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LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY |
Bound
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Vol. IV. - V
Part 1.
THE
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
ORNITHOLOGIST,
A Magazine of Ornithology.
1st JANUARY, 1919.- X ^>
n
L_JiQ£i
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: R. CROMPTON. R.A.O.U. A. G. EDQUIST S. A. WHITE, C.M.B.O.U. F. R. ZIETZ, R.A.O.U..
Price, 2/-
n
5
THE
South Australian
ORNITHOLOGIST
Editotial CoviDiittec :
R. Crompton, R.A.O.U. A. G. Edouist S. A. VVhith, C.M.BO.U F. R. ZiETz, R.A.O.U.
Sccrtlarv :
F. M. An(;el, R.A.O.U.,
c/o W. D. & H. O. Wills, Ud. Grenfell .Street, Adelaide.
25^^<ji^^. 7k^i3
CONTENTS.
Pagk
The South Au.stralijin Ornitholof^ical Association .
Ordor Pelecaniforines, F'aniily Phalacrocoraeidae, Genus Hypoleucu
Description of a New Subspecie-i of Cliniacteris
The Birds of the South- Eastern Part of South Australia. A. M Morgan, M.B., B.Ch.
Inthe Pineand Mallee. J. W. Mellor, R.A.O.U, .
Kenaming Australian Birds. A. J. Campbell, CM B.O.U.
Kiiiglisher Eneounter.s a Snake. J W. Mellor, ll.A.O.l".
7\bout Members ,
A Sketch of the Lite of Samuel While -( ►rnithologist. Soldier Sailor, und Explorer. By bis son, S. A. White," CM. B.O.T'
20
Th(^ Editorial Cornmittoo accepts no responsibility for the views or deductions expressed by any of its contributors. The Journal welcomes a free interchange of ideas with the object of extending the knowledge of our avifauna, but the author of each article is respnnsit)le for the opinions and deductions recorded.
THE
South Australian Ornithologist.
Vol. IV.] 1st JANUARY, 1919. [Part 1.
The South Austrah'an Ornithological Association.
SEPTEMBER 27th. 15)18.
The monthly meeting; of the South Australian Ornitho- logical Association was held in the Royal Society's room, North Terrace, on Friday evening, 27th September, 1918. Oapt. S. A. White presided, and welcomed Mr. J. Neil McGilp, of Moolawatana Station, near to Lake Frome as a visitor. Many interesting bird notes were recorded. Mr. J. W. Mollor stated that the landrails were nesting on his property at Lockleys, and that a pair of wagtails had built a nest low down in a tree near to the house. A child who was visiting had interfered with the nest, and the birds pulled it to pieces and rebuilt it higher up. The same member exhibited a large bunch of gum leaves and twigs which had been nipped off by a shrike tit (Fah-iinculus flavtgiilHn) . This is a usual practice when they nest. Mr. Mellor also stated that the mudlark or Murray magpie [Grallina cyanolenea) had nested in a Morton Bay fig tree quite close to his house. Mr. Welfare read seve- ral interesting press clippings. One was a statement made by Mr. H. L. White, of Scone, New South Wales, in which he said he had seen the Murray magpie picking tick from a sheep. Mr. A. (.'rompton reported having observed quite 500 cor- morants on tlie Tort River. They conijn-ised two species- little black and little black and white. Master Alen Lendon said he had noticed about 150 white-faced herons near to the main road, between the Cross Keys and the River Light. Dr. Morgan reported that fairy martins were nesting on Septem- ber 14 along the Sturt Creek. A discussion took place upon
2 Tke >'*>out/i Australiiiii Ornit/iofoyical Associatiori.
the food of cormorants. It was admitted by all present thai the Chairman and Dr. Morgan's work upon this subject clearly showed that the cormorant was not injurious to the seafishing industry. Mr. J. Neil McGilp was requested by the Chairman to give his experiences with the wedge-tailed eagle and the crow. Speaking of the first bird, Mr. McCrilp said it was only troublesome during drought time, when they appeared in numbers. In his opinion, an eagle could not take a lamb from a healihy mother, for she would be more than a match for the bird, but he had seen five eagles attack and almost kill a large lamb. He considered crows very useful. The short-billed, or Bennett's Crow, w^as a wonderful bird on grasshoppers and other insects, and all species of crows were enemies to the blowfly. He had observed several crows turn over a dry carcase and dig into the ground for the fly larvae. A discussion occurred regarding the habits of birds, for which there seemed to be no explanation. It was stated that the bare- eyed cockatoo ring-barked a gumtree in which it had its nest. One reason seemed to be that the killing of the tree would cause more nesting hollows to become available. Mr. McGilp said a native had informed him that the cockatoos ring-barked trees because the cats could not be heard climbing up the green bark, but as soon as they struck the dead wood with their claus ii scri>tc!ting sound of warning was made. The Chairiiiaii staliMl that the Rufous Song-Lark {Ginclor- hdiiipJnis nifcscciis) had put in an a])])earance for the first time this season at the Reedbeds on September 10, and that on the same day he saw a large flight of white-browed wood swallows i Artdiiins .siiixrcilio.sii.'^) flying very high, and that the landrail { H !/pof<i('iii<li(i philiij/xHsis) was numerous at the Keedbeds this season. Sonic interesting notes from Mr. Bell- chambers, of Humbug Scrub, were read. OCTOBER 25th, 1918. Capt. S. A. White presided. Several members of the field naturalists' section of the Royal Society were welcomed as visitors. The Chairman said he had been addressing good a;Udiences in several country centres, and also scholars of the public school's. He was much gratified at the interest shown in bird protection. Mr. J. AV. Mellor stated that the pair of wagtails which he had reported at the previous meeting as hav- ing rebuilt their nest near to his home after having been interfered with, had become sus])icious. They had })ulled it to pieces, built it for the lliird time and on this occasion high ut> in a gum tree. Mr. Mellor said he had again witnessed
The South Australian, Oniitholotjical Association .
white-browed babblers pull young sparrows out of their nest and then drag the nest to pieces. Landrails were nesting at the Reedbeds. Mr. F. R, Zietz drew attention to the fact that bo,vs were taking birds' nests and eggs in the parks. Mr. A. Crompton stated that he had seen great numbers of wattle birds at Second \^alley lately. Mr. Hosking said a friend had observed a tussle between a snake and a kestrel; the snake at last escaped. The Secretary (Mr. F. Angel) stated that he had discovered an eagle's nest at Moolooloo. and had counted the renuiins of 31) rabbits, two cats, and a wallaby. The cats were an unusual change of diet, and it was said thai the manager of the station was in favour of ])rotecting the birds. Mr. Mellor gave an interesting account of a trip made into the mallee and pine country off the Paringa line, and showed a number of bird skins. He stated that the birds had nested early in that district this season owing, no doubt, to the spell of fine weather some few weeks back. The Hon. Secretary gave an account of a visit made by a small party of nature lovers to Moolooloo Station, at the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Lindo. Mr. Angel read a large list of birds observed, and gave useful notes upon them. Mr. Beck (a visitor) showed some nice photographs taken v.\Hm this trip.
NOVEMBER 29th, 1918. <.'apt. S. A. White presided. The failure of the Govern- ment to pass the Bill for the protection of birds was dis- cussed, also the constitution of "Flinders Chase." The time lost in carrying out these national works was much deplored. Two names were submitted as new members. Mr. J. W. Melloi- re]>(>rted that many bee-eaters [Merops ornatus) had visited Lockleys last month, and that he had seen mag pies pulling sparrows' nests to pieces and carrying off the young birds. The same member reported that much bird destruction was going on in the Mount Lofty Ranges through school boys destroying nests and eggs. Mr. A. G. Edquist read an interesting letter from a member of the Bird Club describing how the wr'ter had seen a grass parrot frequenting a hole in the ground, wher.c most likely it would nest. This statement led to a discussion in regard to cockatoos nesting in rabbit burrows and upon the ground. Master Allan Lendon re])orted having noticed a brush bronzewing pigeon oil the Lower Sturt Road. The Chairman said that he had seen two stubble quails' nests, one with five eggs and another with seven eggs — both at the Reedbeds; also several grass parrots in his garden. It was many years since these birdfe
4 ( h-der J'fler'ntiidnnes, Fuihily Phidacroroniriditf:, (renus Hypolev.<-iis
had previously been noticed there. A landrail with a brood of five black chicks had also been seen; also a button quail. The remainder of the evening was taken up by an interesting account by Dr. A. M. Morgan of a trip taken by him to the South-east in Octobei- last. He gave a description of the country and birds seen, and collected and exhibited a series of fine sjieciniens, two Nry/co/'»/.s and \('(nia nodes chri/sognster anniniui being of sjiccial interest. As many members in- tended to be out of town during the Christmas holidays it was decided not to hold a meeting in December.
Order Pclecaniformes, Family Phalacrocoracidae, Genus Hypoleucus.
Hypoleucus varius liypoleuciis — Pied Cormorant.
Description — Top of the head, back of neck, back, flanks, tail coverts, deep glossy black; wings, deep greenish black; primaries and tail same colour; all the undersurface pure white; iris, sea green; bare space in front of eye, orange; bare space round eye. blue; lower eyelid, metallic green; gular pouch, flesh colour; bill, black; tip, horn colour; legs, feet and nails, black. Total length in the flesh, 32 inches; wing from body to tip, 22 inches; spread of wings, 49 inches.
Distribution — South and south-west Australia, New 'South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
Habits — Found mostly on the coast line, and frequenting the mangrove creeks and swamps along the coast; yet they are met with a1 times on rivers and fresh water lakes great dis- tance inland. They form large rookeries when nesting, and place their nests in mangrove trees or on the tops of low bushes.
Flight — Heavy, with rapid motion of the wings.
Food — Consists of fish and Crustacea, from research work carried out it has been proved that these birds only feed upon ■the slow swimming fish such as weed fish (Odax), cat fish Wnidofjlamis megastomus), toad fish, and box fish. Upon rivers and hikes tlie fresh water yabbie foriiis the greater pari of their food, and young turtles are devoured.
Nest. — They nest in colonies, sometimes several thousand pairs together. The nest is substantiallv built of sticks gene- rally of mangrove or samphire, some of which they break off for themselves; it is phiced in the fork of n bush usually a man-
Description of a Neir Sii.bsjiecies of Climacteric.
grove, but where such is not avaihible any low bush will suit their purpose, such as tea tree or samphire, often several nests are placed in the same shrub. The lining is seaweed or grass, but this soon becomes caked with excrement, as does the whole nest. The eggs are two or three in number, rarely four. They are quite white when fresh laid, but very quickly become nest stained. The outer coating is soft and chalky, and is easily scraped off, if this be done the true colour of the egg is found to be light blue or greenish blue. Eggs laid late in the season, probably second or third clutches, are often deficient in the outer coating, and show patches of the blue ground colour. Average measurement of 17 eggs, 6.27 x 3.83 cm.
Largest egg, 6.80 x 3.80 cm.
Smallest Egg, 6.05 x 3.50 cm.
They do not noraially lay more than one clutch in a sea son, but if a first clutch be destroyed they will lay another.
In South Australia the breeding season is the Autumn, usually from March to Mav.
Description of a New Subspecies of Climacteris.
By J. W. Mellor, R.A.O.U.
Climacteris erythrops parsonsi subsp., nov. Mellor.
Southern White-browed Treecreeper.
Type locality Pungonda. Hundred of Bookpurnong, South Australia.
As might reasonably be expected a climacteris inhabit- inz the pine and mallee" country of the River Murray would differ considerably from its ally of the arid districts of Cen- tral Australia. When comparing the skins of a pair of the white-browed treecreepers that I procured from Pungonda in the Hundred of Bookpurnong, S.A., in October last, with North's descri])tion of the White-browed Treecreeper procured by the Horn Expedition to Central Australia, vide report of Horn Expedition, Aves p. 96 I found the following differences :
The Southern form is altogether more robust, and the coloration differs considerably from the Central Aus- tralian bird, being more greyish above; crown of head and forehead being uniform dark grey; no wash of brown on the grey upper tail coverts; subterminal band on tail black; no buffy brown on sides of body and centre of abdomen; and dull' white in place of buffy white on under tail coverts, which are ''barred" with black spots. The birds were rare,
<6 Descrijjtioii of a New SKb.tpecics of Clunacteris.
and verv noiseless, being in marked contrast to the Southern Brown Treecreeper [Glimacteris picumnus mistraUs) Mathews, with which they were in company. I propose to designate the bird in the vernacular list as the Southern White-browed Treecreeper, and scientifically as Glimacteris erythrops iparsonsi, in honour of Mr. Frank E. Parsons, of Adelaide, twhose energy as a young ornithologist I wish to recognise, and through whose valuable information concerning the country I was enabled to secure the specimens described.
The descriptions are: —
Male — General colour above, brownish grey; all the crown of the head, dark grey; upper tail coverts, grey; tail brownish grey, all but the two centre feathers, and the outer ;web of the outermost feathers crossed by a broad subtermi- nal band of black, being broader and more conspicuous on the outer feathers; wing, blackish brown, crossed in the centre with a broad band of rich buff, this colour gradually dying out towards the outermost primaries; the secondaries tipped with brownish grey; lores, black; a stripe above the eye, and the small feathers on the edge of the lower lid fwhite; ear coverts, brownish grey, with a dull white streak Idown the centre of each feather; chin, dull white, passing into whitish grey on the throat, and dark grey on the chest; remainder of under surface has a lanceolate appearance, the feathers being black, lessening in intensity towards the abdomen, and each feather having a broad stripe of white down the centre; the centre of abdomen, dark grey, and less conspicuously streaked; under tail coverts, dull white, with spots of brownish black at intervals forming irregular cross- bars, with the shafts of the feathers dull white throughout; iris, brown; bill, black; feet, very dark horn. Dimensions — Total length in inches, 6.00; wing, 8.64; tail, 2.60; bill from forehead, 0.53; bill from gape, 0.70; tarsus, 0.76.
Female — Resembling male, but having the white stripe above the eye margined above with a narrower line of rusty red; the breast is greyish, streaked with dull vhite down the centre of each feather, giving a more marked lanceolate appearance than in the male, in the centre of the chest a few rusty red jnarkings ou the feathei-s make an indistinct patch of that colour.
Habitat — Belts of pine and mallee country adjacent to the River Murray on the South Australian and Victorian borders, and probably extending into all such country for a considerable distance.
MORGAN — The Birds of Ike South- Kaxt em Part of 8. A. 7
The Birds of the South^Eastern Part of South Austrah'a.
By A. M. Morgan, M.B., B.Cli.
My wife and I spent the month of October in a tour of the South East with the view of making a list of the birds of that part of tlie country, none having been yet published. Leaving Adelaide by the Melbourne express on October 1 we reached Mount Gambler early on the morning of the 2nd, tra.elling by the night train from Wolsley. Mount Gam- bier is a desolation as far as the ornithologist is concerned, the district for miles around being under cultivation, and absolutely denuded of native trees, the plantations of pines which have taken their place are occupied by hordes of spar- rows, starlings, goldfinches, and greenfinches. A few nativ:i birds were seen around the lakes, but nothing of suffi- cient iiJKM'est to warrant a stay there. So next day we hired a trap to drive us to the Glenelg River, where we spent five days. Returning to Mount Gambler on the 8th we left for Beachport next morning, and stayed there until the 17th, metering from there to Robe, where ten days work was put in. On the 27th we motored to Kingston, and spent the next day in some nice gum scrub about five miles from the town. The neighbourhood of the town itself is very bare and bird loss. On the 30th we went on to Narracoorte by train where we saw the beautiful caves and had two after- noons in some stringy bark forests near the town. The country about Narracoorte looked promising, and we were sorry we had not arranged to spend more time there. On the morning of November 1st we left for home. This list is, of course, not complete; of quite a number of the birds identified single individuals or pairs only were seen, so it is to be sui)posed that some were missed altogether. Notable absentees were the Emu, still said to be common in parts, and even in one place we visited near Beachport, but we did not see them. The Bustard, now about extinct in the dis- trict ; the Native Companion, formerly very common, now getting rare; and the Bronzewing Pigeon, which I was told was still common, but although we saw numbers of Brush BronzcAvings we saw none of the common kind. Other om.ission are noted in the detailed list. The coyntry examined was mostly coastal, with the exception of two days at Nairacoorte only two or three trips were made into the inland country. The sandhills at Beachport and Robe are
> hlOR(L\S—Tkc llinU of the tioidfi-Eadern Part of S.A.
covered with very thick scrub, making observation difficult, and c()llettiri«i in some cases alinost impossible. The coun- try behind the sandhills is flat, with numerous swamps and lakes fringed with tea-tree: the greater number of these lakes are salt, and not very well populated with water birds; but the swamps near Kingston, which are fresh, swarm with water fowl, and would repay a better examination than we had time to give them. We were hampered throughout the trip by bad weather, almost every day being wet or windy, or both. The names in the detailed list are those of jM;i<hrws's lOlo list, except that sub-specific names are not ^iven unless I am reasonably certain of the diagnosis. In some cases X have found this impossible even whou specimens Lre availatde for comparison. For instance a specimen of the Striped Diamond F.ird collected near Kingston was com- pared with a large number of skins from widely separat'^d localities, and was found to most nearly resemble a bird from Mount Lyndhurst, in Central Australia, a locality many hun- dreds of miles distant, and with totally different natural con- ditions. Birds identified were: —
1. EiKJi/ptiiJa minor iiiidina (Fairy Penguin) — Many speci- uiens found dead on the beach at Beachport and Robe.
2. Cofuriiia- perwralis (Stubble Quail) — Common in all parts. Some birds were i)ut np in a cutting grass flat which I took to be Swam]) (Jnails {Yp.<^ilop]ioruf!), but I did not secure a specimen.
3. Turnix varius (Scrub Quail) — Two pairs seen near Kingston.
4. CosmopeUa elef/ans affinis (Brush Bronze Wing) — Very numerous at Glenelg River. Beachport, and Robe.
5. Rallus pectoraJia (Slate-breasted Rail) — I did not see this bird myself, but heard they were in numbers in a small swamp near Robe, and on returning to town saw a specimen 'which had been caught in a rabbit trap in that locality and sent to the museum.
(I. Hypotacniflia pliiUppensis australis (Pectoral or Land Rail)-pA male in breeding condition was brought to me at Beachport. It had been caught in a rabbit trap, said to be a common occurrence in the district.
J. Porzana puminea (Spotted Crake) — I did not see this bird, but found a nest with five heavily incubated eggs on October 26th. The nest was built in a tussock of rushes growing in the water, and was built entirely of dry rushes.
8. Zupormu piisilla Palustris (Little Crake) — Seen in a
MOUaAN—'rUK llird, nf tin' Smith -i:,ist,'n, t'art <>( S.A.
swamp near \ioh<^. A specimen killed by a dog was given to me from the same loeality. Its total length was 17 cm.; Iris, red: bill, upper mandible, dark green; lower, lighter green, with the base, bright green; legs, feet, olive green; inside of mouth, lead colour; -sex, 9 .
9. Porza)iol(lea plumhea immacidata (Spotless Crake) — A number was seen in a swamp near Robe.
10. Microtrihonyx ventraUs ivhitei (Native Hen) — A pair seen near Kobe, and great numlDers in several swamps near Kingston. They are said to have nested in great numberB at Lake Robe. I found one old nest near the township.
11. Gdlliiiiild tciichrosd iMoor Hen) — Seen in [)aivs at Glenelg River. Robe and Kingston. A nest containing six eggs v<as found in a tea-tree growing in the water of a small swamp near Robe. In this sw^amp there were six species of rails. The spotted, little, and spotless crakes, the slate- breastefl rail, the native hen, and moor hen. I spent a morning wading through it, and found besides the nests of Ihe native hen and moor hen. fifteen nests of small rails, most of which had been quite recently occupied, though the only one containing eggs was that of the spotted crake.
12. Fnlira afro australis (Coot) — Seen at Mount Gam hiiM-. P>e;t(i!]>()rt, Robe, and Kingston ; mostly in pairs (U- iiocUs of five or six.
13. Podiceps cristatus christiani (Tipped Grebe) — Seen in pairs at Glenelg River, Mount Gambier. and Robe.
14. PoliocrplKiliis ])<)fi()(('p]iiiliis ( Iloai-y Il<':i(le(l ( Jrebe i — Common wherever there was suitable water. Mostly in small flocks up to ten. They appeared to have finished breeding as a rotten egg was found in a swamp at Robe.
15. Pehtf/oflroma marina hoicei (White-faced Storm Petrel) — Several birds were found d(»ad on the beach at Beachport and Robe.
16. P7-ioii lurlitr (Dove Prion) — A bird which I attribute*? to this species was found dead on the beach at Robe.
17. Hj/(Ji<)chriifIon Iciicojxircid fhirial His i Marsh Tern i .\ fe\\- pairs s(hmi on a swamj) near Kingston.
18. Hydroproqne fscJieqrava strenim (Caspian Tern) — Com- mon at the mouth of the Glenelg River and on a swamp near the sea at Robe.
1!>. TJidldssciis hcnjii /lolioccrcds ( Ci-csted Term — ^.\ fe^\ birds seen at Glenelg River and Beachport. I was surprised at this bird being uncommon, for they nesi in thousands on the Bauden Rocks near Robe.
10 JIIOBGAN—The Birds nf th^ South-E astern Fart of -S'./J.
20. Stcrnula nereis (Little Tern) — Common at Beachport, iwhere they \vere nesting on a small island near the coast. They were bringing small fish for their young from Lake George about a mile away. They were seen as far inland as Millicent following the plough or harrow. Also seen on the swamps at Narracoorte.
21. iintcliiguria novaehollandiav ((silver Gull) — Common all ah)iig the coast. They appeared to be nesting on the island above mentioned near Beachport, but the weather was too rough to land upon it.
22. Haematopus ostralegus loiH/iro.stris (Pied Oyster ('atcheri — A })air was found breeding on a sandspit at tlie mouth of the Glenelg River. No others were seen.
28. Haematopus niger fuliginosus (Black Oyster Catcher) — A pair seen at Beachport, and another at Robe. They behaved as though nesting.
24. Lohibyw novachollandiaG (Spur-wing Plover) — Seen in pairs at Beachport, Robe, and Kingston.
25. Zonifer tricolor^ (Black-breasted Plover) — A few pairs seen near Beachport.
2(). Ijcucopolius ruficapillns (Ked-capped Dotterel) — (Com- mon everywhere on the sea beach. They were nesting freely on the sandy flats between the dunes. One pair at Beach- port had two eggs on a rocky ])i'<)montory some 20 feet above the water. A male collected at Robe measured in total length 16.25 cm.; iris, dark brown; bill, black; legs. and feet, black; inside of mouth, black. The stomach contained insect remains and sand.
27. (' It ara drills: cHciillatas ( Hooded Dotterel ) — Common in pairs on all the sea coasts. Two nests were found, one on October 9th at Beachport with three nearly fresh eggs, one on October 18th at Robe with three slightly incubated eggs. The male of this nest Avas shot, and measured total length, 22,75 cm. ; spread, 41 cm. ; iris, light brown ; bare skin around eye, vermillion; bill, base, orange; tip, black; legs and feet, light salmon pink; tips of toes, black. The stomach con- tained tiny molluscs.
28. Actitis hgpolevcus auritis (Common Sand Piper) — There were a few of these birds on the Glenelg River. They do not affect the mud flats, but seem to prefer settling on rocks or thick tree branches near the water. A male col- lected measured in total length, 20 cm.; iris, dark brown; bill, olive brown; legs and feet, greenish yellow; inside of mouth, dark horn colour. The stomach contained small molluscs.
MOIWAS -The IHrds nf Ihc South- Kn, tern Fart of .S'..t.
29. Glottis uehularius (Greenshank) — A few birds seen at T.ake George, Beachport.
MO. Limnocinclus acmiiinatu.s (iSharp Tailed Stint ) — Larg(i llock« were seen about tlie swamps juul lakes near Beach- port.
31. Ditelmatias hardwickii (Snipe) — Only seen once near Beachport. T was told that they are fairly numerous in some seasons.
32. Rostratula austral is (Painted Snipe) — A Pair was put up from a shallow swamp near Robe.
33. Thresldornis molucca sticlipennis (White Ibis) — Seen in fair numbers between Kingston and Narracoorte, and about Narracoorte, but not nearly so numerous as the next bird.
34. (Jarphihis spinicollis (Straw-necked Ibis) — These birds were especially numerous about Narracoorte. Many flocks were feeding by the roadside on the way to the caves. They are evidently well protected, for they take but little notice of passing traps and motor cars.
35. Herodias alba syrmatophora (White Egret) — Three birds were seen near the mouth of the Glenelg River, and a single bird on Lake George at Beachport.
3G. Notophoi/,i- novaehollandiae (White-fronted Heron or Blue Crane) — Seen occasionally throughout the trip, but not numerous anywhere. A tame bird at Glenelg River was very fond of blowflies, of which it caught numbers about the back yard.
37. Mijola pacAfica (White-necked Heron) — Two birds were seen near Wolsley — not seen elsewhere.
38. Demiffretta sacra cooktowni (Blue Ixeef Heron) — A pair had located itself on the rocks at Robe. Not secii elsewhere.
39. Casarca tadornoides (Mountain Duck) — Common on the swamps near Kingston, also seen at Narracoorte and between the two towns.
40. Chenopis atrata (Black Swan) — Very numerous on Lake George near Beachport; also seen at Glenelg River and Kingston.
41. Anas saprrciJo.sa nn/cisi ( P>lack I >uck I — Seen ;il (Ilenelg Rivei-. Beachport, Robe, and in thousands near King- ston.
42. Vira(/o f/ihhrrifrons (Grey Teal'i — Always seen in com- pany with the last, and in similar nnmboi-s.
12 MOUGAN~Thr Jlirdi^ <,f flw H"ulh-EaMeru FrrI
43. Malaehorhynehun memhranaceus (Pink-eared Duck) — A few bird's seen at Glenelg- River, not seen elsewhere.
44. Biziura lohafa (Musk Duck) — Been in pairs at Glenelg River, Beachport, and Robe.
45. Phdlacrorora.r- rarho iiovachoUanduic (Great Black Cor- morant)— Only once seen on the Valley Lake at Mount fJambier.
4f). Mcsocarbo (iter (Little Black Cormorant) — \ erj com- mon all along the coast. Also seen at Narracoorte.
47. lli/poleiienfi rariuf^ hi/polcucus (Orange-faced Cor- morant)— Common all along the coast. A bird shot at Glenelg River, measured: total length, 77 m.m. ; spread, 120 m.m.; iris, greyish green. The stomach contained small mullet.
48. Microcarho melanoleucus (Little Pied Cormorant) — Common all along the coast and on the Valley Lake at Mount Gambler. The Black-faced Pied Shag {HypoleAicus fuscescGus) was not seen at all. I was surprised at this as I have always regarded it as the ocean cormorant, and is known to occur and breed off the S.E. coast.
49. Caioptropelicanus ebnspicillatus (Pelican) — A number seen on tlK^ sliallow lagoons at the mouth of the Glenelg River.
50. Cireus appro.rimans gouldi (Swamp Hawk) — Very com mon. The swampy country and great cutting grass flats are peculiarly suited to its habits, and a pair or more were always to be 'seen hunting over the flats throughout the trip. At Beachport a bird was disturbed from a freshly killed rabbit. A nest with one fresh ef^cix was found in some tall reeds on the Glenelg River: it was visited again but the birds had deserted it.
51. Urospiza fasciata (Goshawk) — ^Seen at Robe and at Kingston, where one was flushed from an inaccessable nest.
52. Tlronetux nuda.T (Wedge-tailed Eagle) — (^)nly (me pair Tseen hovering over the mouth of the Glenelg River.
58. Haliasfur sphemirus (Whistling Eagle) — One of these birds was flushed from its nest near Kingston. No others were seen.
54. Tcracidea hcrifjora (Brown Hawk) — Been at Robe, Beachport, and Kingston. Near Beachport a bird flew over us carrying a small snake in its talons. All were the dark form.
55. Ccrchncis ccnchroidcs (Kestrel) — Very common throughout the trip.
MOaOAN—Thf. HircU of the. Sontk-LJ astern. Part of S.A. 13
56. Tifto alhn delicatula (Delicate Owl) — One was flushed from a bushy branch of a tea-tree near Beachport.
57. Trichof/loiisus: iiorachollandiae (Blue Mountain Parrot) — Breedinii in numbers on a gum flat near Kingston; not seen elsewhere. A female collected measured in total length, 30.5 cm. Tris. red with black rim to pupil; bill, vermillion; tip, yellow; inside of mouth, yellow; legs and feet, dark grey.
58. Gloasopfiiffa concAnna (Musk Lorikeet) — Seen in num- bers in company with the last bird, and apparently breeding. .\ female had the iris brownish yellow with black rim to ]Mipils; bill, black at the base, tip yellow; legs and feet, grey; inside of mouth, dark horn colour. The stomach contained particles of gum blossom.
59. Calypforhi/richns funereus (Black Cockatoo) — Still c«;m mon in the stringy bark country. Seen in flocks up to eight in number. They come into the town at Narracoorte every day apparently to feed on the pine seeds.
00. Plafifcercns crimiiis (Rosella Parrot) — Common in red gum country at every place we visited, and seen as far west as Tintinara on the Melbourne railway line. A nest with seven fresh eggs was found near Kingston on October 28th. A female shot near Kingston measured in total length 31.5 cm. Iris, dark brown; bill, light horn colour; legs and feet, dull black; inside of mouth, light ho'rn colour. The stomach and crop contained small seeds.
01. Pla.tyccrcvfi elegans (Crimson Parrot) — Seen only at Crlenelg River in fair numbers, but very shy. They arc said to extend over the border, but we did not see them.
02. PfirpJiotun iKtmuitonntufi (Red-rumi)ed firass Parrot) — Common at Beachport in the timbered country; also seen at Robe and near Kingston.
03. NrnDfniocle.'i rhn/siof/aster (Orange-bellied Grass Parrot) — A flock was always to be seen near the township at Beach- port, and odd birds were seen in the sandhills. They were also seen on several occasions near Robe, always close to the coast. A male collected at Beachport measured in total length 22.5 cm.. Iris, light brown; bill, upper mandible, dark horn; btwci-. light horn; legs and feet, greyish brown; inside of mouth, creamy yellow. Stomach contents, small seeds. It showed no signs of breeding. I was told that at Beachport they nest upon the ground. This bird has not been seen in South .\ustralia since Mr. Ashby collected a specimen at the Cirange in 1885.
04. Pezoporiis trn-pfifrift (Swamp Parrot)— I heard that a few of these birds were still to be found upon the flats at the
14 MOEGAN—The I'nnh „J the Soutlt.KasU-ra Part of S.A.
month of the Glenelg River, and after two afternoon's tramp- ing we managed to put one up. This was the only one seen.
65. Aegothcles cristatu (Owlet Nightjar) — A single bird flushed from a hollow near Beachport.
66. Alcyone aziirea victoriae (Azure Kingfisher) — Fairly common on the Glenelg River. A male measured in total length 18 cm. Iris, black; bill, black; point, horn colour; legs and feet, vermillion; inside of mouth, orange red. Stomach contents, a few small fish scales.
67. Dacelo gigas (Laughing Jack) — Common throughout the trip.
68. Heteroscenes paUidus (Pallid Cuckoo) — Heard only at Glenelg River. None was seen.
69. (kicomantis rubricatus (Fantailed Cuckoo j — Fairly common. Seen or heard calling at every place we visited. A male collected at Beachport measured in total length 27.75 cm. Iris, brown; bare skin around eye, bright yellow; bill, black; feet, light brown; soles, yellow; inside of mouth, orange; stomach contents, hairy caterpillars.
70. Xcoehalcites hasalifi mellori (Narrow-bilU'd lJr<mze Cuckoo) — Heard occasionally throughout the trip, but no- where common.
71. Lamprococcyx plagosus (Broad-billed Bronze (Uukooi — Seen at Glenelg River, and an egg taken from the nest of a yellow-rumped tree tit at Narracoorte on October 31st.
72. Hirundo neoxena (Welcome Swallow) — Common throughout the trip. Breeding in the sea cliffs at Robe.
73. Hylochelidon nigricans (Tree Swallow) — Common throughout the trip. They appeared to be breeding in holes in the cliffs at Robe.
74. Microeca fascinans (Brown Flycatcher) — A pair seen near Beachport, and another at Narracoorte. No others were seen.
75. Petroica multicolor frontalis (Scarlet-breasted liobin ) : — Seen everywhere where there was timbered country. A nf st which the young had just left and another building were foimd at Glenelg River.
76. Mclfinodryas cucullata vigorsi (Hooded Robin) — Seen at Glenelg River, Beachport, and Narracoorte; not common.
77. Pachycephala pectoralis (Yellow-breasted Thickhead) — Seen at Glenelg River in the tea-tree, and at Beachport in the stringy bark. A female collected at Beachport measured in total length 17.5 cm.; iris, brown; bill, dark horn colour;
MOh'UAK—T/,'' liirds of thr Suuth-Eustern I'urt of S.A. 15
legs and feet, dark grey; inside of mouth, whitish; stomach contents, insect remains.
78. Leicinornis rufiventris (Rufous-breasted Thickhead) — Seen only once in stringy bark country at Narracoorte.
79. Eopsaltria austraUs viridior (Yellow-breasted Shrike Robin) — Seen only at Glenelg River, where they were com- mon in the tea-tree. A male collected measured in total length 17.25 cm. Iris, dark brown; bill, black; legs and feet, black; inside of bill, black; palate, flesh colour.
80. RJiipklnra flabelUfcra victor iae (White-shafted Fantail) — A very common bird, in all classes of timber, at all the places we visited. A pair was seen building a nest near Robe on October 26th, and another pair feeding half grown yonng on the same day.
81. Lmcocirca tricolor (Black and White Flycatcher or W agtail) — Very common in all classes of country and breed- ing freely.
82. Seizura inquieta (Restless Flycatcher) — Only a single individual seen in the main street of Kingston.
83. Coracina novaehollandiae melanops (Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike) — Seen in pairs occasionally in big timbered country throughout the trip. A nest found at Beachport on October 10th was in a stringy bark about 20 feet from the ground, and contained three fresh eggs.
84. Pomatostomus temporalis (Babbler) — Common at Beachport, Robe and Kingston. Their great stick nests were more often seen than the birds. They were breeding, and were feeding nearly full grown young. I saw nests near Narracoorte which I attributed to these birds, but did not see the birds themselves. Kingston must be near the Wes- tern limit of the range of this bird, though Mr. J. W. Mellor found them on the Coorong some years ago; Captain White saw nothing of them on a recent visit to that locality. A female collected near Beachport measured in total length 27.5 cm. Iris, dark brown; bill, black; base of lower mandible, white; legs and feet, black; inside of mouth, black; j^Tlate. flesh colour. Stomach contents, insect remains. A male collected near Kingston measured 29.25 cm.; iris, dark brown; bill, black, with white line down the culmen and under the lower mandible; inside of mouth, yellowish; stomach con- tents, remains of small beetles.
85. Calamanthu.s fulifi'niosus alhiloris i White lorcd I'^ield- Wren) — This bird was seen occasionally a( Oleiielg Kiver, Henchport, Robe, and Kingston. They wc:-!- c.xcctMiiMgly shy.
16 MORGAN— The Birds of th>' ^SoiU/i-Kustrru Fart of S.A.
and 1 failed to secure a spetimeu, so I am not sure of the species. They are beautiful songsters.
86. (■inclorhatnphus cruralis cantatoris (Black-breasted Song- Lark ) — Common in all the o])en country throughout rhe trip.
87. Epthiannra albifronfi (White-fronted Tin-tac) — Com mon around all the marshy and cultivated country.
88. Poodytes gramineiis (Little Grass Bird) — Heard sing ing once on a small swamp near Robe. I also saw the egga in a boy's collection.
89. Aeanthiza pusilla (Little Tree Tit) — This is one of the commonest birds in the district. They were seen and heard in all classes of country, but were most numerous in the thick scrub of the sand hills. Two nests found near Robe on October 25th and 26th; each contained young birds. A male taken at Glenelg River on October 4th had the iris bright brownish red; legs and feet, brown; soles, yellow; inside of mouth, black.
90. Aeanthiza lincata (Striped Tree Tit) — Seen at Beach- port and Narracoorte in the stringy bark country. Not com- mon. A female shot from the nest on October 15th. near Beachport, measured in total length, 9.25 cm.; iris, light brown; bill, dark horn colour; legs and feet, brown; inside of mouth, horn colour. The nest was built in a banksia tree about 15 feet up. It was composed of fine strips of stringy bark, outwardly decorated with green silky material, and a few white spiders' cocoons, and lined with feathers and a few pieces of rabbit fur.
91. (Teoha.sileufi chnf-sorrhou-s ( Yellow-rumped Tree-tit or Tom-tit) — Common in all classes of country. Many nests seen mostly built in bushy overhanging branches of tea-trees.
92. ffericorms sp.- — Two Specimens of Scrub Wren were secured, one at Glenelg River, and another at Robe, but I have not yet been able to determine to which species they belong. The birds are common both in the tea-tree about the swamps and in the sand hills.
93. Mahiriis ci/aneus (Blue Wren) — Common everywhere. They had only just started to breed.
94. ^Stipiiurii.s }nalachurus trcgeUesi (Emu Wren) — ■(■otii- mon on the marsh flats at the mouth of the Glenelg River. They are said to occur also at Robe, but we failed to find them there. A male collected measured in total length 16.5 cm.; iris, light brown; bill, black; legs and feet, brown; stomach contents, sroall beetles
MORGAN— The lUrds or tlw S^.ntl>-J':>i.-h'r» I'.trl of S.A.
95. Mnccoyornis hroadbentl (Bristle Bird) — These birds are very common in the sandhill country from Glenelg River to King^ston. The bird on the Coorono- collected by Capi. White is much lighter in colour, and has rightly been des- cribed as a new sub-species. Although the birds are »fv common they are very rarely seen. My wife and I have stood still in the scrub and had birds calling all round us sometimes within a few feet, and yet not been able to get a sight of them. As for collecting specimens we tried every day for a week at Beachport without securing a single bird or even a shot at one. We were too early for nests. Seve- ral last year's ones were found in the Robe district, but it was not until October 24th that we found a nest building, near Robe, and v.e did not see the eggs at all. Two specimens were collected, both females. The first from Glenelg River measured in total length 27.5 cm.; iris, bright brown red; bill, horn colour, upper mandible darker; legs and feet, dark brown; inside of mouth, dark horn colour. The second at Beachport on October 20th measured 25.5 cm. in total length. The upper mandible of the bill was almost black, and the feet were darker brown than the legs. The stomach contained insect remains, and many had round seeds of a small red fruit. 90. CamphcJlornis personatus (Masked Wood Swallow) — A single individual was seen several times near Beachport and was shot. It measured in total length 19.5 cm.; iris, dark brown; bill, blue; tip, black; legs and feet, mealy black; inside of mouth, black; stomach contents, small beetles; sex, 9 .
97. Pseudartamus cijanopterus (Dusky Wood Swallow) — Common throughout the trip. They had just begun building.
98. CoUurieiiwla harnionica victor ioe (Grey Shrike-Thrush) — Seen and heard in al classes of country throughout the trip. A nest found on October 18th near Robe containing three fresh eggs was built of bark and sword grass and lined with fine strips of the same material, with an inner lining of fine rootlets. Height over all, 10 cm.; width over all. 10 cm.; cavity, 9.5 x 8 cm.; depth of cavity, fi.5 cm.
99. Grallina cyanoleiica (Magpie Lark) — Common wher(> ever there was water. Breeding.
100. Ci/nniorhina hypolrncd IcKcoiiota ( W'hitp-backcd Magi)iei — Common everywiu-re. P»recding. .Most of llir pjiirs had well grown young.
101. Bitlestes torquatns (Butcher Bird) — Seen at all the places vi-sited, but not numerous anywhere. Two ne.sts
18 MORGAN—The Birds »/ thr South-Eastern Part of S.J.
found, one at Glenelg River with one egg on October 4th, and one at Robe on October 23rd with two
102. CUmacteri>< leucophaea ( White-throated Tree-creeperi — Seen only at Narracoorte. where they were common in the stringy bark country.
lOo. ZostnopH Jdtcidli.s ircst('ni('ii.Hi.s (Silver-eye) — Vei-y common in the sandhills all along the coast.
104. Aiistrodicaeuni hirundinacriiin (Mistletoe Bird) — Seen only at Narracoorte in red gum country. This was the (mly place in which we saw many mistletoes.
105. I'drdalofiuns sir tat us ('Striped Diamond Bird) — Fair- ly common in red gum country near Kingston. We did not see or hear a Diamond Bird of any kind at any other place. A male collected measured in total length, 10.75 cm.; iris, light brown; bill, black; legs and feet, grey brown; inside of mouth, white; stomach contents, insect remains. Breeding. This bird had a very dark red wing spot.
100. Mdithrcptus atricapillns suhmagnirostris (Brown- headed Honey-eater) — A flock of about ten birds seen near Narracoorte; not met with elsewhere.
107. Acanthorhi/nchns tenuirostris (Spine Bill) — Seen only once on the edge of a swamp near Beachport.
lOH. (ilicipliihi ruchinopx rlKnidlcri (Fulvous-fronted Honey-eater) — Very comtnon in some grass tree country near Kingston. They were feeding on the flowering spikes. A female collected measured in total length, 16 cm.; iris, dark brown; bill, black; legs and feet, leaden colour; inside of mouth, black; stomach contents, insect remains.
109. Mcliphaga sonora (Singing Honey-eater) — Very com- mon in the sandhill scrub all along the coast. They were breeding. A female collected measured 19.5 cm. in total length: iris, dark brown; legs and feet, leaden grey; inside of mouth, yellow; stomach contents, many small beetles and some green vegetable matter.
110. Ptilotula penkillnta (White-plumed Honey-eater or (Ireenie) — Pair seen at Mount Gambler, and a single bird at Narracoorte. It appears to be an uncommon bird in the district.
111. Mr]ior)iis noruvholhnuJUic .siiba.s.'^iinili.s (While- bearded Honey-eiiter ) — rouimou in tea-tree and banksia coun try; also fairly common in the sandhill scrub.
112. Myzanthfi mclonocepJinla ichitei. — Fairly Common in the red gum country a little distance from the coast. Not seen within fonr miles of the sea. A female collected near
MORGAN —The Birds of the Suutk-Kaxtern Part of S.A. li)
Beachport measiued iii total length 28 cm.; iris, light brown; bill, yellow; bare skin behind eye, bright yellow; ring round eye, black; legs and feet, 'dull yellow; inside of mouth, yellow; stomach contents, insect remains and nectar. A nest ready for eggs taken on October 15th was built in a stringy bark tree, of small twigs lined with grass, with an inner lining of sheep's wool. Height over all, 6 cm.; width over all, 20 cm.; cavity, circular, 9 cm. in diameter, and 4.5 cm. deep.
li;i Colria carunculata tregellasi (Red Wattle Bird) — Very common in mallee and small gum country near the coast, much less numerous inland. They mostly had young in the nest or heavily incubated eggs. A male collected at Kobe measured in total length 35 cm.; iris, light brown; bill, black; legs and feet, light brown; soles of feet, yellowish; wattles, red; inside of mouth, yellow; stomach contents, small red berries, and the hard round seeds of the same.
114. AntJwcliaera clirysoptera intermedia (Brush Wattle Bird) — These birds were in thousands in the sandhill scrub, especially where there was any mallee. Hundreds of their nests were seen most of which the young had just left, but many contained eggs or young birds. A nest taken on October 22nd measured height over all, S cm.; width, 11 cm.; cavity. 8.5 x 6.5 cm.; depth, 4 cm. It was built of small fine twigs lined with coarse bark, with an inner lining of shredded bark, rabbit fur and feathers. A female collected on October 23rd measured in total length 28 cm.; iris, brownish grey; bill, black; point, horn colour; legs and feet, dark greyish brown; inside of mouth, yellow; stomach contents, seeds of the ismall red berry mentioned above.
115. Acunthogent/s riifi</Nl<iris (■}/(j)ius ( fc^piny-cheeked Honey-eater) — Very common in the sandhill scrub, but did not extend far inland. vSeveral nests were found each containing two incubated eggs. A nest taken on October 20th was placed in a small tea-tree about four feet from the ground. It was constructed of green grass, and lined with clematis, capeweed down, and horse hair. Height, 0.5 cm.; cavity, 9x7 cm.; depth, 6 cm.. A female collected on October 23rd measured 26.5 cm. in total length. Iris, bluish white; bill, flesh pink; tip, black; legs and feet, slate colour; inside of mouth, yellow; stomach con- tents, small red berries.
116. AnthuH mistralis (Ground Lark) — Seen occasionally throughout the trip where there was cleared land. Not common.
20 MELLOR~In the Fine and Mallee.
117. Stagonopleura (/tittata philordi (Spotted-sided Finch) — A single bird seen at Narraeoorte.
118. Zonacginthus helluH (Fire-tailed Finch) — Seen at Beachport and at Robe, where they were fairly common in the teatree around the small lakes, and where they were breed- ing. They were very shy. A nest taken on October 24th was built in a tea-tree about four feet from the ground of fresh grass and fine tea tree twigs, and was lined with clematis down and rabbit fur. Height, 17 cm.; length, 22 cm.; length of cavity, 13 cm. It contained seven fresh eggs. A female collected at Robe on October 22nd had the iris, dark brown; ring round eye, light blue; bill, red, white at basis legs and feet, yellowish brown, feet darker; inside of mouth, red.
119. Aeqintha temporalis (Red-browed Finch) — Common at Glenelg River and at Mount Gambier about the Valley Lake where a pair was seen building a nest. Not seen elsewhere.
120. (UrrruM coronoidcti (Crow) — Seen occasionally tliroughout the trij>. Not common anywhere
121. Strepera versicolor (?) (Bell Magpie) — A bird of this genus was seen at Beachport and at Robe, but they were very Bhy. and I could not get a specimen. It appeared to be the above species.
122. Corcora.T melanorhamphKS (Chough) — A pair had a nest in a red gum near Kingston. No others were seen.
The eggs of the Collared Sparrow Hawk and of a Podargus were seen in a boy's collection, but the birds them- selves wore not seen.
In the Pine and Mallee.
By J. W. Mellor, R.A.O.U. Part I.
In October last it was my good fortune to be able to pay a somewhat hasty visit to the pine and mallee country in the Hundred of Bookpurnong, S.A., the immediate locality examined being situated east of Loxton, and near the Victorian iborder.
Leaving Adelaide on the 9th it took the full day by train to travel by way of Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend, thence along the Paringa line. Night was just closing in when the train pulled up a( the little siding of Pungonda, and \ was •dumped down in the wilderness. .My first anxiety was finding
MELLOR^bi the Fine, and Matlee. 21
a suitable place to camp, this being extremely difficult in a new country, darkness having set in. However, I was fortunate in finding a friend in need, in the person of two out back fai'- mers' sons, Mr. J. A. Forby and a friend, who came to meet the train for mails, etc., and with their assistance I removed my tent and camping kit about half a mile distant to a isecluded clump of the so called Murray Pines (Calitris), Having temporarily pitched my tent, I was glad of some rest after the long day's journey, and even the hard ground did not banish Nature's sweet restorer ''balmy sleep". Next day I was up betimes, and straightened up camp a little before getting out into the surrounding country, which is chiefly of a chocolate sandy clay nature, carrying large mallee and numbers of tine Murray pines. These trees attain a large size, and when growing in patches give to the more open country a park-like appearance. In these quite a number of birds make their abode, the first to catch my eye was the southern singing honey-eater, while the yellow- throated Miner made the locality resound with its loud and continued calls. The chestnut-crowned babbler was also (juite numerous, and it was interesting to watch the antics of these birds as they hopped and flew about in "follow the leader" fashion from tree to tree, threading their way through innumerable bushes and fallen pines en route, all the time uttering their sharp whistling calls, and bobbing their tails up and down as if worked on springs. They are extremely animated birds, and in these parts quite take the place of the white-browed species, w^hich was rarely seen. The Pink Cockatoo also known as Major Mitchell was quite a common bird in the open country, and was breeding in the large mallee. The Rose-breasted Cockatoo or Galah Avas by no means rare, and doubtless was also breeding, although no nests were found. These two birds fly about in company, and feed together on the grassy flats where seeds are plentiful, and make a pretty sight as they rise and fly into the dark foliaged pines, the delicate pink of the Major' Mitchell with its beautiful crest erected being very conspicuous. Shell parrots were about on the open grass land in large flocks, and ever and anon a cloud of them would pass swiftly by, uttering their small rattling notes, and alighting on a dead pine, the tree would instantly be transformed into a living green, with the green '"leaves" SAvaying in the breeze. Then suddenly the tree
MELLOU—ln the Fine and Mallee.
would be quite dead again, as the birds moved off, and alighted on the ground to feed. Cockatoo parrots were about in pairs, and looked vei^ pretty as they darted above the trees. The Blue iionnet Parrot in its dull olive green garb relieved by yellow and crimson beneath, and by blue face and cap was less conspicuous, and generally seen feeding in pairs. When feeding in the half dry grass it was difficult to detect, the upper coloration harmonizing so well with the sur- roundings.
Several trips were made to the Victorian border, where the assistance of the Messrs John and Edward Forby, and Mr. and Mrs. Forby, Senr., was most acceptable in find- ing out fresh fields for inspection. It was here that the Tjeautiful little Black-backed Wren first came into promi- nence, as it darted through the undergrowth at the edge of the pine and mallee. The males were extremely shy, and darted off like Hashes of light, leaving their sombre coloured mates to investigate the "new comer", the male seeming to know that his bright uniform made him a mark far too con- spit .oijs to be examined closely. Gilbert's Thickhead was also in evidence here, and its ventriloquial calls were heard on every side as the birds moved from place to place, not staying in the same situation long, but moving about .con- tinually, and making it difficult to get close to them for examination. On one of my twenty mile walks to the Vic- torian border and back. 1 came upon an unusual sight in a small (]vy l)usli about five feet high. Four fully grown young liutcher Birds were being fed by their parents upon various tit !)its of insects, etc.. while in the same bush were three young Lanceolate Honey-eaters, also being fed by the old birds, and all agreeing. For some time I stood watching them, as the parent birds came to and fro, and no quarrelling took ])lac(^ It was here that I w^as fortunate to come across a pair of the White-browed Tree-creepers;' they seemed to be very quiet birds, and struck me as being in marked contrast with the Brown Tree-creepers, which were quite numerous in the mallee, where they were found nesting. The latter are extremely noisv, and continually making their loud ])ink-pink-pink ;ind other calls. T'pon examination the white-browed species ])roved to be so very different from the Central Aus- tralian form collected by Mr. O. A. Keartland on the Horn's Fxi^edition, that I have decided to des- cribe it at length in this issue as a sub-species under the s.'iiiitific designation of Climacteris eri/throps parsonsi in honour of my friend, Mr. Frank E. Parsons, of Adelaide.
('AMI' BE LI J -Renaming Australian Birih. 2.-?
Vernacularly I propose to designate it the Southern While browed Tree-creei)er. Time and space will not permit of a minute description of all the birds seen, as no fewer than 76 species were identified during my short seven days' stay in camp, which w'as by no means a bad record in addition to the hundred and one things that claim one'rt attention in connection with camp life. The end of the week came all too soon, and I packed up and caught the early train on the morning of the 17th, arriving in Adelaide after the usual long tedious day's journey in a slow train.
Renaming Australian Birds.
To the Editors, "The S.A. Ornithologist", Sirs,
The Hon. Secretary of the S.A. Ornithological Associa- tion was good enough to hand to Capt. S. A. White a copy of my address on Nomenclature, apparently for ''review" in this journal. (See ante p. 232).
A review is a summary of what an article, book, etc., con- tains. There is a difference hetween a review and a critique, and Capt. White has criticised my address somewhat biassedly, therefore please permit me a brief rejoinder.
In the first place, I absolutely refrain from personal mat- ters, therefore I pass over Capt. White's reference to the writer's "very conservative views", and the beginning of his critique, and near the end of it, his reference apparently to a connection of his — "a great field ornithologist", whom Gould was supposed to have treated shabbily.
1: Capt. White declares that nomenclature is a science, thus staking his opinion against standard dictionaries. "Chambers's Encyclopaedia", for instance, furnishes a com- plete list of riO concrete and abstract sciences, but does not include nomenclature.
2. The Army. Navy, and Civil Service promotions have nothing to do with ornithology. No, but they have to nomen- clature, by analogy, i.e., by the selection of the most fit person (not necessarily prior or senior), or name, in the case of nomenclature.
3. Cai)t. White contends that Could was a strict priorist — a helpful statement in favour of, and not against, using his nomenclature which was up to date,^and a good starting point for some Australian names — those 'that are ornithologically correct.
24 GAMrUELL—ilenamnuj Andvaliun lilnh.
4. "No progressive ornithologist works on Gould now — his work is obsolete", says the Captain. Hear what Profes- sor Macgillivray states: — "Mr. Gould has produced a series of majinitieent works, without rival in the Cabinets of Science.
In taking a review of Mr. Gould's labours we can not fail to be impressed with the benefits conferred by them on Ornithological Science.''
5. I do admit in my book, "Nests and Eggs", that Gould's classification is somewhat obsolete — a statement strictly accurate. Capt. White confuses systematic classification with nomenclature. The first is science, the other not.
6. As to the question "Who made the rules?" of Zoologi- cal Nomenclature, Capt. White would be "much surprised" if any Australian were deemed worthy to sit on the National Committee — a severe reflection on the biological professors of our respective universities. The committee is composed of zoologists in general, and not ornithologists in particular.
7. If The Kiiin were "to jtopulurize the study of native birds", at the expense of scientific matter, that would be one sided. ('apt. White wobbles here. If he reads my address again (1 seriously recommend him to do so), he will see I said "one of the hro pi-incipal })lank's of our Union is to popularize, etc.'' (Page 4).
S. Capt. White endeavours to make capital out of what llic Auk and The fbi.s have stated concerning the K.A.O.IJ. Official "Check I.ist of the Birds of Australia." These learned journals forgot, surely, that it was an Australian list they were judging, and not one solely for savants of the old world. Moreover, th(\v showed careless criticism when they referred to "lack of or "that no synonymy" was given. The "Check List" contains references which lead up to all the literature available, besides what is perhaps more practical, a reference is furnished of a life coloured plate for almost every species named.
0. Capt. White states that "The International Committee of Zoological Nomenclature is steadily confirming and reject- ing names." How does he know that, if he does not possi^ss a copy of the rules, or follows them without question? He refers to two conferences — 1892 and 1901. These were held respectively at Moscow and Berlin, two cities which have eternally disgraced science. Fortunately Australia was not represented at either.
10. And, in conclu-sion. All ornithologists in South Aus- tralia are not of Capt. White's opinion, as the following extract of a letter received bv me shows: — "It was with much
M'llLLOR Khujjis/irr Encnuntrrs Snahc. 15
pleasuie ihat I received a copy of your address on "Kenamiu^ Australian l>irds'. 1 quite think, with you, that Mr. H()-and-S() is pushinj^- the priority rule to an extent that is cansin.u- confusion in the nomenclature of our birds, and 1 iniaLrine that the makers of the rule never contemplated that it would be jnrshed t(> such extremes." That, sirs, is the sum and substance of the whole matter. ''T/ie makers of the rule (The Law of Triority), never contemplated that it tvould he pushed to sitrh r.r/;r///c.y." Therefore, before our next ''Check List" is completed let us seek an amelioration of that overbearing and mischievous rule.
I am, etc.,
A. J. CAMPBELL. Surrev Hills, Victoria. 28th November, 1918.
Kingfisher Encounters a Snake.
A remarkable encounter between a Sacred Kingtisher {Halcyon sanctus), and a large brown snake was witnessed by Mr. W. J. Dixon, of Fulham, S.A.,- recently, near his house on the baidv of the liiver Torrens. The bird had made its nest in the usual burrow-like hole in the hank of the stream, some distance from (he water belo\\-, and the snake wishing to get at i1 glided stealthily uj) the bank, all the time closely \vatche<l toy the agitated bird, which allowed the reptile to get to a place in the bank that was steeper than elsewhere, when it darted with arrow-like swiftness, and a well-directed blow from the long i>ointed bill on the reptile's head sent it rolling down the bank into the water.. Nothing daunted, and. like the spider and the monarch of old, the snake after a brief interval was induced to 'try again', and up the bank it glided, but at the same steep part, the kingfisher darted at its adversary's head again, and it rolled down into the water once more, to repeat the performance yet a third time with exactly the same result. Then the snake gave it u]), glided away into some thick bushes and disappeared, and the Httle bird was left monarch of all he surveyed, and its nest was unmolested. The instinct of the Uingtisher iu attacking its adversary each time at the one place where the stee])ness gave the little bird an advantage that it could never have gained at any other s])ot on the bank was reuiarkable, and is another instance of the almost human thinking power of our feathered friends. "Mellor Park", JOHN W. MELLOR,
Lockleys, S.A. 10/11/18.
2() About Meinh'-
About Members.
All will be pleased to knov; that Mr. Edwin Ashby has returned safely home from America, but sympathize with him in the illness of his son (Dr. Ashby).
Dr. A. M. Morgan spent a month in the South East, and did some excellent work amongst the birds in an almost \u\- worked district. A paper by the Doctor appears in this num. ber.
Mr. Frank Parsons has been on an ornithological trip up the Murray River, and we are looking forward to the results of the trip later.
Mr. J. W. Mellor took a trip east of the Murray in the maUee nnd pine country, and the first part of a paper upon his work api)ears in this number.
The President motored to Robe, and all through the dis- trict. Itut failed to see yconauodcs chri/.<iorf(ifttc)\ and supposes they must have left the district since Dr. Morgan met with them.
A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White Ornithologist, Soldier. Sailor, and Explorer.
By His Son, S. A. White, C.M.B.O.T. XIX. THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND SAILOR. There were few of the Aru women seen, and it is my im }»ressi()n that they are not allowed to speak to strangers, and this also applies to the girls. Wheuever I came suddenly upon a home where there was a woman at work, she would drop whatever she had in her hand aud rush uj) into the house. If 1 met one in jiny of the little tracks throutih the bush she would run and hide. I always j)assed on without taking the slightest notice, but I think this shvness soon wears off. I had a better opi)ortunity of seeing some of the little children, for I made it a practice to give them beads and other presents when I saw them, then the fathers and friends of others would bring them for nic to look at. but the poor little things were as much terrified as if tliey had been taken to see a wild beast. Both men and women adorn themselves with beads and other orna- ments of brass, pearl, tortoise shell, finger rings, earings, and necklaces ; the beads in greatest demand among them are mixed white and coral red. The Aru i)eo])le are very fond of keeping pets of all kinds. Dogs, cuscus and birds, as well as fowls.
W HITFjA Sketch of the Life of Samuel White.
cockatoos and parrots of the most brilliant plumage, and evpry conceivable hue were brought to me, generaly tied by the h^g to a piece of bamboo bent into the shape of a triangle, and it is surprising how tame they appear. This is no doubt due to the training they get. The natives are continually mauling every thing they have, either dead or alive, and are often very cruel to them ; indeed they have neither thought nor feeling for them. J*oor wounded birds are tied by the legs to a stick and kei)t hanging and tluttering till the leg mortifies, or they die of star- vation. The do.us they have about them are diminutive, ill look- ing, half-starved mangy curs, and can be useful for nothing but making a noise. The brutes are a })est and source of constant anxiety. When I camp near a village, they ijrowl about all night, and if anything is left within their reach they are sure to carry it off. I know not what religious views the Aru people possess, or if they have any. All the natives have canoes, and the larger prau is plentiful, the former being a mere "dug-out", made out of a solid log hollowed out in the centre, and they are from IS to 30 feet long, by 12 to IS inches wide, well-formed, sharp at both ends, and have a good shear. Some have a couple of cross beams projecting over each side 4 to 5 feet, and have a piece of bamboo or cocoanut fastened fore and aft, with rattan to form an outrigger, and give the craft more stability. These boats will liold 8 or 4 or even B to S men who propel them with short spade-like paddles at a good pace. The larger vessels are much better craft, they are regularly and ingeniously built (►n a keel, which does not add much to the draft of the craft. Every plaidi is hewn out of a solid log, and cleats are left every two feet in the solid wdod; these cleats when the planks are in their places, come opposit'^ to each other, and form rows from keel to gunwale. These, after they have been boarded ver- ticalh% are fitted with bent pieces of wood made to fit and touch everv cleat, and are laced down to them with rattan, these form the timbers of the shi]), and the planks ai--e hewn to an inch or an inch and a half in thickness with the cleats about two or three inches deep. The scarfs are generally curved, and about a foot long, the plank being laced to the keel, the lat- ter in some instances beinu' continued at one end to S or 10 feet above the craft, and ornamented at the top. The planks are bevelled one edge to the other as well as being laced, and the whole is made tight by caulking with cocoa nut fibiv. These boats usually have a deck of split bam- boo lashed down with rattan, and a small neat house built on
28 WHITE A Skittrh of ike Life of Samud White.
this, into whioli the crew can creep. It is jjropelled with short broad juiddles, oi- a hirjiv mat sail made of iiandainis leaves sewn toj>ether, and hoisted on a bamboo yard to a triangle or tripod mast, and lashed down to the craft. Of conrse these boats can only sail before the wind, and they are going continually from the Blackangtanna to J>obo with articles they have for barter. The trade of the Aru peo])le must be very limited, for there was nothing that 1 could see that is worlh trading for.
The l*aradise plumes appear to be the chief thing they sell, and they fetch 20/ each; very few pearlshell, and still fewer pearls are found. I had a few pearl shells olfered me, by some of the boats which were passing on their way to Dobo, and the price asked for small shells was five rupees a pair. The pearls offered me were very small, and a few edible birds nests and some sugar cane seemed to be all the Arue people could trade in except it be a little "Treimng" which T should judge as very poor quality, it being a very different article from that which I have been used to seeing in the straits. The edible birds nests seemed to be valned at about threepence to sixi)ence each. Every kind of fruit and vegetable was very scarce and dear.
Minerals in the Aru Islands are wanting. I did not see or hear of any. The whole of the country seems to be of a limestone formation.
MAMMALS. The Mammals of the Aru Islands are not so numerous in species or specimens as in most parts of Australia, nevertheless small mammals such as rats of various kinds are by no means scarce in many districts. They frequently annoyed us, by de- stroying our food" and specimens. The largest of the animals which came under notice while I was camping on the islands was the pig, and I found that in his wild state he was a lanky ungainly looking beast (the Malay name for this animal is "Bahi"). The only species representing the kangaroo on the island is a Avallaby of moderate size, and a distinct species. The greatest distinguishing mark being a broad white bar on the thigh. It is very like some of our scrub Avallaby. The natives at times catch these animals in snares, and I have had them brought to me tied by the legs till the limbs are swollen and numb, or coiled up in a basket where they must have been confined for days or weeks, so that in either case the unfortu- nate animals could not walk, and never lived more than twenty- four hours after being liberated. The next in size to the wallaby is the cuscus, a tropical opossum of large size, and with a tail which is perhensile and bare of hair for half its length. This
WHITE— A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White 29
animal lives amidst the foliage of the trees, and feeds upon the young leaves and shoots in a similar manner to some of the Australian opossums, but the euscus ditfers from the opossum of Australia in colour, and its fur is very thick and woolly, and often of a dirty, creamy white. The ears are very short, and the skin about the face, especially about the eyes and nose, is a bright, pinkish flesh colour and gives a decided character to its appearance. The texture of the skin of the cus- tus is very different from that of the Australian opossum; the skin of the latter is tough and capable of making good thin leather, but the skin of the euscus is so tender that it will not bear its own weight while skinning, and the greatest care must be observed to get it off the animal whole. When the euscus is brought in by the natives it is never uerfect. If in a dead state it is sure to have been struck with something to kill it, which always breaks the skin, if alive it is sure, to be bound with rat- tan, which cuts the skin about the legs or other parts, and even when brought in baskets the creature's struggles damage it very much. The carcase is usually very fat, the tlesh white, and much esteemed by the natives. Three colours are represented in my collection. A middle-sized one with light grey upper surface and a large one of a dirty creamy Avhite, and a small animal whose fur is creamy white with large and irregular blotches of black. I procured about eight other species of small mammals, such as rats, some of these being large, some small, some had coarse hair, others fine fur, some were water rats, some lived in the scrub amongst the fallen timber and rocks, whilst others took up their abode with the natives in their houses. One animal was very like our bandicoot, but was very small and had a verj* long nose and short tail, another was closely allied to the squirrel, having a long bushy tail, and it was of a dark brown colour. From the number of species and specimens I ju-ocured during my short stay, I should think that the rodents and small mammals were fairly represented in the Arus. The bats are vei-y numerous, some subsist on fruit and vegetables, others feed on insects like small bats. One noisy fellow is as large as a small dog, with a long snout like a hound, pleasant looking eyes, short-pricked ears and wings, which measure considerably over four feet across. Tb^n there are others whose bodies are not bigger around than one's finger. I ])rocured five or six s])ecies while hunting in the Arus. the lar- ger ones were shot like birds with the shot gun, but the small ones were captured in fly nets like night moths.
30 WHITE— A Sketch of the Life of Sanmel White.
THE BIRDS OF THE ARUS. The birds of the Arus are plentiful in some districts, yet there are places where a collector would fail to find two or three species. Owing to the short duration of my visit, it may be I am not competent to judge of the number of species. I recorded over two hundred species, and saw and heard others. I did not procure all the species to be found in the island, and nearly all the birds are to be found either in Australia or New Guinea, yet there are some species confined to the island and found nowhere else, the chief of which being "the Great Bird of Paradise*' {Paradisea apoda), and called by the natives "Burong Matti." This magnificent creature is not found in any other part of the world other than the country of the Aru group. It measures 18 or 19 inches from the bill to the end of *;he tail, not including the wire feathers, which are 20 inches longer, these long wire-like tail feathers, and the side plumes adorn only the old male birds, the females and young of the first year or so are almost uniform chocolate brown, being a little darker on head and chest. It is stated that the birds must live ten years before they arrive at perfection, and this is not unreasonable when we know some of our birds in Australia require several years to perfect their plumage. I have ob- served that the common '•RosehilT' parrot (P. adelaidensis) when kept in confinement will improve in depth and brightness of plumage for 7 or 8 years, and I am of the opinion that the lovely bird of Paradise may take quite as long or longer to come to maturity. I have been able to procure some good series of this bird. The first year or two of their lives there is little difference between the sexes without it be that the males are a little larger, then a light yellow tinge api)ears on the back of the neck, and the chest is darker brown, then the head be- c(mies mottled with yellow, and a few green feathers appear on the chin, and the two central tail feathers lengthen out, but are mottled on both sides, after this the head becomes bright citron yellow, the chin and the throat are covered with short scaly features of emerald green, and of metallic brightness. Around the base of the bill is a ruff of hair, like feathers, of a deep green, the feathers stand out on end, and look like plush ; the bill is of a light leaden blue, and the eyes have brightened to a deep citron yellow; the tail feathers now lengthen to a foot or eighteen inches, and the web disappears except at the end of an inch or so Avhen they are half an inch broad ; the next stage — the colours all brishten, the eyes become very bright and sharp like a hawks, the chest is deep purple brown, the
WHITE — A Sketch of the Life of Samuel Whit'-.
central tail feathers have grown to 24 inches or more, and are destitute of web witli the exception of a little at the base; the bird is now perfect with tlie exception of tlie plumes, scarce- ly a sign of which can yet be seen. The plumes appear a few inches at first, and are of a brownish yellow colour, increasing in length, volume and brightness every year. When half grown they are pale yellow, but when full grown they are about 24 inches long and of the most intense orange yellow at the base, with a finer gloss than silk lustre and depth of colour gradually dying away towards the tip into a soft brown. These birds must be seen alive or freshly killed to realize their full beauty ; in life they are most beautiful birds, and have made the heart of the Naturalist beat and bound when he had one of these glorious birds within his grasp for the first time. When the great Bird of Paradise is adult or nearly so, he ranks amongst the shyest birds in the world, he resorts to the highest trees in the scrub, and the cracking of the smallest stick under one's foot, or the sight of any moving object is sufficient to send him off. The easiest and best way to obtain these birds is to take advantage of. some of its habits; one peculiar to the family is to rej)air in the forenoon to certain large trees, when they pro- duce their loud call of "Cark" or "Wark" repeated several times, and with the old birds the voice is much more deep and sonorous than the females and young males. On the large horizontal branches of the large trees, the male birds dance and display their plumes, and it is now that the Naturalist can procure his specimens. ' I have called these birds into a tree under which I was standing by mimicking their voices; they have several calls besides the loud call "Wark" one a Ioav soft note when feeding, and when caught or wounded give a call much like a domestic fowl when being caught. The natives ascend their dancing trees and conceal themselves in the lower branches to get at shorter range and shoot them with blunt or often pointed arrows. Just before evening a man brought me a fine bird, but with not much j)Iume. It had been hit with a blunt arrow on the tij) of the wing, which was dislocated. The man who had brought it told me he had a dead bird for me (Rurrong Matti), all my senses told nic this was not the case, for the bird was fighting, struggling, and squeaking vigorously, vet the fellow persisted in it being a <lead l»ird. but are we not just as nbsnrd. for the Naturalist has named it the legless bird of Paradise, which is not the case, for it possesses exceedingly strong and well developed legs and feet, quite as strong if not more so than our common crow, which fit it for a vai-ietv of
32 WIllTLJ—A Skt^tch of the Life of Samuel White.
purposes, for I have seen it moving in the tree tops when feed- ing with the ease and activity of a Ptilotis, and at other times clutching a large branch, and throwing its heavy body and great plumes about with the greatest ease. Whether Linne when he named this bird really thought they existed without legs is a I)uzzle. The food of this bird seems to be entirely fruit, the stomachs of all those examined did not contain a single insect, but were crammed with fruit of several kinds, some were filled exclusively with wild nutmegs, and most of them contained the remains of this spice. When the bird had been feeding upon this fruit, the flesh of the bird smelt strongly of spice The stomach of this bird is large and membranous, the carcase never fal, but very muscular, the bones compact and strong, the neck being long and the skin dry and very tough, adhering very closely to the body ; about the throat the skin is thick, loose and lined with several layers of thin watery membrane, which gives that part a fluffy appearance. The side plumes, although volu- iiiinous spi-ing from a patch of skin on each side of the breast, not larger than a half crown piece, the skin here is compact, hard, and firmly attached to the muscles of the breast, which tear away with the skin when skinning, if a knife be not used. What is most sur])rising in this bird is the hardness and tough- ness of its skin, while the flesh is decomposing. I have had birds brought to me that have been killed a week or more, the flesh being green, rotten, and stinking, maggots crawling from the eyes and mouth, but strange to say, with the exception of the thin membrane on the abdomen the skin was still tough, and the feathers firm. After a little washing, an operation these bird's feathers bear remarkably well, a good skin can be made. Any other bird under these conditions would have been minus its feathers before half finished. They are birds that will stand a lot of handling, for I have seen a native bring a bird for sale, and while coming to terms (it sometimes requires hours to complete a bargain), constantly rub the bird up and down, rub it on his arms and face, press it, pat it, stroke it, till I have been nearly crazy, and felt as if I would like to knock the fel- low down and trample him underfoot. When the purchase has been comjtleted I have had to take the bird and wash it with soap to remove the stains the beast had left on the delicate yel- low plumage. The natives maul everything alike, and some of the small birds were spoilt, but they soon learnt to do better. Some small birds were brought to me in a filthy state, and I showed the fellow who brought them what he had done, and what he should do in future. I then threw the birds down, and
WHITE — A SIceich of the Life of Samuel White.
Diade him take them away. After this they learned to bring in the birds, strung through the nostril with rattan, and then they would string five or six small birds on the one piece of rattan, most of them alive and squeaking, fluttering and crawling, till scarcely one in the bunch had any feathers on the neck or back. The great bird was my great quest, and I offered liberally for them, indeed, extravagant prices for freshly killed birds, for I knew that they were rare and shy, and the natives alone knew their haunts, so with a little exertion and a liberal distribution of tobacco I persuaded hundreds of men and boys to go out and hunt in every part of the islands for specimens. I have had as manv "as fifty men come in at once with birds for which I would have to give four pounds worth of goods to ea,.h man, and amongst others there Avould be two or three of the great birds. Towards the end of my visit I had practically all the men of Aru Islands collecting for me.
W. JC. Thomas * Co.,
Vriuters, Gi-eiifel) St., Adekide.
n
Jim
iiml
Pu
Vol. IV.
Part 2.
THE
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
ORNITHOLOGIST,
A Magazine of Ornithology.
Ut APRIL. 1919.
Mi
D
M
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE : R. CROMPTON, R.A.O.U. :a. G. EDQ.UIST g. A. WHITE, C.M.B.O.U. F. R. ZIETZ, R.A.O.U..
UiU
Price, 2/-
d
THE
South Australian
ORNITHOLOGIST,
■'>]'<:
Editorial Cornjiittec :
R. Crompton, R.A.O.U. A. O. Edquist S. A. Whitk. C.M.BO.U F. K. ZiKTz, R.A.O.U.
Secretary : F. M. Angki., R.A.O.U..
c/o W. D. & H. O. WilLs. hid. Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
CONTENTS
Page
'riie Souili Au'-tialian Ornithological Assooiation .... 35
Order l*sitta<'ifoime'5, Family Loriidae, Onus Trichoglossus . . 38
In Mie Pine an.l >rallee. .1. W. Mellor, R.A.O.U, .... 39
IJir.ls iiotP<l fliiiin;; a Holiday Trip in Victoria Alan Lendon . 47
iipol>asileii^ liedleyi rosinao. F- E. I'arson, I'.AO.U. . . 51
All instance of the Great Courage of the Welcome Swallow.
O. Ciomplon - s . - 52
I?ird Notes from McCJiaths Flat. J. G. Hastings ... 53
A Sket'h of the Lite of Samuel Wiiite — Ornithologist, Soldiei-,
Sailor, .iiid Fxplorer. IJy his son, S. A. White, C.M.n.O.U. 26
The Editorial Committee accepts no responsibility for the views or deductions expressed by any of its contribiitora. The Journal welcomes a free interchan*;e of ideas with the object of extending; the knowledge of our avifauna, but the author of each article is responsible for the opinions and (led net ions recorded.
THE
South Australian Ornithologist,
Vol. IV.J Ist APRIL, l^iQ. [Part 2.
The South Austrah'an Ornithological Association.
JANUAKY aist 1919. The monthly meeting of the South Australian Ornitholo- jfical Association was held in the Royal Society's Rooms, North Terrace, on Friday evening. Capt. S. A. White, C.M.B.O.U., presided. Owing to the holidays no meeting was held in December, and an unusually large amount of busi- ness had accumulated. Messrs. W. G. and R. G. Thomas were elected members. Mr. Edquist reported progress of the com- mittee appointed to form a juvenile branch of the association, and showed a sketch and letter from a member of the Boo- borowie P>ird Club, describing a white-necked crane which had appeared in that district. The Chairman pointed out that this was the white-necked heron ( Myola p<icipc(( i. The same mem- ber also stated that a blue mountain parrot kept in captivity had laid 17 eggs this seasons-eight clutches of two each (the normal number), and one clutch of one egg. Following upon tbfe complaints about boys interfering with birds' nests at Stirling East, members were delighted to hear from Mr. Edquist that the head master of the public school in that dis- trict had formed a bird club with a large membership, and that the boys were learning to love and protect the birds now, in- stead of desti'oying them. The Chairman reported that the owners of Thistle Island were anxious to make ii ;i fauna and flora reserve, and at their request he had undertaken to introduce mallee fowls, kangaroos, wallabies, and phalan- gers. rie considered it an ideal spot foi- a sanctuary, and w.is
36 T/ie t^oiitli Austrnlian Ornitholoyiral AssoriaHon.
iu great hopes that the animals would soou multiply. Mr. J, \V. Melloi- reported that birds were mating late this season. He had seen the young of brush wattle birds, harmonious shrike thrushes, and white-plumed honey-eaters, quite lately. The imported starlings have been more plentiful than ever, and were sweeping off the fruit in spite of all efforts to pre vent them. The Chairman directed attention to a letter from iMr. Clarke, of Kangaroo Island, asking if he could obtain some great brown kingfishers to liberate on the island. All present agreed that it was risky to introduce any animal into a country hitherto unknown to it, lest it should change its habits. Mr. F. R. Zietz exhibited a specimen of the red-tailed tropic bird. It had been forwarded to the Museum by Mr. Bradley, of Gran- tala Farm, near Port Lincoln. The bird had been flying round for several days. This is a new record for South Aus- tralia, and the first ever known to have appeared in South Australian waters. Mr. Zietz pointed out that when this bird was being skinned no aural canals could be found. Upon Dr. Morgan examining it, he stated that the wandering of the bird out of his habitat may be attributed to this. Mr. J. W. Mellor stated that the magpies were keeping up their raids upon the young sparrows, and that they had diminished the imported pests very much. The rest of the evening was taken up by Mr. Frank Parsons iu describing a recent trip on the Murray River, and the birds in the vicinity of the New South Wale.s border. A few very nice skins were shown to illustrate the birds found there.
FEBRUARY 2Sth, 1910. Capt. S. A. White, C.M.B.O.U., presided. Mr. Robert Beck was proposed for membership. Dr. A. M. Morgan men tioned that the blnck-throated giebe had mated twice in the Botanical Garden lake this season, and said the old idea that grebes could not walk on land was exploded, for he had seen these birds in the gardens obtaining pieces of vegetation some little distance from the water, and then returning with it to their nest. The doctor exhibited a neat pair of collapsible scales which he had made. He .said he had found it difficult to get scales which would pack away in a small space for travelling. He was using the scales in connection wTtL the brain weights of birds which he was now investigating. Mr. Edwin Ashby was welcomed back from Americii. This mem ber stated that he was under the opinion that the swift lori- keets {hdthatiiiiK (lisieolor) had visited Blackwood again thi»
season. If This be the ciuse, it is iiiterestiug, because they have only roine over from TasTuania at long intervals. Mr. A.shby also exhibited the new colour plates and nomenclature of (olour standards by Dr. Kidgeway. There was a good deal of discussion over this, but all were of the opinion that it was a much needed chart. Mr. Ashby was resquested to procure several copies for members. Mr. F. R. Zietz reported that two female black falcons (Ncofnh-o sitbiiigc.r) had been sent in from the lakes district. Mr. Lienau gave some interesting notes upon the breeding in captivity of the painted finch. Mr. J. W. Mellor handed in some interesting notes made at Lock- leys during the last month. The matter of permits being issued to persons who wanted to visit bird sanctuaries was lu-ou^ht up. and some members exyiressed themselves strongly upon the matter. A small deputation was elected to wait upon the Minister and point out the danger that may follow the practice mentioned. The Chairman stated that he had been busy during the month addressing different associations and bodies in the country upon bird protection. Among others, lie had a most sympathetic audience at Murray Bridge, and through the courtesy of the head teacher of the Murray Bridge School had addressed the students there. He had also spoken at Payneham and other places. The Chairman also stated that in conjunction with the Government Department he was about to put up new notice boards on the islands in the Coorong. Dr. Morgan drew attention to the good work done by the Chairman, and said if he did not do it no one else would, but he should not be allowed to bear all the expenses. The Chairman read some notes upon the changing of colouration with the common blue wren. He stated that by January 23 of this year most of the male wrens began to lose their blue plumage, and that by February ^7 many had taken on the brown plumage of the females. The New-Holland honey-eater was mating late this season, for on February 2 young birds were being fed that had just left the nest. :Mr. E. Ashby exhibited a small collection of skins to illustrate the birds ob- seived by him during a brief visit of an hour or two at a water hole in the mallee near Karoonda. A surprising number of species were identified in such a short time. Mr. Ashby who was congratulated on being made a Corresponding Fellow of Ihe American Ornithological Union, further entertained the meeting with an account of notable ornithologists he had met in America, and the work the States are doing for the protec- tion of birds.
:-!8 ()r<]n- J't'iltaci inr,H>,. l'\u,i;ii/ L,irii<lar, (imii^ Trir/iu'ihs^u,.
Order F^sittaciforiiies, Family Loriidae, Genus Triclioglossus.
y'/•/r/;of//o.s■.^•/^^• iioriK lioJIaiididc i liliu' brllitMl Lorikeet or IlhuMiionntain i.
Description -Head, clieeli^s and throat, deep blue; the centre of the feathers beinj; lighter, giving the appearance of a strijie; at the base of the head a nairow band of greenish yel- low; the up[)er surface gi'een, with many feathers at the base of the neck marked with yellow and scarlet; tail basal half of the feathers, dark green shading into blue on the tips, under side of feathers greenish yelloAv; marked on the inner webs with yellow; the outer webs of the wing feathers dark green, inner webs dark brown to black, with a large spot of orange on eadi feather. riiest, rich scarlet, shading into rich orange on the sides. Abdomen, deep blue; the feathers on the sides scarlel. ti}t[)ed with (lce[) blue; inside the shoulders, biiiiht l3lood red; under-tail coverts, yellow, tipped with green; bill, coral red, tipped with yelloAv; iris, orange, shading to red; feet, ashy grey.
Measurements — Total length, ;}28 m.m. ; wing from body to tip, 192 m.m.; spread, 426 m.m.: bill, IG m.m.; tarsus, 18 m.m.
Distribution -Southern Queensland, New South Wales, Mctoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, including Kangaroo Island.
Habits— Noisy and gregarious, having a shrill loud call, and when many birds are feeding in the same tree it is difficult to hear oneself speak. They congregate in great flocks at times while at others they are to be met with in twos and threes. They shift about according to food supply, and are to be met with in the big timber country as well as the low mallee. They are confined to the coastal belt as a rule, and they have not been met with in the interior. They are undoubtedly the most gorgeous of our South Australian parrots, and when a number are feeding close together in the bright sunlight they I>resent a wonderful sight in their rainbow colourations.
Nest — The eggs are laid in the dry dust at the bottom of a hollow spout of a gum tree. Usual ly the biggest tree in the ■ neighbourhood is selected. Though they can hardly be said to nest in colonies it is usual to tinil several i)airs nesting in tlie same vicinity, often in the same tree if it have enoagh suitable hollows. The nesting season is from August to December, varving aicordinc: to locality.
MI:LIJ)I! ^In thf Fin- .nul Mallee. 3i>
I'^ggs — The eijijus are two in niiiubei*. of a rounded shape, ihe textnn^ of flic shell dull and lusti-ele.As. They are pure white when fiisi lai'l. bui sooii i)e<-oine stained a brownish colour by the dust of rhe iu-'<(in«- hollow. Average measure- ment of six ejijis. U.74 cm. x 1\2() e.ui. Largest e<;«>'. 2.80 cm. X 2.40 cm.; smallest egg, 2.65 cm. x 2.20 cm.
Flight — Very swift and strong; they fly to a great height at times when moving from one locality to another.
Food — Consists of honey, varied at times with berries and seeds. They are very troublesome in the orchards at times, having a great liking for pears and apples.
Note — Loud and shrill, and when many are feeding in the same tree, quite deafening.
Habitat — ^Vherever the Eucalyi)ts are flowering whether stunted mallee or the lofty gums. As soon as the trees finish blossoniing they shift to another locality at times travelling, great distances.
In the Pine and Mallee.
By J. W. Mel lor, R.A.O.U. Part II.
Llf^T OF BIRDS IDENTIFIED IN THE HUNDRED OF ROOKPURNONG, SOI^TH AUSTRALIA.
October, 1918.
Emu {Dronnceaus novae-holla ndiae). — The fresh marks of this 1 ird were obi^erved, and an egg taken in the district worked. A clutch of eight eggs had not long ago been taken.
Eastern Stubble Quail {(Joturnix pectoralis) .—These birds were only moderately common, their call being some- times lieard in the £>rass, and on one occasion a bird rose up so ouicklv from beneath my feet, that it struck a stiff stemmed shrub.' which plucked quite a number of feathers from its breast.
Button Quail (AnMrotnrniT irZo.r). —Several were flushed in the long grass where they were feeding.
Bronzewing Pigeon (Phaps chalcoptera) .—^oted. on seve- ral occasions, but not common.
40 MELLOR—In the Fine and Malice.
Crested Bionzewiug Pigeon {Ocyphaps lophotes). — Ex tremely common in pairs, and at times several pairs wouUI alight on a dead tree together, but they were timid, and flew off with a "whirr" and ''flap" of wings when approached.
White-headed Stilt. These birds were flying over, making the usual barking call not unlike that of a small dog.
Scrub Curlew {Burhinns magnirostris) . — At night time these birds uttered their well-known mournful notes of "curlew curlew curlew."
Australian Night Heron or Nankeen (Nycticorax call- don lens fnistralasiac). — At night time these birds flew over apparently going to the Murray some miles away to feed.
Australian Goshawk {Urospizn fasciata). — Seen on seve- ral occasions in the mallee country.
Collared Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus) . — Seen in the mallee on one occasion only.
Wedge-tailed Eagle {Uroaetiis audnx). — Not plentiful; those seen were soaring and circling in the air, the huge nests of the birds were seen on several occasions, one especially large one Avns placed in a tall hillock.
Brown Hawk {leracidea herigora). — Seen on one occasion.
Nankeen Kestrel {Cerchneis cenchroides) . — Not plentiful.
Southern Boobook OmI {Spiloglau.r boobook hiarniorata). —In the pines and also in the large mallee calling mournfully at night.
I'urple-cvoAvued Lorikeet ( Glossopsitt<i For phji rove phala i. — Very common in the mallee, where they were breeding freely, all the nests examined having large young, three being the general number. The old birds were extremely noisy as they clung to the mallee boughs seeking honey from the flowers.
Pink Cockatoo or Major Mitchell (Lophochroa lead- heateri). — In pairs, seen on every hand, they were breeding in the hollows of the very large mallee, the young being almost ready to leave the nest, three being the clutch. The old birds were feeding on the open grass flats, upon the native grass, reeds, etc. They were often in company with the rose-breasted species. A pair made regular visits to my camp, and foraged about in the grass only a short distance away.
Rose-breasted Cockatoo or Galah (Eolophus rosei- eapillns). — Were about in small coveys of half a dozen or more feeding on the grass seeds on the open flats about the pines.
MELLOR—In the Piw ,ind Hallee. 41
Cockatoo Parrot (Leptolophus auricomis). — In pairs fly- ing swiftly just above the mallee, settling at times, and calliag loudly ; they had apparently just arrived, and were looking for nesting hollows.
Mallee Ring-neck Parrot {Barnardius barnardi). — These parrots were common in the mallee, always in pairs, and were breeding in the hollows, all nests had fledged young, four in number. The parent birds were very noisy, being at times extremely excited, and pugnacious should another pair come near their selected locality.
Many-coloured Parrot {Psephotus varius). — Fairly com- mon in pairs not far from the Victorian border ; I believe them to be the Victorian species.
Yellow- vented Parrot or Bluebonnet (Northiella haemato- ijaster xanilwrrlwa) . — In pairs and not uncommon, especial ly in the open country where pines were plentiful, and in these trees the birds came to roost at night. The dull olive green on the backs of these birds made it very diflScult to detect them when they settled on the ground with the half dry grass about then!.
Shell Parrot {Melopsittaciis undulatus). — These pretty little parrots were very plentiful in flocks, flying with undulat- ing movement across the open grass land, seeming to be guided by a leader or leaders, as the whole flock would twist and turn systematically and in perfect unison, all the time uttering their pretty little warbling notes. When a flock settled on a dry tree, the tree would instantly b(^ transfonued into a living one with the elongated leaves swaying in the breeze, for the little birds being very animated are never still.
Mallee Frogmouth iPodargus strigoides rossi). — These birds were in the pine and mallee, and regularly their low weird call -of "boo boo boo" often repeated would start soon after sunset, and continue well into the night, as they sat ui)on some post or convenient plaoe. and ever and anon sallied forth after their food.
Red-backed Kingflslier {Ci/analcyon pijrrhopi/gius). — Seen only on one occasion in the small nnil!c(^ country.
Bee-eater (Cosmacropft ornatiis). — Fairly common es- pecially in sandy localities.
Narrow-billed Bronze (^ickoo {Keochalcitcs hdstiUf! tnch Ion). — Seen on several occasions.
Bronze Cuckoo (Lamprococcyx plagosus).—'Sot comnum.
42 MELLOix—In the Fine and Mallei'.
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena). — Fairly plentiful.
Eastern Black and White Swallow {Cheramoeca leucos tern u in stonei). — Seen near sandy banks in open localities.
Tree Martin (Hijlochelidon nigricans caleyi). — Often seen in the thinly timbered parts, and a nest in conrse of buildinji in a leanin«- mallee was noted.
Brown Flycatcher (Microeca fascinans). — Seen at times in the thinly timbered parts, and a nest in course of buildino; in a leaniuj;- luallcc was noted.
Southern Ked-capped Robin (Whiteornis goodenovii). — This pretty little bird was 'to be seen in all situations in the dense mallee, and open pine country. It was nesting, and several nests examined ((tntained large young.
Southern Hooded Kobin {Mclanodryas cucuUata vigorsi). — Only seen on one occasion in the mallee.
(Jreenisli Tree-tit {Hniicroniis brcriroxtris rlridescens). — Comtnon in the mallee.
Southern Rufous-breasted Thickhead [hewinornis rufiven- trifi inornatus). — A few seen in the ])ine country.
Eastern Red-throated Thickhead {Gilbertornis rufigu- laris). — I have never before seen these birds so plentiful, es- pecially in the pine country towards the Victorian border. They • were calling and answering one another in all directions, one call being of a ventriloquial nature, and often leading one astray when trying to find the birds. The call of these birds is very full and clear at times.
Black and White Fantail {Leucocirca tricolor). — Fairly numerous, a nest on a leaning mallee was in course of building.
Restless Flycatcher [Scisura inqiiieta). — Only a few seen in the mallee country.
Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike (Coracina novae-holla ndiae ■)itelanops) . — Not plentiful.
White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater {Lalage tricolor). — Only seen once in the open pine country.
Chestnut-backed Ground Bird {Cinclosoma castanotum) , — Only one bird seen, it being a female which was walking on the ground in the low bushes beneath the mallee.
Chestnut-crowned Babbler {Pomatostomus ruficcps). — These birds were quite common especially in the more oi)en pine country, where they were in small coveys of five or six.
MELLOR—ln the Fine and Mallee. \\\
They were very uoi.sy and animated in their actions, threading (heir way thrcMigh the thielv pines, sometimes flying from tree to tree, or hopping and running over the groun«l very quickly. Nunibers of those seen were this .season's birds, and iii the pines Iheir h.nge stick nests were .seen, sometimes so hirge as to quite bend the pine over with the weight. No nests were found to be occupied.
White browed Babbler {Morganoriiis superciliosus). — Only a few seen, the former bird seeming to take the place of the smaller species.
Southern Brown Song l.ark \(''tiii-J<n-]i<iiiiphuH craralis caiifatoris). — Fairly numerous on the more open grass land, and on the samphire country, where the females kept to the ground and the low bu.shes, while the males soared aloft in the air singing their well-known call "Want-to-go-to-Egypt."
White-fronted Chat (Epthianura alhifroiis). — Met with in the open country.
Red-frcmted Chat {Parepfhiannra tricolor). — Only one seen in the open country.
Orange-fronted Chat (Aurepthianura aurifrons). — ^A few were noticed on the open samphire country.
Red-rumped Tit (Acanthiza pusilla hamUtoni). — Only a few ob.served in the mallee.
Chestnut-ri]m])ed Tit \ Acdiilliizd uro/iijf/ialiM nitherglcni). — Plentiful in the mallee.
Victorian Yellow-rumped Tit [Geohasileus chrysorrhov.s sandlandi). — From the light fawn colour of the flanks I take this to be the Victorian sub-species ; they were seen near to the Victorian border.
Black-backed Wren (Maluriis melan ops) .—These beauti- ful little wrens were observed in the country adjacent to the Vicloriau border, usually in the low bushes on the fringe of the mallee, where they thread their way through the thickets with remarkable agility. The males are very shy. and dar( oH" a( the least noise, leaving their more sombre mates to face the intruder. These birds seem to have only just started to breed. I saw a nest with one egg; it was com posed of fine dry grass, lined with rabbit's fur, and placed in a hop bush IS inches from the ground. It measured outside, 5| inches long by 3| inches broad ; inside, 3^ inches by 2 inches. The entrance was exceptionally large, being 1^ inches in diameter.
44 MELLOLi—In the Five and MalUe.
Masked Wood Swallow {Campbellornis persona tus munnu). — These birds with the next species had just arrived iu large uuinber.s and were seeking nesting quarters, but none had started building.
WTiite browed Wood swallow (Campbellornis super- cillosus). — In numbers, and like the former species were mak- ing 51 great fuss in certain i)laces which they had selected for building jturposes.
Wood-swallow ( Pseudarfamus cyanopterus). — These birds were also common, and, I believe, are about all through the year. They had st^irted to breed, and several nests were noted iti the forks of trees, and behind broken limbs in the mallee. Three eggs lortiied the clutch.
Victorian Grey Shrike-thrush (Collurlcincla harmonica rictoriae ) .—On\y a few seen, their beautiful notes resounding through the timbered glades in the early morning.
Murray Magpie or Magpie Lark {(irallina cjianoleuca). — Seen on only one occasion.
White-backed Magpie {Gi/innorhiita hjjpoleuca leuconota). — Seen in the open country.
Mallee butcher-bird (liulcstcs torqaatus colei). — This bird which 1 believe is the Victorian sub-species was fairly com- mon, but each ])air had its own little locality. They were very pugnacious when other birds entered their sanctuaries. I noted an exception to this rule near the Victorian border where four young butcher birds sitting on a small dry bush were being fed by their parents. In the same bush, and close to them were three young fully fledged streaked honey- eaters also being fed by theii- itarents. All were living in harmony. A j)air of butcher birds had their nest not far from my camp, and their loud calls were heard throughout the day, especially in the early morning, when the notes were very loud and clear.
Southern Crested Rell-bird (Oreoica cristata clelandi). — Not common. Seen in the mallee. Their notes of ''reep-reep, reepbook" were often heard. It was difficult to And the bird by following the sound, as they are good ventriloquists.
AVhite-face Titmouse {Aphclocephala leucopsis). — Very common in all situations. Plopping on the ground in little covevs in search of food, they had apparently done breeding, and were out with their voung. No fresh nests were seen.
MELLOh'—l» tin- i'ine mid Mallee.
SleiKlei--bi]le(i Tree-ninner [Xcosittd pileata tcnuirostris). — Seen on sevevjil (Hcasioiis hi the pine country, where they were flyin<2, in little coveys of Ave or six. On alighting, they would carry onl their usual method of searching for food, by circling around the trunks of the trees head downwards, and on reaching iJic Ixdiimi. Ily away to another tree to repeat the i)er1orman( c Tlun- nevei" go up the trunks.
Southern Brown Treecreeper {XcocUiho piciotntd au.stniUs) . — Very ooninion in the large mallee. where they were breeding in the hollows, and Avere very noisy indeed. Their notes of "pink pink pink" were lieard in all directions as the bii'ds hopped up the tree trunks always in a circular motion. Should they wish to keep out of sight they would pause on the farther side of the tree for a minute or two, and then tly to another tree, , kee{)ing it between them and the intruder.
Southern White-browed Tree-creeper {CUmacteris ery- throps parsonsi), sub-sp. nov. (Mellor, South Australian Orni- thologist. Vol. l\., page 5). — This species which I have just named after my friend and enthusiastic ornithologist, Mr. Frank E. Parsons, of Adelaide. I found in the pine country near the Victorian border. Only a pair was secured. They are very silent compared with the forme]- species, but their habits of searching out their food on the tree trunks are similar. 1 was not surprised at finding them very different from the white-bi-owed tree cree])er of Central Australia seeing that the country they live in is so different. Th*^ cooler and more fertile country doubtless accounts for their larger and more robust form.
Southej-n Striped Diamond Bird i Pardalotlnu.s striatus suha]finis) . — Common in pairs and were nesting in the small hollows of the mallee. their pretty oft repeated call of "chucky chuck" being heard in every bit of mallee one came to. They were well on with their breeding as every nest examined had large young in it, and the parent birds were ever on the go carrying food to their offspring.
Mallee Brown Headed Honey-eater {Melithreptus atri- capillus mallee). — Noted in the mallee country.
Southern Striped Honey-eater (Plectorhjjncha lanccolata neglecta). — Seen on several occasions in the mallee country
46 MELUjU^iu the Fine and Mai lee.
where ihev were i)reediug. Fiill\ tJed^'d y()nii<^ as described pre- viously were seen in company with the hnicher bird. A nest swinging r.t the extreme end of a bough of a tal! bull oak was examined, and found to contain three freshly hatched young. The nest was composed of the usual sheep's wool.
lilack linney -eater (Cissouiehi itignn. — This little honey-eater was moderately plentiful in the mallee scinl), also in Ihe "wild tobacco'" country, where it was seeking tlii' honey with its long tongue from the narrow tube- like yellow flowers. It was in pairs, so pro- bably v/as just about to breed, but no in<licaiions of nests were noted.
Eastern ^^'hite fronted Honey-eater (Glycdphila ulbifrons hiccrta). — Noted lu-incipally in the mallee country, but also in the pines. They were calling loudly, and were very shy, mak- ing off at the slightest noise. They weie feeding on the honey from Ihe flowers of the mallee.
Southern Singing Honey-eater (Meliphaga sonora). — Noled in the ]»ines. but by no means j)lentiful.
(iiaceful Honey-eater { LicJienostomus oniatus talemi). — T'lentiful in all situations, especially in the mallee, where it was bi-eeding. Large young were seen bo1h in and out of the
TH^st.
lilack tai-ed Minali {.\l !/.:<niHi<i /hiriiiiihi iiicldiiotis). — Numbers in the mallee and pine country ; very noisy and ■<luarrelsoine when other birds came near them. Large young were accomi)anying their parents on the wing.
Soulh;",?! Sjiiny-cheeked ILmey eater i Acaiithaf/enii.^ rufogularis cijcfnus). — Noted breeding, but not plentiful.
Southern ri})il [Aiilhiis aiiMtralis (idchiidcnsis). — 'Seen in the o[ien qrass country, also on the samphire flats.
Small-billed Crow (Corvufi bennctti). — A few pairs in the pine country. One pair made repeated visits to my camp to secure bits of meat, etc., but were off directly any noise was made.
S<ai(Iiern ^^'hil(■winged Chough {Cocorax melanorhainphus 7r/(/7rf/ri.- Several coveys of six or seven Avere seen in the pine iountrv.
LbJXL)0\^liirJ.'< nt'fr.l .lurina a Holiday Tri}> in Victtria. 47
Birds noted during a Holiday Trip in Victoria. By x\lan Leudon. The trip extended 1'iom Jauuai'v 3rd to 25th, VJl'j. Sherbrooke is a small village about 30 miles distant from Melbourne, and situated in the Uandenong Ranges. Marys- ville is a small township about Gl miles from Melbourne, and about 22 miles from Healesville, and is situated on the other side of the l>ividiug Range. The names of the birds seen are taken fioiu ^lathews' 1013 List. Birds identified were: —
1. I>ronzewing Pigeon [PUaps chalcoptera clKilcopicm }. — One specimen of this bird was seen in a clearing near- Sherbrooke.
2. Straw-necked Ibis {Carpliihi.s spiiiicolHs.) — A small flock of seven or eight birds was seen in a paddock near the Stevenson River at Marysville. Several odd pairs were also seen along the same river.
3. White-fronted Heron [Notophoyx iiovae-holhiiididc) . — A few birds were noticed in company with Straw-necked Ibis at Marysville. Also several were seen flying near Narbethong in the same district.
4. Black Cormorant [Phalacrocorax carho novae- hollandiae). — Seen on two or three occasions flying over the mountain streams at Marysville presumably after the intro- duced trout, the only fish found in the rivers.
5. Brown Hawk (Jentcidea herkjora herigoni). — noticed several times near Healesville. Apparently not common.
6. Nankeen Kestrel ( Cerchneis cenchroides ceiichroides ) . — Common throughout the Marysville district, but not seen near Sherbrooke.
7. Gang-gang Cockatoo [Callocephalon galcdtn nn . — These birds were frequently seen in the thickly timbered parts near Marysville, and were always in pairs. They were mostly noticed in the evening from about 5 o'clock to 7.30. and did not appear to be shy.
8. Crimson Parrot [Platycercus elegans elegans). — This bird was fairly common in the forests at both Sherbrooke and Marysville. At Marysville an old bird in colour and a young one were several times seen feeding in the grass in front of the house.
■48 LEISBON — Birih noted dariiuj a Holiday Trip in Virtoria.
9. Rosella Parrot ( Platycercus e.vimius eximius) — Fairly plentiful in the Sherbrooke district, but only one pair seen in the Marysville district.
10. Brown Kingfisher [Dacelo (jiyas gigas). — Common both near Marysville and Sherbrooke.
11. Spine-tailed Swift {Chaetura caudacuta). — A small flock of about a dozen birds was seen circling about one even- ing at Sherbrooke.
12. Pallid Cuckoo {Heteroscenes palUdus). — A pair flew in front of the motor on the road from Healesville to Marys- ville. No others seen.
13. Fantailed Cuckoo {Cacomantis ruhricatus riibricatus). — A single bird Avas seen in a fern gully near Marysville.
14. Lyre-bird {Meniira novaehollandiae victoriae ) . — These birds were only to be found in a certain thickly timbered gully near t^herbrooke. where there was a fair number of them. Their striking notes were to be heard in this gully at almost any time of the day. but more particularly in the early morn- ing and late evening, and on several occasions the birds were seen. They were, however, very difficult to approach, as on the slightest sound they would stop calling and disappear into the scrub. Their mimicry was marvellous, and the note of the Coachwhip Bird especially was wonderfully reproduced. A dancing mound was formed. It consisted of a circular platform of earth about four or five inches high. The earth was kept well scratched over, and around the edge of the mound the ferns were trodden down. The feet of these birds must be exceedingly strong as in many places decayed tree trunks were seen scratciied completely to pieces by the birds in search of their food. Strange to say no females were seen.
15. Tree Martin {Hylochelidon nigricans caleyi). — Com- mon about Marysville.
16. Brown Flycatcher {Microeca fascinans foscinans). — Numbers were seen about the house at Marysville. but they were not noticed at all in the Sherbrooke district.
17. Flame-breasted Robin {Littlera chnjsoptera phoenicea).— This bird was quite common about Sherbrooke, and was very tame. Only one specimen, a young male, was observed at Marysville.
18. Rose-breasted Robin iBelchera rosea).— This bird was apparently rare. Two males and a few females or young birds were seen in a thick fern gully near Sherbrooke.
LENDON— Birds notnl dnrimj a Holiday Tni> in Victoria. 49'
19. Golden-breasted Thickhead (Pachycephala pectoralia youngi). — Fairly plentiful in the Sherbrooke district. A single bird, a male, was seen near Marysville.
20. Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Lewinornis rufiventris rufirentris) . — One bird only, a male, seen near Marysville.
21. Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin [Eopsaltria australis vioidior). — Common everywhere in the thick forests where its piping note was often heard. One old nest found at Shor brooke.
22. White-shafted Fan tail (Rhipidura flahellifera vic- tor iae). — Probably the commonest bird seen during the trip. It was always very tame and one occasion a bird flew on to a stick I was carrying. Two nests were seen, one just completed at Sherbrooke and another with eggs at Marysville.
23. Rufous Fantail [Howeavis rufifrons inexpectata) . — Seen l;iiv!y often in The lliick scrnbhy country in both dis- tricts visited. The birds were usually rather shy, and would not remain in full view long.
24. Black and White Fantail {Leucocirca tricolor tri- color).—A single bird was seen at the Healesville Railway Station. )
2.J. Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike {Coracina novae- hollandiae melanops). — Seen on a few occasions Jiear Marys- ville, but not at all common. ^
2(5. Coach-whip bird [P-^ophodes crepitans scrymgeouri).— The sharp notes of this bird were often heard in the 'dense v'u\- lies at Sherbrooke. but the Ijird itself was difficult to see. 'On one occasion two pairs were seen in sojne thick brackeji. and another time an old male was seen fighting with a voun^- male that was just moulting into full plumage. The females were noticed to be duller and smaller than the males.
27. Mountain Tlirnsh iOrcorinchi Inniihita deiidin).— These birds were common in the dense gullies at both Marys- ville and Sherbrooke and were usually seen aear the streams.
28. Brown Tit iAcnnthim pusilla macularia) .—lHoticed occasionally at Sherbrooke.
29. Striated Tit (Acaiithi-a liiwata rJunidlcri ).—A '>reat many of these birds were seen about Sherbrooke, but thev'^were not so plentiful at Marysville.
^0 LENDOX^ Birds noted during a Holiday Trij) in Victoria.
30. Yellow-tailed Tit {Geobasileus vhrysorrhous sand- landl). — Not common, but seen a few times in both districts visited.
ol. Blue Wren {MdlurKs ct/aiieus Jiciiricttdc ).—T\\efiG bird.s were in great nnmbers everywhere, and at Sherbrooke three young just out of the nest were seen.
32. Wood Swallow {Pscadurtainu.^ cyanopterus) , — A single bird was seen near Sherbrooke, and several near the Stevenson River at Marysville.
33. Magpie Lark {Grallina ci/aiiolciicii ci/anolettca ).— Many were seen at Sherbrooke, also a few about the township of Healesville.
34. Grey Shrike Thrush {Colluricincla harnionica vie- toriae). — Fairly common at both Sherbrooke and Marysville.
35. White-backed Magpie ( CTymnorhlna hypoleiica leuoo- nota ) .—Very common throughout the tri]).
3(). Tree Creeper. — Several of these birds were seen ])i'o- bably of species NeocUma picumna, but they were not identi- fied with certainty.
37. White eye {Zoslerops lateralis westernensis). — Com- mon at Sherbrooke, and at Marysville. Usually seen in the fruit trees.
."iS. Spine liill { AcdHthorhynchufi iciiiiirostris ricloriae. } — ■ Not common in the Sherbrooke district, two birds only being seen. Plentiful about Marysville.
3!>. Yellow-eared Honeyeater {Meliphaga Icirinii nea). — A single bird which was quite tame was seen in a thick gully at Sherbrooke.
40. Yellow-faced IToneyeater { ranipHlotis cliry^^ops hcaconsifieldi ) . — Several were seen at Marysville feeding in the garden quite close to the house.
41. Crescent Honeyeater ( Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera indis- tincfa). — Single specimen seen in a gully near Sherbrooke.
42. Wattle-bird ( Acanthochaera chrysoptera intermedia). —Several seen in a gum tree at Sassafras, a small village near Sherbrooke.
43. Pipit (Anthus australis ausfralis).—'Soticed. once or twice in some paddocks near Healesville.
l'ARS<).\'S—(;,',>l>:>.<ih':i.< l.r.lhui rosinne. 51
44. Ked-browod Finch {Arrjintha temporalis iregellasi).— C'oiniiion tliroiioliout tho trip. A nest with three fresh eggs was found at Sherbrooke.
45. Crow (Corrufi coronoidcH perplexus). — A large flock of many hundreds of birds was seen flying nearly every morn- ing over the township of Marysville.
46. Pied Bell Magpie i Stre))era gracuUna graculina) . — One was seen on the road from Healesville to Marysville. and a few others were seen close to the latter place.
47. Grey Bell Magpie [Neo-Htrepera versicolor rieiUoti ) . — This bird was niore plentiful than the last species in tin' Marysville district, and on one occasion two young birds were seen.
Geobasileus hedleyi rosinae.
By F. E. Parsons, R.A.O.T.
Few ornithologists have yet had an opportunity of study- ing this recent addition to the list of Australian "tit warblers." It was first described by G. M. Mathews in the Austral Av: Kecoid Vol. 2. page 0 from specimens obtained by Captain S. A. White in the vicinity of St. Kilda, about 20 miles North of Adelaide.
Xo particulars of the habits or economy of this bird were published when it was described, and nothing has been written since, so that it will not be out of place to record a few personal observations though they be scanty.
The country where Capt. White collected his specimens is a strip of land bordering the coast, and consists of a large area of low lying land which is subject to inundation by high tides, and is thickly clothed with low bushes and samphire, with a margin of mangroves on the sea side of it. Similar country to this extends all the way north to Port Wakefield at tho head of the Gulf, and then south for about twenty miles on the western side of St. Vincent Gulf; it was here that I came across these birds in large numbers.
This appears to be essentially a swamp tit. as it is never found away from the samphire swamp land, neither is it ever seen in the mangroves.
"Acanthiza puftilla" is fairly plentiful in the mangroves and "d^'-^^uinUena ehrysorrhous" is found on the land border of
52 CIinMl'TON~~'n,e Gnnit Courage of the Welcome Svallow.
the swamps, but OJi. rosinae never was seen in either of these situations.
"(jeohasi1eii-<^ h. rosinae" is a very quiet bird, and greatly resembles "(r. chrysorrhons" in its manners ; it has a somewhat similar faint but sweet warble, and procures its food while hopping about on the ground in a very sprightly manner. In June of this year they had congregated into flocks of about 40 to 60 birds, and in the early part of the morning or late in the afternoon they could be seen moving over the flats in search of food, and when so engaged they did not fly simultaneously from spot to spot, but each bird took short flights of about 30 or 40 feet and alighting in the bushes, at once hopped to the ground and searched for insects for a few seconds, then took another short flight in the same direction ; thus at any moment there were always some birds on the wing.
I found it very easy to procure specimens by taking up a position ahead of them in their line of flight, they took little notice of me, but came on in their spasmodic flights, some birds alighting within six or eight yards of where I stood. At the report of the gun they would all rise in a flock and fly 200 or 300 yards then alight, and again continue their way in quest of food in their peculiar jerky fashion.
The legs, feet, and bill of ''G.h. rosinae" are black, and the
iris colored light cream.
1/7/18.
An Instance of the Great Courage of the Welcome Swallow.
By Owen Crompton, Communicated by S. A. White.
When I was at Port Lincoln recently spending a week cruising in an old cutter called ''Bonny Dundee" which belongs to Mr. Dabovitdi, late inspector of fisheries, his son Chris, told nie the following interesting experience he had had with a l>air of swallows. Some time ago he and his father had reason to go to Stansbury for two or three weeks' work to do with the iiis]ie<tion of fisheries. While their boat was anchored there a pair of swallows built a nest and laid eggs in an old sealskin cap Avhich was hanging in the cabin. When the time for sail-
HASTINGS— Bird Notes from McGrath's Flat. 53
ing home to Port Lincoln had arrived, they were very loth to go because they believed it would mean breaking up the swal- lows' happy family, but to their surprise the birds went with them.
The first evening the male bird was seen frequently flying round the boat, but was not seen to settle ; the next day all went well until late in the afternoon when a gale sprang up and they were afraid that the male bird was lost. Next morning, however, the weather had calmed down and both birds were there apparently quite happy, Mr. Dabovich believed that the male bird had got into an upturned dinghy on deck to escape the gale. When they got down abreast of Wedge Island the two birds were noticed chattering together and then flew straight in the direction of the Island, evidently to procure food having had nothing to eat for over 36 hours. They wondcM-od very much whether the birds would return, and sure enough in about lialf-an-hour back they came apparently satisfied.
On arrival at Port Lincoln they anchored the boat, and as Mr. Dabovich said, to his great delight, their young ones hatched and were reared in the Port Lincoln Harbour.
Bird Notes from McGrath's Flat.
By Joseph Gordon Hastings.
The v.hite-fronted or blue cranes have i)ut in an appearance earlier than usual this year. All through the year odd ones are to be seen, but only in the winter do they appear in large numbers, w^hen there is plenty of food to be had in the form of snails and insect life which is provided by the rains forming pools or ponds in the low lying country near the Coorong. The only reason I can give for their early arrival is, perhaps, the very low slate of the Coorong where crabs are more easilv procured. If that is so. I feel very sure upon this. they are doing a splendid work which should be highly appre ciated hv all lovers of bird life, fishermen in particular. The latter, I am afraid, are men who do not fully realize what a great help birds are to the fishing industry. About oOO cranes came to roost every night in the trees near our house, among them being a pair of wiiite ones (a very rare bird in
54 WHITE— A Sketch of the Life, of Samuel \i'hiff.
this district). In a large well close to the house a family of frogs took up their abode some years ago, and in the course of time thei]' numbers increased, till they were to be seen in hun- dreds, and in all stages from the great-grandfathers down to the tiniest infants. One of fhe cranes came along last week and paid daily visits to the well. Yesterday we went over to clean the well out, the crane had left and the frogs along with ir. The water hens liave just about all disappeared. I was down at the ]\Inrray mouth last Aveek, and where they were in thousands tliree months ago. only odd ones were seen. The water crakes have all disappeared from here, but undoubtedly will return with the winter. A few weeks ago when returning from Woods Wells I came across a Bittern travelling in a southerly direction. This bird and a Nankeen or Night Heron which T saw last June are the only two birds of their kind T have ever seen here, although nearly 30 years ago I saw several of the latter bird in the swamps at the back of Salt Creek. Our three boys are beginning to show a keen interest in bird life, and we are careful to cultivate it. The two mag- pies brought out their chicks this season which in due course were introduced to the scrap heap in the back yard, and are now on intimate terms with the children who feed them. These birds have become very quiet, and will hardly fly out of the way.
! t has often occurred to mt as strange that although the Australian Hoverlies were here in thousands years ago^ they have been very scarce for a number of years, and I have not seen any for quite a time till lately, when on a trip along the Hummocks 1 saw one and the only bird seemingly on this end of the Coorong.
A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White^ Ornithologist, Soldier, Sailor, and Explorer.
By His Son, S. A. White, C.M.B.O.U.
XX. THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND SAILOR.
The bird next in importance to the Great Bird if not in beauty certainly in singularity of plumage is the little King I'ird Cicinurus rrrjia <>f tlic naini'nlisl, and cfilled bv the Am
WILITE—A Skeicli of the Lifr «f Sumnvl Whit,:
iialives "ijoby j;oby."" It is :i small bird, and that which ;i (ollectoi- would ciill a "t'viir". In its actions, habits, and <-all it is a miniature I*. Apoda, and it seems as it were to mimniick the oToat bird, exceptino' in style and colouring of the plumage, wliicli is deep glossy ivd on all the upper surface. The t'ealhei-.s on the front of forehead are of an orange lint, an<i short and hair-like, standing on end. and look like plush, tlie feathers extending beyond the nostrils; the thi-oat and chest are shining purple red. a border of dark green crosses the breast, and the rest of the underplumage is pure white, but the side plumes, i'.nd these feathers are the greatest peculiarity. The side plumes are about an inch and a half long, about six or seven broad feathers, square at the ends, and are of a brown colour, iind have a broad band of g<»lden green near their tijis. The tail is very short, extending no further than the ends of the wings, which are short and round, but the two central tail feathers are lengthened into two thin wires about seven inches long, crossing each other at the end of the tail, and diverging again at the tips. These Vx ires take a spiral turn at theii* extremities, where they are broadly webbed, forming a button like tip to each feather or wire, and are of a deep shining green. Taken all together this bird is very peculiar and beautiful. Besides these, Rirds of Praadise and other species were very numerous in places. Hawks were not plentiful, and I saw but two species. I did not see or hear any owls. Crows were not numerous. Saw a large fruit-crow with glossy-black plumage, beautiful blue eyes, and an enormous bill, this bird was not uncommon, but very shy. Parrots were plentiful, and of seve- ral species, an<i closely allied to those found in Australia, and several of the cockatoos were identical. Amongst the parrot* were some very varied and beautiful birds, the same with the pigeons, espe-ially the fruit pigeons, some of which were most gorgeous birds, and se\eral species are found in Australia as well as the Aru's. K'ijigtishei-s were abundant, and of many species and colours, and several of the Australian species are found amongst them. Two species of swallows were seen — the edible bird-nest swallow and an Australian species. The former is remarkable for its nest, which is half-cup .shaped, and attached to the walls of caves round the coast: it is com- posed of tough semitransparent gelatine, which the native.^ collect and sell in Dobo. to be sent to China as a delicacy. There are scrub turkeys {Tdlagallun) , and Megapodes, both good for food, and the natives catch them in snares, but not very often. The eggs of the Megapode are very large and laid
56 WILLTK—A Sketch of thr Life of Sunnifl Wlnt>-
in a mound to hatch in the same manner as the allied species in Australia. The Casowarv we did not see, although I saw numerous traces of it and also its eggs. Quail and Finches I saw none nor did I see any country suitable for them. There was only one duck, the Ttulonia radjah of Australia. Two cormorants, one all black and the other black and white. Several cranes were seen and collected, most of them Austra- lian. Amongst them the well known Nankeen Heron (Nycticorax coiedonicus) . Perhaps amongst the aquatic birds none was more remarkable than the large brown rail. It is a fine bird as large as an ordinary fowl, but not so low set for they had fairly long legs. The natives call it "Sai-air". and its beautiful large red eyes, the bright green bill and legs, as well as the blending of the soft brown and grey of the plumage claims the admiration of the naturalist, but the most remarkable thing about the bird is its tongue, its loud dis- cordant craking is heard everywhere, where the land is low and wet. The slightest noise is taken as an excuse for a fresh outbreak, the report of a gun. or one man calling to another is sufficient to set a couple of them going at the top of their loud voices, but the bii-d is a difficult one to see or shoot. It is found in the thickest of the underbrush, and its long powerful legs carry it noiselessly from all danger. The natives some- times catch I hem in snares which is the surest way of obtaining them, for while a man with a gun is struggling through thorny \'ines, these active birds have not the slightest difficultv in evading him.
— Fish.—
Fish in the waters around the Arus are plentiful and varied; they were seen in schools everywhere round the coast. The water at night was alive with them, and an incessant splashing was kept up, but to our surprise and disgust they would never take a bait, although we frequently tried, and although the vessel was surrounded by fish every night we never on any occasion caught a fish with hook and line. The natives catch large quantities. Their plan is to take a canoe near to the edgo of the reef, and by the light of a fire spear them, or wade in shallow water with lighted torch in one hand and a spear in The other. The natives did not care to sell their fish. All the time we were at the Arus they did not offer a fish for sale, but when off the island of Trangan I pur- chased two small fish out of half a boat load by offering more than their worlh of tobacco, but could get no more. The fish T have seen with the natives are varied in species. Many of
WHITE- A Sketch of tho Life nj Sunnirl Wfnte. 57
tJiciii look like tlioso we en 1 1 nm1l(»t. snapper, breanu rock-cod, parrot-fish, and many others, including "sting-rays" beauti fully marked with green, blue, and white, indeed there seemed to be fish of all sizes, shapes, and colours. A species of flying fish seemed to be numerous. I observed them in numbers two hundred miles from shore. They were a small species, long and slender, of a silver-white colouration which made them conspicuous little objects in the bright sunlight over the dark blue water as they took their arrow like flight of from 10 to 40 yards within a foot or so of the waters surface. They emerged suddenly from the water and maintained a straight course with the wind "abeam" or a little on the quarter, and when the sea rose before them they disappeared into it. Their transparent wings when in motion are not visible, giving to the fish a strange arrow-like motion. When near the coast small fish trooped about in counties;^ thousands, and I liave ieen some curious scenes of destruction amongst them. Upon one occasion I observed an assemblage of small fish which seemed to be a lew rods square and a few feet deep. They were so closely packed they could not steer, but had to all go in one direction. Behind these had collected about a dozen large sharks, and over them a thousand sea birds of various species and sizes. The sharks would at intervals make a rush forward with open month and engulf hundreds of the small fry at a time. At this time thousands of fish would make a sinmltaneous leap out of the water in a solid mass (as if they had been thrown up with shovels), and alight a few feet in advance to escape from the huge jaws of their monstrous enemy, but not to escape a host of hungry birds which instantly swoop down and each carry off a mouth full. This state oF affairs w'^nt on for an hour or more, and T saw that as each shark, or bird had its fill it dropped behind, or soared in the air away from its still hungry mates.
— Insects. — I was surprised to find that at the time of my visit the insects were not more numerous in the Arus than in tropical Australia at the same time of the year for it is well known that at the end of the rainv season in the tropics is the best time for insect life of every kind. However, T procured a few nice beetlp'^ from (he natives as well as by my own collecting. T one day chanred to see a couple of dead specimens of two species of longicorns. T showed them to the natives and made them understand T wanted them, and would give tobacco and
hS WHITE- A Skuh-I, of tin Ufr vf .Samuel White.
beads for them. I .soon liad a good quantity of longieorns brought in, some in bamboos where they had bitten one another into pieces. Some had their legs tied to prevent them getting :!\v;!y: scinc a ere i led in bunches by ilieir antennae, bnt \n my horror many of 'hem had all their legs torn off to disable them, others had their mandibles broken off to prevent them biting, but a good few were perfect. A small assortment of beetles and bugs was obtained. Lcpidojilcia were scarce, at least at this time of the vear. 1 did not get more than a dozen species, and those v\-ere nearly all small, some ol' them are found in Australia, and others I have met with in New Guinea. Ants were not so numerous or varied as met with in Australia. The green tree ant is the most ]»leniiful. Mille- pedes, centipedes, and sciU'pions T saw of moderate size, but not very numerous. Spiders Avere far more numerous and varied ; they spread their nets everywhere in the scrub to our annoyance. Some were large and had great expanse of limb, ■some were short limbed and heavy bodied, vsorae were hard and others soft, some spiked all over, and there were others twice as broad as long. Some few species seem similar to species found in the southern part of Australia, and others closely allied to those found in Northern Queensland. Mosquitos and sandflies VNcre not so numei-ous or troublesome as I expected; they did not trouble us on board the yaclit. but v>'e found them borh in the mangrove swamps. Wasps were not numerous we found to our great satisfaction, nevertheless the small nest building sjM'cics were seen ixcasionally. and some of our party discovered that Ihey could sting as vigorously as the Australian species with which they seemed identical. It seems a small fly not more than half nnd inch long, and builds a nest of leaves about the height of a man's head by drawing a number of large leaves together and fixing them with web. It is usually jthued on the edge of the thick scrub or the sm.all openings in the scrub, and is not easily seen. A number of the little pests cluster on tlic outside evidently on guard, and when an inti-uder a]»]>roaches, fifty or a hundred attack him about the nerk and face. Tt is laughable to observe a man who is sent in advance of you both walking stealthily through the scrub in search of game, suddenly seized with a fit of antics, throws down his gun. birds, bags, etc., throws his arms about, knocks off his hat, and makes a frantic rush through the thickest of tlie scrub regardless of thorns or tangle. If the man behind is an old hand he knows what is the matter, and darts off quietly in another direction and sits down, and
lisiciis lo liis iiiiiMK' (if ;i(l<ruic.| In [)iot;mil v) iiKlul^in.u in a nunibev of foolish and useless words. I'resently he proceeds on hands and knees stealthily to where his property is lyiuj;. and recovers it as best he can without attempting one of the many vengeances he vowed against the wasps a few minutes ago. From my own experiences I can say their stings are severe for a shoi-t time. Althcmgh they do not last long and leave a lump for- a few days, it is very annoying to find that although I have retained hold of everything in my hands I have while endeavouring to brush the insects off my face knocked my concave spectacles fi-om my eyes. To recover them I have had to return and hunt them up amongst the dead leaves on the ground, perhaps to be attacked again. It will happen sometimes that the insects will enter the ear or nose and thus confined will sting three or four times, giving great pain with swelling and inflammation. I have f(mnd •'Bary's Tricophenms" vei-y useful in such cases.
— ^Reptiles. — The reptiles of the Am Islands are nol plentiful. S;na!l lizards are the most abundant; of snakes there appears to be few. T saw some very beautiful green ones with white mark- ings, one seen was about five feet long; these are "Tree Snakes*'. A good many marine serpents were observed in the seas around the islands, but they were the same as found in Australian waters. One curious large lizard seemed to be fairly plentiful in the scrubs; it had a curious lappel under the chin edged with spikes, also a comb-like piece on the head also spiked. I have seen an allied species in Australia. Several large lace lizards were brought in, beautifully speckled with black and yellow. The natives brought frogs of gigantic }>roportions, fine fellows that measured a foot to fifteen inches from nose to toes. These were caught in the wet low country, or the banks of the small streams, sometimes up trees, and like the lizards were frequently shot with arrows. The frogs were huge creatures of a dull livid colour, lacking that brightness and vivacity some frogs possess, the ground colour was a dull dirty orange and brownish yellow. The creatures were brought tethered with a piece of rattan, and when placed in file sun laid themselves out and died without a movement. Some of the men ate them and pronounced them good. I am under the opinion that there are a few turtles round the coast, but none came to our share. The natives would not let turtle pa.ss through their hands if they had it.
«0 WRITE— A Sh-etch of the LIfr of Sawuel W/n'f^.
— Vegetation. — The vegetation is very similar to that found on the north coast of Australia, and the south coast of New Guinea. It is a dense tropical forest or scrub covering nearly every mile of surface of the low islands. On Trangan there is an exception, for the land is much higher, and a large portion of its surface is covered by tall coarse grass, and bare rocks stand up through it here and there, belts and patches of scrub cover the lower parts. Trangan is the most southerly of the large islands. Most of the trees and plants seen resemble those I have seen in Northern Australia with a few exceptions. I noticed a tree whose young shoots drooped in long bunches and tinted of various colours from a greenish or pinkish white to a scarlet, looking at a distance like blossoms. Another I had not seen in Australia was a mangrove with a large white or pinkish white flower resembling in shape a convolvulus ; this was a straggling small tree, and grew in the salt water on the banks of the Watalli Channel. The common mangrove grew to great perfection there. Some of the trunks were eighty feet long at least; some fine specimens grew on the banks of the Wannambi River. In some parts of the islands there were some magnificent trees very tall, but not very robust ; among them were those that bore a large fruit like an orange, but was pithy inside. The nutmeg trees were very tall, and the fruit appeared in every way like those I have met with in Australia, and like them when the spice has arrived to perfection the brownish green pericarp opens and lets fall the nut covered with a network of scarlet mace, the nut is long in shape, barely half an inch through it, and scarcely an inch long. The tree which excited my admiration most was the Ca.suariiia. They were noble specimens of the genus, some of them a hundred and fifty to two hundred feet high, and stout in proportion. They grew on the lowland bordering the coast, and were very conspicuous from seaward. The dark green almost black foliage and pointed tops of these trees was in marked contrast to the usual scrub foliage, forming a broken fringe all along the west coast of the islands (they did not grow inland). Under these trees grew palms, tree ferns, palm lawyers, and other plants, as well ns creejiers and vines in abundance. In places there were patches of large and tall bamboos, and wherever the native settlements were cocoanut palms were gi'owing and bearing well. This is an introduc- tion by order of the Dutch Government. The nuts appeared io me to be of fair size, and the flesh very thick.
.. !?
W. K. Thomas 4 Co.,
Printers, Greufell St., Adelaid!;.
n
Bid
Vol. IV.
Part 3.
THE
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
ORNITHOLOGIST,
A Magazine df Ornithology.
1st JULY. 1919.
.uiii
TO.D
C
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE; R. CROMPTON, R.A.O.U. A. G. EDQUIST S. A. WHlTEr^C.M.B.G.U. F. R. ZIETZ, R.A.O.U..
Price, 2/.
d
a
THE
South Australian
ORNITHOLOGIST
vJC
/idi/o) ial Cov) nt illec :
R. CroiMpton, R.A.O.U. x\. G. Kdouist S. A. WiriTK, C.M.BO.U 1'. R. ZiKTz, R.A.O.U.
Secretary : F. M. Angkl, R.A.O.U.,
c/o \V. D. & W. O. Wills, Ud. (h-enfell Street, Adelaide.
CONTENTS.
The Soutli Australian Oniillioloj^ical Association . j, . . 6
Order Ardeifornies, Family Anleidiie, Genus Notoplioyx . . 68
Notes from the Lake Frome District, J. Neil McGilp, J. P.,
R.A.O.U. 70
Kegent Honey-eaters— Visit to the Adelaide Plains. J. W. Mellor,
K.A.O.U .... s ..... 74
Correspondence— Re-naiuing Australian Birds . , .77
A Sketch of the i^-ife of Samuel Wliite—Ornithologist, Soldier,
Sailor, an.l Explorer. IJy his .-ion, S. A. White, C.M.IJ.O.U. 79
The Editorial Committee ac-c«'i)ts no responsibility for the views or deductions expressed by any of its contributors. The Journal welcomes a free interchange of ideas with the object of extending the knowledge of our avifauna, but the author of each article is responsible fur the opinions and deductions recorded.
THE
South Australian Ornithoiogist,
Vol. IV.] 1st JULY, 1919. [Part 3.
The South Australian Ornithoiogical Association.
APRIL 4th, 1919.
The monthly meeting was held in the Royal Society's Rooms, North Terrace, on Friday evening, 4th April. The President, Capt. S. A. White, C.M.B.O.U., occupied the chair. Mr. R. 0. Beck was elected a member, and Messrs. A. Keith Asliby, son of our worthy Vice-President, and J. N. McGilp of Moolawa- tana were nominated. Several visitors were welcomed.
The Chairman reported that delegates from the Associa- tion interviewed the Honorable, the Minister of Industry, and discussed the question of the control and supervision of the Coorong. A letter was received from Mr. Geo. R. Latter. M.P., Chairman of Committees, eu- logising the valuable work and assistance that Capt. S. A. White had rendered in connection with the New Game Bill last year. Another efifort to get the Bill passed would be made next session when he hoped to again have the help of Capt. White's wide experience and influence. The Secretary was requested to write to the Commissioner of Police commend- ing the fine work of Inspector Fraser of Adelaide, and M. C. McDonald of Milang in securing convictions against offenders of the Bird Protection Laws. Members expressed their plea sure at the prominence given by the Proprietors of ''The Regis- ter" and "Evening Journal" to articles dealing with the pro- tection and welfare of our native birds.
Mr. T. P. Bellchambers of Humbug Scrub sent a sket* ii of a bird rarely seen in his district. This was recognised a '• the Fantailed Cuckoo. Mrs. Nimmo sent data and photograph > of
21ie South AvstraJiuii Ornithological Association,
a pair of curlews that had succes.sfnlly hatched a chick in her garden. Capt. White reported that a pair of White-bearded Honey-eaters had finished building a nest in his garden on '-.th March. The first egg was laid on 9th. and the second a day later. Both hatched, but the chicks died when three days old, and the parent birds were again building. Mr. Edwin Ashby noted several White-faced Herons roosting close to his house at Blackwood. Mr. J. W. Mellor reported the Yellow-rumped Diamond Bird about throughout the month at Fulham, and the Fantailed Cuckoo very quiet at Lockleys. Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes were about in unusually large numbers, 32 were con- gregated on a dead tree at Fulham, whilst at the same time many more were flying around or perched on the surrounding trees. On 28th March, young White-plumed Honey-eaters were being fed by the parent birds.
Mr. Edwin Ashby showed two highly coloured Adelaide Rosellas from Echunga and Upper Sturt, and suggested that they were fairly old birds. Capt. White opined that as so many of these birds were now being shot in the orchards, and it took albout eight years for them to get highly coloured, it was probable that few bright forms would be met with in the future.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year —
President— Capt. S. A. White, C.M.B.O.U.
Vice-President — Mr. Edwin Ashby, C.F.A.O.U.
Secretaiy — Mr. Kobert Grompton, E.A.O.U.
Acting Secretary — Mr. F. M. Angel, R.A.O.TJ.
Editorial Committee — Capt. White, Messrs. F. R. Zietz, A. G. Edquist, Robert Crompton, and F. M. Angel.
The financial statement showed that, in spite of the great increase in the cost of publication of the "S.A. Ornithologist," the position was very satisfactory.
A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. F. M. Angel, who had so creditably carried out the duties of Secretary dur- ing the absence of Mr. Robert Crompton in Europe.
APRIL 25th, 1919. Capt. S. A. White, C.M.B.O.U. presided. Messrs. A. Keith Ashby and J. Neil McGilp were duly elected members. The Chairman reported that he had been informed by the Hon. the Minister of Industry that a new permit would be granted to the Association in connection with the supervision of the Islands on the Coorong.
'Vlic South Aiixtraliun Oniitholoyicat Ai^ncriiuion. G7
Mr. J. W. Mel lor reported the first Flame-breasted Robin Ihis seasou diiriu<»; the ])revious week at St. Kild.i, also thai Chestnut-eared Finches were nesting; in the boxthorn bushes at Lockleys. The large Wattle Birds were very numerous at rhe latter place this year. Mr. R. C. Beck noted a large flight of Wattle Birds at Seaton, and the Golden-breasted Thickhead for the first time. Red-capped Robins were breeding in the vicinity, but he had been unable to locate the nest. Mr. F. R. Zietz stated that small flocks of Flame-breasted Robins had been reported passing along the Coorong. Mr. S. Sanders reported that the European Blackbird had been noticed at Yergo for the first time. Mr. Alan Lendon observed the Peace- ful Dove in the Botanic Park.
The remainder of the evening was devoted to an account of the American Birds that came under Mr. Edwin Ashby's notice during his recent trip to the United States of America. Mr. Ashby graphically described the fine timber country, and v/onderful forests and illustrated his remarks with a number of photographs of plants and nut-bearing trees, which form the main food supply of many of the birds and mammals. A fine collection of bird skins was exhibited, and the characteristics and hnbits of th.e species rej)resented were described. With the nid of some remarkably good gramophone records, the glorious songs and strange notes of many of the birds were brought home to the hearers. Mr. Ashby was heartily thanked for the very interestins lecture.
MAY 30th, 1910.
Capt. S. A. White presided. —
The Acting Secretary (Mr. F. M. Angel) reported that in ( onnection with the proposal to form a junior section of the Association, application had been made to the Royal Society for the use of their rooms for the meetings, which would hv under the supervision of one of the Senior members of the Association. A favourable reply having been received, Mr. A. G. Edquist undertook to convene a meeting of suitable boys 1(1 to draft rules.
The President reported having visited Renniark with a j.;overnment party in connection with the Agricultural Bureau, and addressed a large meeting upon the value of our native birds to the orchardist. Considerable interest was manifested in the subject by the residents, some of whom stated that they
The South Audraliau. Oniithnlogical Association.
would now view the birds in a new light, and could see that it was to their interests to protect them.
Capt. White had also received a pressing invitation to speak at Narracooi'te again. The members thanked Capt. While fo}- tli<' g(M)d work he has done in the coiuitrv districts in spreading knowledge and interest in our feathered friends.
Mr. J. W. Mellor recorded Regent Honey-eaters on the Adelaide Plains for the first time, at Lockleys. Other birds of interest noted by this member for the month included 7 Straw-necked Ibis, a common Bronze-wing Pigeon, and num- bers of Chestnut-eared Finches just out of their nests. Dr. Morgan reported having again visited the Cormorant rookery near Port Uroughton, and witnessed a Cormorant capture a Hoary-headed Grebe. Vast numbers of Banded Stilts, covering acres, were observed on the return journey, and in the samphire country Acanthiza ros'mae was noted. The doctor also repor- ted 3 Hoary-headed Grebe on the Torrens during the month. Mr. Weidenbach stated that 2 large Wattle Birds and 2 Brush Wattle F>ii ds were in the habit of I'oostiug in the same tree at Glen Osmond. Mr. E. C. Beck observed a pair of Bustards near Wynarka.
The bird tor the evening's discussion was Bericornis macula tus, and the following sub-species were represented. — S.m. osculans. mellori. ashbyi, and rymilli. Specimens exhibi- ted were from the private collections of Capt. S. A. White, Messrs. J. W. Mellor. and F. E. Parsons.
Order Ardeifonries, Family Ardeidae, Genus Notophoyx.
Notophoyx novaehollandiae (White-faced Heron) Description— All upper surface, slatey grey, the wings be- ing somewhat darker tinged with brown, the primaries as well as the tail-feathers being a deep slate colour, crown of the head and back of the neck rich slaty blue, sides of the neck, slaty grey. Face, throat, and forehead, white; elongated feathers on the breast, rich brown ; under surface having a rich brown or rufous tinge ; passing down the lower part of the neck is a stripe of deep buff brown; iris, yellow; bill, top mandible and tip of lower, black; base of lower mandible, yellowish white; feet and legs, vellow. a line down front, greenish brown.
Order Ardelformes, Family Ardeidae, Genus Notophoyx.
09
Distribution — Found over the whole of Australia and the
adjacent islands includinj; Tasmania.
Habits — They are found on the banks of water courses, swamps, tidal flats, and reefs, around the shore-s of lakes and even small dams and waterholes. They wade through the water and o\-ei- nniddy tiats in search of food, but do not stand motionless and watch for their prey to come to them, like the <ommon European Heron ; they are expert mouse catchers, and are to be often seen stalking about in dry grass, and stinkweed some distance from water in search of mice.
Flight— Strai.uht, with slow heavy flaps of the wings. In flight the head is bent back until the back of the head rests be- tween the shoulders, the legs are carried straight out behind.
Food — Tadpoles, frogs, crickets, small fish, crabs, yabbies { Afflaropsis), mice, grasshoppers, and other insects.
Nest — ^Merely a rough platform of coarse sticks with a few smaller twigs to form a lining placed on a horizontal fork of a large tree from i!0 to .50 feet from the gr-^und, the nesting tree being generally selected near water, but sometimes a mile or more from water. They do not nest in colonies.
Note — \A'hen nesting, a harsh cry is made when upon the v»'iug. generally when passing to and from nesting tree to feed ing ground ; General Note — A harsh croak-like sound, but not often uttered.
J'^ggs — Three 1o tive in number, usually four, in a clutch, of a uniform light blue colour; average measurements of thirteen egg^ — 4S..") m.m. x ^5..") m.m. ; Largest egg — 49.0 m.m. x 38.0 ni.ui.: smallest egg — 4().0 m.m. x :U..5 m.m.
Measurements of the bird in the flesh— Total length, t>98 ni.iii.,: wing, from body to tip, 4<»1) m.m.; spread of wings, I.IOB iii.m.; bill, SO m.m.; tarsus, 107 m.m.
McGlLP — Notes froxi the Lalre Fromc District.
Notes from the Lake Frome District- By J. Xeil Mrdn.p, .I.P.. R.A.O.r.
(iCohasilrKs rhri/son-hoii.s addcndus.
In all the nests of this bird, which have come under my notioe, I have found the double struct uie. an open cup-shaped nest on top of a avoII concealed covered-in nest with a carefully hidden entrance. A great deal of the struc ture is of sheep's wool, sjiider cocoryns anfl small twigs, the lower compartment being beautifully lined with highly coloured feathers, an assortment which I should judge took some time to gather. The small soft pink feathers of the Rose breasted Cockatoo were noted, also the green fea rhevs of the Shell Parrots, small metallic ones of llie Tres- ted Bronzewing Pigeon, and other brigbtly coloured feathers. Every nest examined containecl these brighf feathers. Another strange feature I noticed in four nests, out of about a dozen examined, was the skeletons of three young birds. Tlie death of the birds cannot be accounted for, unless the i)aren(s werQ killed, but it was noticed that these four nests which con tainsd the dead birds, were built in Mistletoe, and the nests were covered with small ants. The qnesdon is. Mould the ants prove too much for the parent birds?
A Seagull was feeding with the fowls on the 28th Febru ary last, evidently on its way to surface water somewhere?
Several pairs of Grey Falcons have been seen lately (March, 1919) One pair was engaged in chasing finches from the tank to the hedge, a distance of about fifty yards, and often almost flying into the verandah in close pursuit of their prey. Some weeks ago no less than six of these birds were observed feeding on a Galah ("Rose-breasted Cockatoo), which they had a})i)arently jnst killed upon my a]iproach. One ti-ied to carry the Galah away, but after fivincj ^0 or 00 yards was forced to drop it, on account of the weight. This is the first time T have seen more than two of these birds to- gether.
Six Cormorants flew over here late one evening, flying very low. I was unable to distinguish for certain which species but thev had every appearance ofP. hj/poleuoifi.
A List of the birds observed on INIoolawatana Station, March, 1918 to March, 1919.
Dromiceins novaehollandiae . Emu.
Synoicus ypselophorus sordidus. Southern Brown Quail.
McGlLF — Notf.g from the Lake Frome District. 71
Austroturnix velox. Eastern Little Quail. I'edionontati luiqiiataa, PJaiu Wanderer. ><tictopf:lei(i cuneatd. Eastern Spotted-shouldered Dove. Phaps chalcoptera, Bronze-winged Pigeon. Ocyphaps lophotes. Crested Pigeon. Microtribonyx ventralis whitei, Eastern Black-tailed
Native Hen. Porphyrio melanotus. Eastern Bald Coot. Fuiiuii uirti ta,siinuiica, Eaatei'u Cool. PolioccpJialus poliocephaJus. Hoary-headed Grebe. Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa, Australian Gull-billed
Tern. Hydroprogne tsehegrava strenua, Australian Caspian
Tern. Bruchigavia novaehollandiae, Silver Gull. Urythrogonys cinftus. Red-kneed Dotterel. lAibiby.r novaeliolliiiidiae. Spin- winged Plover. Zonifer tricolor. Black-breasted Plover. LeucopoUus ruficapillus, Red-capped Dotterel. l''Lsci/(i iiii'Jdiiopy. Hlaek-t'ronted Dotterel. Himantopus leucocephalus, White-headed Stilt. Revurrirostra HoraeJiollatullde. Red-necked Avocet. Stiltia Isabella, Australian Pratincole. Peltohyas australis, Australian Dotterel. Burhinus magnirostris, Eastern Stone Plover. Austrotis australis, Australian Bustard. Matheiosia rubicunda, Australian Crane. Thrpfilnoniis nniliicca slriitipcinii.'i. White Ibis. Corphibis spiriicollis. Straw-necked Ibis. Plegadis falcinellus. Glossy Ibis. Spatherodia regia, Black billed Spoonbill. Platibis flfivipes. Yellow-billed Spoonbill. NotopJwyx novaehollandiae, White-fronted Heron. Nycticorax caledonicus, Australian Night Heron. Myola pacified. White-necked Heron. Chenopis atrata. Eastern Black Swan. .1 ».sT)Y/)/r/.v f<cn)ipdlmata. Pied Goose Chenonetta jubata. Wood Duck or Maned Goose. Cdsarca fadonwidcs. Mountain Duck. /Uids fiupevriliosd roger.^i. Black Duck. Virago rafitancn. Phostnnt -breasted Teal. Virago gihbprifrons. Grey Teal. Malacorhynchus membranaceus. Pink-eared Duck. ^tictonetta naevosa. Freckled r>uck.
72 M'-dlLr—Nolr^fruui Ih, L,,la> Fnnnr iHdrirl,
Nyroca australis, VVhite-eved Duck.
Oxyura australiH, |{hi«» billed Duck.
liiziuro lobalu, Musk Duck.
l'li<il(i(ti)viH.r varho, IJlack Coruiuraut.
Mcsocarbo (iter. Little liluck Oormoraut.
UypohucuH varlus hypoleucus, Easteru Pied (Jorniorjint.
Microcarbo inclanolcuciift, Little Coi-nioraut.
(Uitoptropelicanu.s rfninpicillatus, Eastern I'elican.
Circus asaimiUs, Spotted Harrier.
Circus approxiiiKins youldi, Swamp Oawk.
Leucospiza clani, (irey Goshawk.
AccipHcr cirroccjtiKilKs, Collared Sj»arrow Hawk.
Uroaetus auda.r. Wedge tailed Eagle.
Hieroaetus nwrphnoides, Little Eagle.
ll(ili<i}<ti(r spliciiiirK'i, \>'his(liug Eagle.
Milvus korsrhnn affinis. Allied Kite.
Fnico h)H(/ipcniiis. Lit lie I'^'aleon.
F'nlco hypolcucus, Grey Falcon.
Notofalco subniger, Black Falcon.
leracidca her'ujora, Striped lirown Hawk.
Cerchncis cetichroidcs, Nankeen Kestrel.
Spiloglaux bottbooU niarnionihi. Marbled Owl.
Tyto alba delicatula, Ma.sked Owl.
Ducorpsius gi/uuiopis, Hare eyed (/ockatoo.
i:(>l(>pliiis iD.si i((ii)illiis. Kosc breasted Cockatoo.
Lcptolophux auriconiis. Cockatoo- Parrot.
Baruurdius banianli irhitci. South Australian Mallee
Parrot. PsepJiotiis r<iriiis r<tsiii<n\ Southern Many-coloured
Pnrrot. Northirlla lidciiKititiiastrr .vanlhorrhoa. Yellow-vented
Pnrrot. Neotianodcs elcgans. Grass Parrot. Mrhtpsitfacufi uudulatus, Shell Pnrrot. Podargus strigoides rossi, Mallee Frogmouth. A (-got heirs cristntd , Owlet Nightjar. Cyanalcgon pi/rrhopygius. Red-backed Kingfisher. CosiiKicrops oniiiliis, .Vustralian Tiee eater. Fnrostopodiis tirfiiis. S]toltod Nightjar. Ncferoscencs pallid us. Pallid Cuckoo. Hirundo neo.rrna. Welcome Swallow. Chrrnmocca hnn'oxirrniim sfotiei. Eastern Black nnd
White Swallow. nylochelidott vigricdfia cnlcyi, Tre<' Martin.
HrQlLV — Notes tmin the Lake Frame District. 7o
I.agenoplastes arieU Fairy Martin.
Whiteornis goodenovii, Southern Red-capped Robin.
Melanodryas cucullatu rigorsi, Southern H<x>ded Robin.
iSmicroniis brevirostris virideacens. Greenish Tree-til.
I.t'iriiioniis rufirenlris mundnn' ( S.A. White), Central Aus- tralian Kufous breasted Thickhead.
Ifhipidiiid ridhcllifcrd irhitei. South Australian Kantail.
Lcucocircd tricolour, Hhick and White Fantail.
Seisura imiuieia, Restless Flycatcher.
Ptcropodocys mamma, Eastern Ground Cuckoo Shrike.
Coracina novueholla/ndias melanops. Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike.
Lahu/e tricolor, White shouldered Caterpillar-eater.
('iiitJosomo castaiiol mil. Chestnut-backed Ground Bird.
Hi/lacola sp., (iround Wren.
i^phrnosioina cristatum, Wedgebill.
Marganornis uttperciliosua, White-browed Babbler.
Poind lostoniii.s rufivrps, Chestnut-croAvned Babbler.
Cindorhamplms oriiralis. Brown Song Lark.
Epthianura albifrom, White-fronted Chat.
Pa repthianur a tricolor, Tricoloured Chat.
Aurepthianura aurifroiis. Orange-fronted Cliat,
Ashhyia lorensis, Desert Chat.
Acaiithiza lincata?.. Southern Striated Tit.
Acanthiza uropygialis condora, Pale Chestnut-ruraped Tit.
Aranthiza pusilla hainUtoni, Red-rumped Tit.
GrohasilcHs chrysorrhous addeudm. Port Augusta Yellow- rumped Tit.
Hallornis cyanotus, White-winged Wren.
Leggeornis lamherti assimilis, Purple- backed Wren.
Arid III N.s JciKorhynvhuH, White-runipod Wood Swallow.
CampbclIorniH pcrsoiiatus nnimia. ]\Iasked Wood Swallow.
Camphellornis superciliosus, White-browed Wood-Swallow.
Austrartamus melanops. Black-faced Wood-Swallow.
OrolUna cyanoleuca. Mag])ie Lark.
Colluricinvla hannonica rirtoriae. Grey Shrike Thrush.
Gymnorliina tihicen. Black-backed Magpie.
Bulestes torqiiatus ethelae, Southern Butcher Bird.
Orcoira cristnta clelandi. Southern Crested Bell bird.
A pliclorcphdhi Iriirop.'ii,^ irhitri. White-face.
AuHtrodicdeuni hirundinacenm. Mistletoe Bird.
PardalotinKs striatus omatas. Red-tipped Pnrdalote.
Cis.^omrla nigra. Black Honey-eater.
GUciphila alhifrons. White-fronted Honey-eater.
74 UELLOE— Urgent Honeij-eaters.
Gerthionyx variegatus, Pied Honey-eater. MeUphuya .-ionora, Sontlieiii t^iugiug ilouey-eatei'. lAchenostomus ornatus, Yellow-plumed Honey eater. Pfllotnlu penicillata Ivilaralensis, Clonciirry White-
pluiiied Honey -eater. Myzantha flavigula. Yellow-throated Miuah. Coleia carunculata tregellasi, Victorian Yellow Wattle
Bird. Acanthageuys rufoguluris cygnus, Southern vSpiny-cheeked
Honey-eater. Anthus australis adelaidensis , Southern Pipit, Taeniopygia casta not is. Chestnut-eared Finch. Corvtis corona ides, xVustralian Kaven. Cornis hen)ictti. Small-billed Crow.
INTRODUCED.
Passer domesticus. Sparrow. >Stur7iiis vvlgaris. Starling..
Of the above one hundred and thirty six Native birds ob served, 70 are known to breed in this locality.
Regent Honey-eaters — Visit to the Adelnide Plains.
By J. \\. Mellok. R.A.O.r.
The most remarkable bird noted for May, 1919, and the most pleasing record that I have made for the district of Lockleys, S.A., was the sudden appearance of the Regent Honey eater (Zanthomiza phrygia tregellasi) during the latter part of April and early part of May. Although I kept a sharp lookout for the bird in other parts of the district. I was unable to detect it elsewhere than on my estate. The fine old gum trees here seemed especially to at- tract them, the native blue gum being the favourite, for it was amongst the gnarled boughs and limbs of these trees that the Regent Honey-eaters made their chief abode during their brief stay with us. They were evidently migrating, but from whence they came, or whither they went no data has been obtainable. 1 assumed that they were making for the Mount Lofty Ranges, as they have often been recorded by our local naturalists about Blackwood and Belair. and at
MELLOR— Regent lhmey.<aters. 75
higher elevations in the ranges. Upon making enquiries after the birds" departure, however, 1 found that tliey had not made the Adehiide hills (heir rendezvous. Their visit to the Adelaide Tlains 1 believe is unique, and it will be interesting to note Avliether, having once made this their line of migration, they will repeat the ronte in future seasons. The suddenness, of their appearance, and their equally quick disappearance, left no doubt in uiy miu<l that they were migrating i-apidly. most lilu'ly foi-ced on their jiuirney by the exceptioually dry season expei-ienced in this ^^tate. While they were with us they pro\-ed a beautiful sight and kept the locality gay with their bright plumage and remarkably sweet and continuous song. The latter is a tlute-like warble, of silvery liquid notes, not unlike the song of the Oriole, but more lively and continuous.
The tameness of the birds was especially noticeable. They even came to the back door, and three or four at a time would drink at a bucket beneath the tap. or suck the water ;is it drip])ed from the noz?:le of the taj*. They were in num- bers, even in the fowls' yard, and hero 1 was able to note their habits at close quarters. Their food consisted chiefly of in sects, whicli they sometimes caught in the gnarled boughs of Ihe old gum trees, but ])rincipally by sallying out on the wing to catch them in mid air, and then flying to a neighbouring bough to eat the cajitured tit-bit.
The following notes from my ornithological notebook may be of interest to show the exact dates of arrival and de parture, etc.--
April 28, 1919 — "I noted a small covey of what I took to be these birds (Regent Honey eaters) flying from a gum tree at Lockleys, late in the afternoon, there >\as about a dozen."
April 29, — "I made sure of the identity of the birds, by shooting one in a gum tree in the fowls' yard, there being several birds about during the day, but I did not get more than I he one specimen, which I was exceedingly i)leased to secure, as it was the first time that \ had noted the birds down here. They were making a very sweet and pleasing warbling whistle, not unlike the notes of the Oriole, bul not nearly so powerful. and continued this melody at intervals all day. as they searched amongst the boughs of the gum trees for their food. Ever and anon thoy sallied forth after a beeih'. which they caughi on the wing, and then flew into a tree to eat it."
76 MELLOR — Regent Honey-eaters.
April 30. — "Quite a number of these beautiful honey- eaters was about, and they even came to the back door, and drank from a bucket. They also came after insects in the fowls' yard, there being no honey producing blossoms out. The sweet warbling notes were very pleasing, and being very ven- triloquial, it seemed that they were in quite another part of the tree, or even in an adjoining one."
May 1.— ^"I was greatly surprised on rising; early to find that large numbers of the Regent Honey-eaters had arrived and were sporting about in the trees right at the back door. Before the sun rose, a large tree near by, contained num- bers of them. In a short time, more and still more Hew into the same tree, until it was literally alive with these gems of the honey-eating family. There must have been scores of them, all hopping about in the green foliage making the small boughs shake all over the tree. The birds seemed 3S though they were having an early morning bath from the damp leaves, and as the sun rose and shed its bright lighit on the scene, it made a beautiful and gorgeous sight. The brigbt yellow mixed with the black feathers of the birds shone out like gold as the sun gradually mounted. Every- thing seemed to sparkle, and it would be hard to find a more handsome 'Si.ght than these glorious little birds [presented. I went quite close to get the full view of the scene, but did nor disturb their early morning meeting.
The lon^ dry season in all probability was responsible for the appearance of the birds, as I had not seen them down here before, although they had been in the Mount Lofty tianges in i)revious seasons, notably at Blackwood, but I think even there they could not have been so numerous as they have been at Lockleys to-day.''
May 2. — "Regent Honey-eaters still numerous, and several come to di-ink at the tap at the back door, quite lame and confiding."
May 3. — "Birds still numerous in the trees."
May 4. — "Regent honey-eaters about, but very scarce."
May 5. — Only saw one. the birds having tsoue as quickly as they came."
May n. — "Not a trace of the Regent honey-eaters left. They seem to have stayed only with us during their visit, for although I kept a sharp lookout for them elsewhere, in all likely places, I saw no sign of them."
Wlirn<:~Ue-Hai,iin,i Australian liirds. 11
Renaming Australian Birds.
TO THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE.
In Vol. IV., I'ai't 1 of this Journal, Mr. A. J. Campbell states that 1 have criticised his address ''somewhat biasedly." Allow me to say that my statements were only in accordance with up-to-date ornithology. I should now like to comment upon Mr. Campbell's letter taking the salient points as they there stand.
1. Mr. Campbell quotes dictionaries and encyclopaedias, as to nomenclature being a science, but I venture to say that there are many things understood, which do not appear in such literature, but which could be proved easily enough. The iiauiiiig of birds in the vernacular may not be .scientific, but to name them scientifically with scientific names is certainly so, and therefore must be a science.
2. I know a little about the Army and the Navy, Mr. Campbell knows the Civil Service, and we all know that it is the general practice that the officers move up as vacancies occur in next of rank, but this is away from the point, for I contend this has nothing to do with Ornithology, why bring it in?
3. Mr. Campbell is modifying his views now, when he says ''a good starting point for some (the italics are mine) Aus- tralian names, and those that are ornithologically correct," for Mr. Campbell led us to believe John Gould was his rock- bed priority.
4. Mr. Campbell quotes Prof. Macgillivray upon John Gould's works. He means at the time of their publication, but every progressive Ornithologist knows we have outlived them, and must have an up-to-date list.
5. Mr. Campbell must know that John Gould redescribed birds, which had been described years before him, and in Mr. CampbelFs own words he says John Gould's scientific work is obsolete, but in other ways he is not.
0. Mr. Campbell should not state that I have made severe reflections on biologi«'al professors, for he knows well enough when T say "any Australian Ornithologist being deemed worthy to sit on the National Committee," I mean members of the old Rcbool of Ornithology.
78 WHITE — Be-naminq Australian Birdi.
7. There is no wobbling on my side, but there certainly is with those who find their position untenable. Mr. Campbell put his bioad plnuk of popular names on top of his narrow scientific one.
8. T feel sine those learned gentlemen, the Editors of "The Ibis" and "The Auk" must feel greatly flattered when they read Mr. Campbell's words, — "Moreover they showed careless criticism when they referred to 'lack of or 'that no synonymy' was given," when every one knows this to be correct. The list may have led up to all the literature known to the com- pilers, but others would like to differ.
9. How does Mr. Campbell know that I am not in close touch with members of the said Committee? To hear one say that all scientific work done in Moscow and Berlin prior to the war must be rescinded is absolutely ridiculous.
10. All ornithologists in Australia we know unfortunately are not progressive, but I am glad to think the majority now are, and Mr. (Jampbell must be realizing this at last. It is absolute nonsense to say "Mr. ^>o-and-So is [insliiiii; the priority rule to an extent that is causing confusion." I say Mr. So-and-So, (by which is implied Mr. Gregory M. Mathews, the author of that splendid work — "The Birds of Australia") is only following the eminent Zoologists of the world. But let me tell Mr. Campbell this, siS one who lajows, that the makers of the Laws of Priority are carrying out the full meaning of the laws, and any one who tries to do otherwise is up against a stone wall at once. The next R.A.O.U. "Check List" will fall into line with the world's scientists, or I am very much mistaken. The Old School must give way in this as in other sciences. I have aonnds for saying this because an absolute maioritv of the R.A.O.U. have voted for a second edition of the Check-list (ifcordinr/ to the Tnfcrnafional Corle. It should have been called a New Check-list, for it will have nothing to do with the old and worthless List.
S. A. WHITE,
"Wetunffa." 28-6-19.
WHITE— A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White. 7<>
A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White- Ornithologist, Soldier, Sailor, and Explorer.
By His Sou, S. A. White, C.M.B.O.U. XXI. THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND SAILOR.
In a fev,' notes evidentlj^ made at the termination of his last trip, my father says — "I regret that I had neither time nor opportunity to make a Botanical collection, but one man cannot do everything. A collector's life, even if he confines himself to a fev>' things, is an active and harassing one if he puts his heart into the work, or so I have usually found it and having assistants does not always relieve one altogether. At times I have sat skinning and curing specimens for days, from early morn till late at night, and at others scouring the scrub for some particular specimens and have been induced by some of my hunters to take a long journey through thick scrub, over hills, plains, or swamps in quest of some inform- ation which is interesting to me; Many times I have been out several days then hurried back, tired and weary, to cure the specimens obtained which has often taken nearly all night; and 1 was so tired that it was impossible to write up my notes. Throwing myself on my bed (if I had one) I snatched a few minutes rest before rising again with the dawn to begin a fresh day with hardly time to wash or partake of food, and Fo it goes on for weeks and months, till frequently hard work and scanty living brings on some, climatic fever, when one's labours suddenly cease for the time".
At times Samuel White seems to have jotted down his thoughts here and there. In some cases they were short, scrappy notes ; some of these which are before me were written after his last voyage, and e%adently he was musing over thi« for he says. — "I purchased a great deal from the natives while I was in the Aru Islands, and the birds they brought in would keep tv.o men skinning, and hard at work at that, all day long. I induced them to persevere by liberal offers and payments, f made it a practice to make many presents to the natives and by treating liberally, induced them to bring hundreds of men and boys about me and most of them brought something they had collected, from a bird of paradise to a stone, or a brokeii shell. It was harvest time in the Arus during my visit, and these people had never seen anything like it before. During 1he time I was among these interesting natives T distributed
80 WHITE— A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White.
250 yards of calico, mostly coloured, hundreds of dozens of handkerchiefs, several hundreds of tomahawks, seventy dozen knives, 100 lbs. of beads, 10 cwt. of tobacco, twenty' double barrel guns, 40 single barrel guns, 200 lbs. of powder, 20 bags of shot, 2,000 caps, ten dozen rugs, also tea, sugar, rice biscuits, and many other things besides 100 sovereigns. It can be well understood that some of these men said, 'Such times they had never seen before' -'.
It is greatly to be regretted that this great field Ornitho- logist should have left us before he had put into vrriting his great achievements in the science he loved so much, and for which he suffered so many hardships — hardshi]v3 which event- ually cost him his life. He was a man of sudi retiring nature that he avoided any notoriety that would be likely to follow many of his great achievements and made as little as possible of his work, but I know that he realized that he had much im- formation which would be valuable to science, and I also know that if he had been spared, it was his intention to record much of his field work that it might be handed down to live after him. The subject of this brief sketch lived in those early days of a young colony when the wonderful pioneers required all the grit that a human being can possess.to make headway against those manifold difKiculties which are always associated with pioneering. Consequently, my father's early tastes for natural history were much retarded, and in addition his parents, who did not realize the importance of their son's scientific research kept a check upon his hobby. In spite of all the obstacles thrown in his way Samuel White from his early childhood showed the great- est love for nature, especially birds, and during his boyhood days spent in a veritable bird paradise, at his old home at the Reedbeds. bird observation was always first in his mind. It was then he laid down the nucleus of a great collection and at the time of his death and long after, the earliest specimens collected were in a perfect state of preservation. Sad to say this great collection containing birds, which have now become extinct was scattered by the trustees to the four quarters of the Globe, a priceless collection which could never be assem- bled again, and this w^as done, of course against his express wishes and will. The great love for nature possessed by my father may have caused some w^ho did not really know him, to think that he was eccentric ; for instance he Avilled, that should he lose his life w^hen upon one of his expeditions into the interior, no search should be made for his remains,
WHITJjJ—A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White. 81
hut to allow them to rost siirroiindod by nature which he lovoci so much. Apart from all this, this naturalist made many friends, and 1 have known ship's officers, travelling companions and others go to great trouble to find him year's after they had met. He told a good after dinner story and charmed his friends with his natural courteous manners and the accounts of his many travels, and experiences, whenever they could prevail upon him to speak of them. He was naturally a fine horseman and there is no doubt he took much interest in the raising of stock during his station days, but ever uppermost in his mind were his beloved birds. It was a byword in the family that "V\'hatever Samuel took in hand he mastered", and this is well illustrated when I look back uiton his proticiency in music, chemistry, photography, and enromology as well as ornithology, he was a navigator although he had not taken out a certificate; still his bringing back his yacht upon his last vo3-age through uncharted seas proved this. Samuel White was no mean artist and when, quite a boy painted a number of the Native birds of his dis- trict, which are far more life-like in colour and contour than the illustrations in some ornithological works which have appeared since that tim?. My father had a wonderful iuflu ence over the aboriginies of both Australia and New Guinea. He travelled and lived amongst the wild tribes of both count- ries for years, but not once did he ever have trouble with them. There was an old full blooded aboriginal who knew my father as a boy, who travelled very many hundreds of miles to find him, and when told that my father was dead he wept and mourned his loss for days, this is but one of many striking marks of affection borne by the natives towards my father. I am afraid his good nature was often, very often imposed upon, but it gave him the greatest pleasure to do a good turn to another. During his sojourns in England (a trip which was a great undertaking in those days) he loved to meet his old army friends, and he spent many an evening before the fire chatting over military matters, for he had the true martial spirit of the Britisher. lie was proud to be a Britisher, and proud of all that was British. Of course the meetings with such men as John Gould, A. R. Wallace and oiher Ornithologists were red letter days to my father, and every conversation with them was burnt deeply into his me moiv. Mii-.y a t'me have I heard him quote -John Gould and (.iluMs in tiie old counay i^pon ornithological matters. I feel sure John Gould the Author of ''The Birds of Australia" knew
«2 WHITE— A She.t'-h of the Life cf Samad White.
that it was beyond disymto when he stated in bis great work the f-redit due to inv father for his discovenes in Ornithology 5ind said, ''I I^now of no one of my correspondents in Australia who is so keenly alive to the science of Ornithology", and he should have added, "done so much field work". When Samuel White died he left a widow, and young fr.mily to mourn their great loss, and since that fatal day, they have kept evergreen the memory of that wonderful pioneer, and great field Ornitho- logist. It is to be lioped that this very brief sketch of a life by far too short, but still full of great interest, may convey to my readers some idea of the work accomplished by a great pioneer of this Ptate, and of Australian Ornithology.
f-v£ W. K. Tlioiiias & Co.,
/\ [^ Grenfell St., Adelaide. jl/V
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Vol. IV.
Part 4.
THE
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
ORNITHOLOGIST,
A Magazine of Ornithology.
1st OCTOBER 1919.
□
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE i R. CROMPTON, R.A.O.U. A. G. EDQUIST S. A. WHITE, C.M.B.O.U. F. R. ZIETZ, R.A.O.U..
n
^
Price, 2/-
n
THE
South Austpalian
ORNITHOLOGIST,
Editotial Committee :
R. Crompton, R.A.O.U- A. (t. Edouist S. A. White, C.M.BO.r F. R. ZiETz, R.A.O.U.
Secretary : F. M. An(;el, R.A.O.U.,
c/o W. D. & H. O. Wills. Ltd., Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
CONTENTS,
I'AGK The Sfmili Australiiui Ornithulogical Associutioii . . . . 87
Order Anleifonnep, Family Ple.uadiflac, (iemis Car]iiiiliis . . 90
Tlic Weiglitsof S'oine Anstn.lian Binls. Uy A. M. Morgan, M.B.,
B.Ch. - . . - .91
Morniii;,' Bird Calls about the Lime Day Bieaks, Climatic Condi- tions, and Otl.ei Notes. F.y .1. Sutton, J;. A. O.U, . . 96
Notes from tiie Coorong. By ,)ose)ili (lordou Hastings.
Birds Recorded from the Early Days uj) to the Present Time fin- the
Keed Bed-* Di.strict. I'.y S. A. White, CM.lI.U.U. . , 101
The Editorial Committee accepts no responsibility for the views or deductions expressed by any of its contributors. The Journal welcomes a free interchange of ideas with the object of extending the knowledge of our avifauna, but the author of each article is responsible for the opinions and deductions recorded.
THE
South Australian Ornithologist.
Vol. IV.J 1st OCTOBER, 1919. [Part 4.
The South Austrah'an Ornithological Association.
June 27th, 1919. The monthly meeting of the South Australian Ornithologi- cal Association was held in the Royal Society's rooms, North Terrace, on Friday evening, 27th June, 1919. Capt. S. A. White presided. Mr. J. Sutton, of Netherby, Mitcham, was nominated for membership. All members present were exceedingly pleased to hear that Surgeon-Major W. MacGillivray had returned from Europe fit and well, and looked forward to meeting him upon his return from Sydney, where he has gone on duty. Mr. F. Par- sons described a wonderful sight of bird life recently at Ken- sington, where many parrots of the lorikeet family had congre- gated in the flowering blue gums. They were of three species, but their numbers were remarkable. Mr. C- H. Lienau stated that he had seen four male blue wrens in full plumage in com- pany with two in brown plumage, feeding another brown bird, which was remarkable for this time of year. Mr. F. R. Zietz reported having seen the Rufous Thickhead (Leivinornis riifiven- tris) at Kingswood. Master Alan Lendon stated that he had seen the fantailed cuckoo and regent or warty-faced honey-eater in the Botanic Garden. Mr. J. Sutton had been observing the brown tree creeper at Mitcham, that was in the habit of roosting in a vent pipe. Mr. Edwin Ashby forwarded some interesting bird notes from the Blackwood district. He stated that one of the little bronze cuckoos had been rehearsing his spring notes. Many singing honey-eaters were now in the district, which is an unusual occurrence in the hills. The swift lorikeet had been seen at Blackwood on June 3 and 27. Several flame-breasted robins had been noted. The large wattle bird, as well as Blue Mountain parrots, wero very numcTons In his garden jnst at prescn't. The rii'airnian stated that thre(^ swans pi'cspnted a which directed attention to the great number of barn owls that had been found dead. The Chairman said he had had many
88 The South- Australian, Ornithological Association. >;
beautiful sight 'on a s'liady water at the Reedbeds that morning. The fantailed cuckoo had been heard callling in its mournful way for some weeks pas't. He also annoimced that all the blue wrens {maluri)had now changed into their full blue and black plumage, with the exception of one bird, which showed dark spots about the throat, denoting a change of plumage about to take place. He said a baldcoot had been seen flying high well over the big gumtrees at 4 p.m., this being an unusual sight, as these birds generally flj at night. The birds under discussion for the evening were : — The brown scrub wren ( Tasmanornis humilis), a bird confined to the scrubs of Tasmania; Flinders Ifdand scrub wren (T. humilis flindersi), described by White and Mellor after visiting Flinders Island, Bass Straits, in 1913 ; collared scrub wren {Oreoscopus gutturalis) , which is found in the North of Queensland; scrub tit {Acanthornis magnus), only found in Tasmania; the long-tailed blue wren {Malurus cyaneus), described by Gamlin in 1789 from a specimen taken at Adventure Bay, South Tasmania; North Tasmanian blue wren {Malurus cyaneus fletcJierae) , named after Miss Fletcher, of the Tasmanian Educational Department; Flinders Island blue wren (Malurus cyaneus samueli), being confined to Flin- ders Island; King Island blue wren (M. cyaneus elizabethae), this also only being found on the island from which it derives its name; Victorian blue wren (M. cyaneus henrieffae), being found only in Victoria; southern blue wren (M. cyaneus leggei), the type locality of this specimen being from the mangroves of the Port Adelaide River; Kangaroo Island blue wren (M. cyan- eus ashbyi), this Kangaroo Island species was named by G. M. Maithows in 1912; blue wren (1/. cyaneus australis), being- found in New South Wales; silvery blue wren [M. cyaneus cyanochlamys) , a beautiful bird having its habitat in southern Queensland and north New South Wales,
Owing to the restricted tram service, due to the Seamen's Strike, no meeting was held in July.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1919. Capt. S. A. White presided over a large attendance. Mr. E. A. Brooks, of Buckland Park, was proposed as a member, and Mr. J. Sutton, of Netherby, was duly elected. The Secretary reported that the Government had granted the Association a licence to occupy the Islands in the Bird Protection Area in the Coorong. The Chairman read an extract from The South-Eas- tern Times, which had been handed in bv Mr. F. R. Zietz, and
The South Auslralian (JrnithoLigical Association. Si*
of the birds sent to liim. The birds were in very poor condi- tion, and opinions were divided as to whether the mortality was due to disease or starvation. The progress made by the Animals and Birds Protection Bill and the Fauna and Flora Bill in Parliament was discussed, and much satisfaction was ex pressed. There were many interesting notes from the month's observations. Dr. Morgan stated that he had been investigat- ing the nesting place of the house martins, and had found that small depressions were made in masses of gum leaves under the eaves and situated on the wall plate of the house. In these depressions the birds laid their eggs. Mr. Mellor said that two barn owls which had been roosting in a creeper for some time had now left, and that it was quite likely they had gone to seek a nesting hollow ; that the brush wattle birds had been mating at Lockleys, likewise the magpies early in Aug ust. and that the pallid cuckoo had been much in evidence with its strange note. Mr. F. R. Zietz had seen young magpies about early this year. Mr. A. Crompton reported that there was a magpie lark's nest in the Botanic Gar- den, situated over one of the dining tables, and that the land- rails had been seen at Stonyfell all through the year. Early in August he had observed wood swallows clustering at Upper Kensington. Mr. E. Ashby said the regent honey-eater was in numbers at Blackwood just now, and that brush wattle birds were very numerous. The swift lorikeet had been seen at Mitcham. Mr. K. Ashby stated that these birds were always flying from north to south. Mr. Sutton stated that the first pallid cuckoo had reached Netherby on July 31, at 5.8 p.m. He had seen the golden whistler on July 7 and 22, fantailed cuckoo on July 5 and August 16, Rufous-breasted whistler on July 7, spotted diamond bird on June 27 and to July 29. Mr. R. Beck reported that he had seen a magpie kill a blackbird whilst on the wing. The Chairman reported having seen the spinebill at Fulham on July 2 and 10, the black-tailed native hen on July 18. the pallid cuckoo on July 20, a bearded honey-eater*s nest with two eggs on July 22 (the eggs had hatched out on August 1), and Rufous song lark had appeared this season on August 30. He exhibited some species of Platifcereus (Adelaide para- keets i. showing the linking up with the palest form found at Mount Remarkable and in the Flinders Range. Mr. Frank PnrsoDs >1k>\v( (1 ilic skins of two dovo-liko prions, found on fht> b^^nrh nt Brighton, niul ^fr. E. Ashby the helmeted honey-eater from Victoria.
90 Order Ardeiformes, Family Pleyadiflie, Genus C'lrphibls.
Order Ardeiformes, Family Plegadidae, Genus Carphibis.
('arphihi.H spiiiicoUis (Straw-necked Ibis).
Description — Upper Surface. — Dark brown to black, with a decided bronze tinge ; shading from green to purple, the fea- thers being barred with deep black ; upper tail coverts edged with green; tail, white; in the old males short, white leathers cover much of the neck with metallic green feathers on the top ; strange straw-like appendages under the neck, resembling fea- ther shafts, under which is a dark, metallic band ; the remain- idier of the under surface, white; bare skin of the head, black; small bare space under the eye, pink ; feet, ruddy brown to pink; bill, black; iris, brown.
Measurements. — Total length, 842 m.m. ; wing, 384 m.m. ; tarsus, 90 m.m; bill. 192 m.m.
Distribution — Over the whole of Australia and many of the Islands ofif the coast, including Tasmania.
Habits — Gregarious, moving about in parties of a dozen to several hundreds, spread over the plains, swamps and grass- lands during the day time, but generally make for timber to roost at night. A large party will arrive at the roosting place (large gum trees for preference) in the dusk; circle round once or twice to make sure all is safe, then settle on the branches high up; a few hoarise croaks, and they are perfectly quie<t. While walking over the plains they travel fairly fas't, but no- thing escapes their quick eyes; they turn over manure, sticks, and bark with their bills, and thrust them into the cracks of the soil in search of crickets. They shift about according to the seasons. If protected, become very confiding, but if molested are wary birds.
Nesit — If plaiced in: a tree or shrub near w<ater, it gen.erally consists of sticks, of a flattened shape ; if in the rushes, flags and reeds, these are bent down to form a ]tlatt'<)rni. and very ofteu a littQe drift wo'od is add'edl. As a rule the nest's are bniltl in large colonieis.
Eggs — TQiree to five in number, duH white; nearly always much stained, green s'h'ade inside -she'll; mjeaisures 60 to 69 m.m.: 42 to 40 m.m.; laid from September to November.
MORGAN — The Weights of Some Australian Birds. 91
Flight — Powerful, and at times, elegant ; they soar round and round in great circles before alighting. At times they rise to a great height and travel long distances.
Food — Grasshoppers, crickets, frogs, mice, and many kinds of insects, terrestial and aquatic, freshwater snails, etc.
Call — A harsh croaking note, but on the whole they are very silent.
The Ibis is one of the most useful birds, and has been known to congregate in vast numbers in front of a plague of locusts, and to have stopped the progress of these insects. This bird is totally protected in South Australia, under the Animals and Birds Protection Act.
The Weights of Some Australian Birds.
—By A. M. Morgan, M.B., B.Ch.—
During a holiday in the South-East of this State last Octo ber, I took the opportunity to weigh each of the birds 1 collected, and also their brains, with the object of finding the percentage of the latter to the body weight. I also weighed all the eggs I collected. As regards the relative weights of the brains my re- sults are so uneven that I think it would be well to obtain many more observations before publishing the results. Many factors may upset the balance in a small bird, such as much loss of blood, containing several shot, or being in poor condition; all of which would increase the relative proportion of brain to h<)(]y. Tlie weights of birds' bodies and eggs may, liOA\'ever, be of interest to some of our members, and I am therefore publish- ing them.
All weights are given in grammes, and the names are those in Mr. Mathews's 1918 list:—
Name of Bird. Weight.
$ . Hypotaenidia philliprnmn. — Buff-banded Rail 287.4 9 . Laporina pusilla polufitris. — Little Crake 22.2
S. Leuropolius rufirapilliis. — Red-capped Dotterel 89.8.
92 MORGAN— The Weights of Some Australian Birds.
Name of Bird. Weight
$ . Charadrius cucullatus. — Hooded Dotterel 101.9
S . Actitis hypoleucus auritus. — Common Sandpiper 49.0 5 . Trichoglossus novaehoUandiae. — Blue-bellied
Lorikeet 112.9 9 . Glossopsitta concinna. — Musk Lorikeet 70.9 9 . Platycercus evimius. — Rosella 116.1 $ . Neonanodes chry^ogaster. — Orange-bellied Parrot 51.2 $ . AJcjionc azurea victorkie. — Blue Kingfisher 37.1 5 . Cosmaerops ornatus. — Bee-eater 25.8 S . Cacomantis ruhicatus. — Fan-tailed Cuckoo 50.8 $ . Pachycephala pectoralis fuUginosa. — White- throated Thickhead 23.2 S . LeiL-inornis rufiventris. — Rufous-breasted Thick- head 25.6
5 . Eopsaltria australis gularis. — Grey-breasted
Shrike Robin ' 39.3
9 . Pomatostomus temporalis. — Babbler 97.4
$ . Acanthiza pusilla. — Brown Tit 7.0
9 . Acanthiza lineata. — Striped Tit 7.7
$ . Acanthiza pusilla haniiltoni. — Red-rumped Tit 6.1 B . Eopsaltria australis viridior. — Green-rumped
Shrike Robin 23.8
6 . Sericornis longirostris. — Scrub Wren 13.8 $ . Sericornis longirostris. — Juv. 12.5 S . Sericornis maculatus mellori. — Spotted Scrub
Wren 12.7 $ . Malurus cyaneus leggei. — Blue Wren 10.1 $ . Stipiturus malachurus tregellasi. — Emu Wren 8.1 9 . Spheniira hroadhenti. — Bristle Birdi 55 1 9 . Camphellornis personatus. — Masked Wood- Swallow 36.1 $ . Aphelocephala leucopsis. — White-face 12.3 6 . Zosferops lateralis westernensis. — ^Silver eye •^■9 $ . Pardalotinus striates sulstriatus.— Striped
Diamond Bird l^*-^
MOliGAX — The Weights of Soyne Australian liirds. 93
Name of P.ird. Weight
$ . GliclphUa melanops. — Fulvous-fronted Hoiney-
eater, Juv. 14.9
3 . Meliornis novaehollandiae. — Bearded Honey-eater 24.8 9 . Meliornis novaehollandiae. — Bearded Honey-eater 16.5 9 . Myzantha melanocepliala whitei. — Noisy Minah 95.4 3 . Myzantha melanocephala whitei. — Noisy Minah 81.0 $ . Coleia carunculata. — Red Wattle Bird 144.0
S . Coleia carunculata. — Red Wattle Bird 129.6
9 . Authochaera chrysoptera intermedia. — Brush
Wattle Bird 95.4
9 . Acanthagenys rufogularis cygnus. — Spiny- cheeked Honey-eater 45.8
9 . Zonaeginthus hellus. — Fire-tailed Finch 14.1
The greater number of these birds are from the South-East- ern district, but a few are from Port Lincoln.
A number of clutches of eggs were weighed, and the rela- tion to the weight of the bird estimated when the latter was known. The bird weighed was, in most cases, not the parent of the eggs.
|
Xame. Porzana fluminea ( Spotted Crake) |
Weight of eggs. . . 1.7.4 2.8.7 3.8.5 4.8.3 5.8.1 |
Weight of clutch 41.0 |
Per cent. of clutch to body weight |
Per cent. of heavi- to body weight |
Haematopiis ostralegus longi-
rostris (Pied Oyster Catcher) 1.50.3
LeucopoUus ruficapillus (Red
Capped Dotterel 1.8.3
2.8.3
Ditto. 1.6.7
Ditto. 2.6.7
Ditto 1.7.9
Ditto. 2.7.7
|
16.6 |
42.4 |
21.2 |
|
13.4 |
34.1 |
17.05 |
|
15.6 |
39.7 |
20.1 |
94 MORGAN— The Weights of Some Australian Birds.
|
Xame. Charadrius cucculatus (Hooded Dotterel Ditto. |
Wught 1 of egsrs. < 1.13.5 2.12.9 3.12.9 1.12.5 |
rt'eight :>f clutch 39.3 |
per cent. of clutch to body weight 38.5 |
per cent, of heavi- to bodv weight 13.2 |
|
Ditto. |
2.12.5 |
37.5 |
36.8 |
12.3 |
|
Ditto. |
3.12.5 |
|||
|
Circus approximans gouldi (Swamp Hawk) |
1.36.7 |
|||
|
Platycercus eximius (Rosella Parrot) |
1.5.5 2.5.5 3.5.6 4.5.5 5.5.4 |
22.5 |
18.4 |
4.8 |
|
Coracina novoehollandiae melanops (Black-faced Cuckoo- shrike) |
. 1.8.5 2.8.7 3.8.6 |
25.8 |
||
|
Colluricincla harmonica i>ic- toriae (Grey Shrike Thrush) . . |
1.6.1 2.6.5 3.6.5 |
19.1 |
||
|
Acanthiza lineata (Striped tit) |
1.0.8 2.0.7 |
1.5 |
19.4 |
10.3 |
(reohasileus chrijfinrrJwvfi sand-
Ian di (YeUow-mmx)ed Tit) .... 1.1.09
Lamprococcyx plagosus (Bronze Cuckoo) .... . . ' 1.1.3
Anthochaera chrysoptera inter- media (Brush Wattle Bird) . . . .1.5.8 11.8 12.3 6.2
2.6.0
Ditto. 1.47
Ditto. 2.4.9 10.9 10.0 5.1
MORGAN — The Weights of Some Australian Birds.
95
.weight Weight per cent, per cent.
of eggs. of clutch of clutch of heavi-
to body est egg
; weight to body
Acanthogenys rufogularis cygnus ( Spiney-cheeked Honey-eater) ..
Zonaeginthus bellus (Fire-tailed Finch)
Ditto.
1.5.8 2.5.1
1.0.9 2.1.0 3.1.0 4.0.9 5.0.9 1.1.4 2.1.2 3.1.2 4.1.2 5.1.4 6.1.4 7.1.4
10.
4.7
wei^t
23.27 12.6
33.3
9.2 65.3
7.0
9.9
I found during my investigations that birds lose weight fairly rapidly after death, but in varying degree. I should think the temperature of the air would hnve some influence on this loss, and also the manner in which the bird had been killed ; birds with large, open wounds would lose weight more rapidly than those dead from other causes. This cause probably accounts for the small weight of the Little Crake, noted above, the bird having been caught by a dog, and considerably mauled the day before it was weighed. A New-holland Honey-eater lost one gr. in weight between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. the next morn- ing, whereas a second bird lost only 0.1 gramme in the same period : a rufous-breasted Thickhead lost no weight ; a Blue Wren lost 0.3 gramme; a Bee-eater lost 1 gramme; a Scrub Wren lost 0.2 gramme in 14 hours after death. The great rela- tive weight of the clutch of the Fire-tailed Finch is very remark- able, especially as this bird lays an egg on each day until the clutch is complete; four of this clutch of seven are known to have been so laid. This means that the female loses nearly 10 per cent, of her body w Mght on each day. for seven days in suc- cession— a really terrifif strain upon her economy.
0(i MORNING BIRD CALLS about the time the Day Breaks, Climatic Con- ditions, and Other Notes By J. Sutton, R.A.O.U.
|
Aug. 2 |
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|
Heavy |
Aug. 3 |
Aug. 4 |
|||||
|
NAME OF BlllD. |
July 29 |
July 30 |
July 31 |
Aug 1 |
rain 6.53 |
F,ne |
Fine Windy |
|
a.m. |
a.m. |
a.m. |
;i.ii] |
a.m. |
a.m. |
a.m. |
|
|
1. Ma'ivie |
6.40 a |
5.55 a |
0.39 a |
b^O a |
5.22 a |
6 12 a |
6.21 a |
|
Gymnorhina leucoiut.i |
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|
2. Black and White Fantail .. |
6.50 6 |
650 g |
6.39) c |
6.52 b |
6.35 c |
6.23 b |
6.36 d |
|
Rhipiduia inotacilloides |
|||||||
|
X Pallid Cvckno |
— |
_ |
— |
— |
5.34 1 b |
— |
6. S3 b |
|
Cuculus inornatus |
6.29/ |
||||||
|
1. Blackbird |
6.57 )■ |
6.00 h |
0.48 / |
6.52 c |
6 53 / |
6 35 / |
6.45 r |
|
Meruitt uieiula |
|||||||
|
:-. Lauqhini liiiujfisher |
6.51 e |
6.49 d |
0.51 h |
_ |
6.31i e |
0.35 c |
|
|
Dacelo fiigas |
|||||||
|
(i. ^'oisl/ Miner |
6.51 d |
6.45 b |
6 39 6 |
6 54 ,g |
„ |
6.31i d |
6 37 / |
|
Myzantha garrula |
|||||||
|
7 Australian Broun Fhicnicher . |
7.15 p |
7.2 p |
6.51 g |
— |
6 53 e |
6 39 h |
6.44 h |
|
Microwa fnscinnns |
|||||||
|
^ \^Hte Phtmed flonev-'-afer |
— |
(146 c |
6.39 d |
0 52 d |
6.50 d |
6.30 c |
6.36 « |
|
Ptilotis penicillata |
|||||||
|
9 Black Faced Cuckoo shrike |
(i..50 h. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||
|
Coracina robiista |
|||||||
|
10. Fan Tailed Cuckoo |
ebs 0 |
0 49 e |
6.43 e |
- |
— |
6.40 i |
6.47 j |
|
Cacomantis rufulus |
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|
11. Wattle Bird |
7.6 m |
6.50i i |
1.53 <: |
6.54 ./ |
_ |
6.50 : k |
6. 49 J I |
|
Acanthochsera caruiiculata |
|||||||
|
iL'. White Bearded Honeijeater |
0.52 / |
_ |
_ |
— |
_ |
6.48 k |
|
|
Melioini.-i novea-hollandiae |
|||||||
|
13. Scarlet Breasted Robin |
_ |
_ |
— |
6.59 j |
6. 37 J <7 |
6 41 g |
|
|
Petroica leggei |
|||||||
|
14. White Eye |
_ |
7.0i 0 |
— |
— |
— |
_ |
— |
|
ZosteiopB coerulescen> |
|||||||
|
If.. Welcome StvaUow |
_ |
- |
6.57J ,• |
— |
_ |
— |
|
|
Chelidon neovena |
|||||||
|
16. Yellow Tailed Tit Warbler |
7.5 k |
6.50 / |
— |
6 54 e |
_ |
6.56 in |
|
|
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa |
|||||||
|
17. ihisk Lorikeet |
717 s |
7.0 n |
— |
7 4 0 |
— |
_ |
6 58^jp |
|
Glossopsittacus concimms |
|||||||
|
18. Brown Tree Creeper |
7.2 j |
«.54 j |
7.3 I |
7 1 m |
— |
«.44i j |
6 57 0 |
|
Climacteris picnnina |
|||||||
|
19. Chey Shrike Thrush |
7.15 0 |
6.58 k |
7 3i n |
7.2.J „ |
— |
6.51 I |
— |
|
Colluricincla harmonica |
|||||||
|
2('. Starlinn |
7.15 ,] |
7.3 q |
7.3i m |
7.0 I |
_ |
6.61iw |
6 59 5 |
|
Sturnus vulgaris |
|||||||
|
21. House Sparrow |
7.11 n |
6 58J I |
6.59 j |
6.57J h |
— |
6.53 0 |
6.5C n |
|
Passer doinesticuH |
|||||||
|
22. Black Chinned Honey-eater |
7.6 t |
6.58im |
7 2i k |
6.59 k |
— |
6.52 n |
7.1 r |
|
Melithreptus gulaii.s |
|||||||
|
23. Red Tipped Diamrm.i Bird Pardalotus ornatus |
— |
7 5 r |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
24. Maqpie Lark |
6.52 e |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Grallina picata |
|||||||
|
25. White Saped lloney-eater |
7.16 >• |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Melithreptus atricapillus |
|||||||
|
2C. Southern Stone Curlew |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
6.12 |
6.t i |
|
Burhinusgralliiiius |
|||||||
|
27. BoobookOwl |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Ninox boobook |
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|
SUNRISE— NETHEBBY, 29 mins. |
7 45 |
7.44 |
7.43 |
7.42 |
7.41 |
7 40 |
7.39 |
|
later than Adelaide |
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|
ifOOli |
' |
lit qr. |
The Italics indicate the order in whi^ch the calls of the birds were heard on eaoh particular d*y. A dash imeans that the biPd was not heard that morning. The birda' 'namnes are arranged in order of priority om avenajree.
MORNING BIRD CALLS about the time the Day Breaks, Climatic Con- ditions, and Other Notes By J. Sutton, R.A.O.U.
|
A DC. 0 Fine |
Aug. (i Fine |
Aua. 7 Fine
».ni. 5.51i a |
AUL'. 8 Rain |
Aug. 9 Kiu |
Aug. 10 Fii.e
a.m. O.Oi a |
Aue. 11 Fine |
A us. 12 Rain Wind N.W. |
AiiK. 13 Fine Ram Inter a.m. 2.12 > b .5.45/ |
Aug. 14 Dull, siifrht lain.
a.m. 1.1 \a 5.40/ |
Aug. 15 Dull |
|
|
a.m. 5.57 b |
a.m. 5 3d a |
a.m. 6.7 '' 10.35pni |
5.50 tt |
!>.m. 5.50 a |
a.m. |
a.m. 5.24 a |
|||||
|
6.26 c |
5.,0 <• |
6.29 c 11.24 pm |
0.35 c i0.40pni |
6.5 6 |
0.8i /) |
6.17 b |
6.49 h |
2.12 )rt 0.28/ |
5.51 h |
6.27 b |
|
|
P. 36) a 6.24/ |
5.37i 6 |
6.22 b 11.24 pm |
6.28) a 4.35/- |
- |
" |
— |
- |
6.14 c |
.5. .56 C |
5., 54 C |
|
|
6.39 f |
(i 3.'i / |
6.35 e |
0.42 e |
0.20 if |
6.27i h |
6.22 e |
6.49 a |
0.3U g |
0.20 d |
0.3 d |
|
|
6.37i ; |
6.39 h |
7.9 q |
0. 1 3 (• |
0.23 « |
6.^9i ,j |
- |
0.36 / |
6 25 e |
|||
|
6.33 e. |
6.J1 t |
6.47 k |
6.43 ./■ |
0.28 h |
6.21 c |
6.27 / |
6.28 rf |
6.26 / |
6.26 g |
||
|
6.36 <j |
6.21 c< |
6.32 d |
0.42 (/ |
6.25 /• |
0.22 n |
0.23 e |
6.49 d |
6.31J/ |
6.26* g |
0.20 e |
|
|
r, 33i / |
6.37 h _ |
6.35i/ |
0.44 g |
0.32 j |
0.30 t |
6.23 rf |
6.53 h |
6.28 e |
6.30 A |
6.28 h |
|
|
6. 38 J ^- |
6.4S ■ V |
0.2U .' |
9 |
_ |
0.S8 m |
6.33i k |
|||||
|
6.50 I |
6.42 i |
0.,50 k |
0.39im |
0.27i r |
0.41 i |
6.50 ^ |
0.44 / |
6.33 j |
0.33 7 |
||
|
6 48 k |
0.36i g |
6.38 <, |
6.53 I |
0.35A t |
G.46i ? |
0..32 -; |
6.42 k |
6.34 A: |
6.23 / |
||
|
6.33 h |
6.37i ij |
0.47 A |
0.33J j |
- |
6.58 i |
- |
- |
||||
|
6.44 i |
6.44 );i |
6.42i j |
0.48 j |
0.32 (■ |
6.36A fc |
0.37i h |
6..Wi j |
0.37 ;■ |
_ 0.38 / |
6 31 i |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|