow Family--the _Corvidae_--were considered the most highly-developed of birds--the most highly organized, so far as structure was concerned, and the most intelligent. However, Sharpe has erected the seven Australian Bell-Magpies (_Streperas_) into a family which, in his _Hand-List of Birds_ is placed at the top of the bird tree.

In the Crow Family many well-known birds are placed. The Jays, Magpie, Daws, Rooks, and Nutcrackers of Europe are not represented in Australia. The Crows and the Raven, however, are represented by closely-related birds.

It is important to tell the difference between the Australian Crow and the Australian Raven, for, we are told, the Crow is all that is good, while the Raven is the reverse.

The ornithologists say it is easy to tell the difference. Just examine the down, say, on the neck. It is white in the Crow, but dusky in the Raven. Unfortunately, the birds will not always wait to permit an examination of the down.

The eye is often mentioned, but hazel-eyed birds have become white-eyed.

However, the Raven has lanceolate feathers on the neck, and a rougher, unmusical voice.