ORDER XIX.—COCCYGES.
F. 95. Musophagidae, Plantain-eaters, Touracos, 35 sp. E.
F. 96. CUCULIDAE (14), CUCKOOS (Cuckows), 202 sp.—61(50)A., 57(42)O., 8(0)P., 55(51)E., 8(0)Nc., 43(35)Nl.
2
11
229[*] Pallid Cuckoo (Unadorned), Harbinger-of-Spring, Scale (Semitone, Brain-fever, Storm) Bird, Mosquito (Grasshopper) Hawk, Cuculus inornatus, A., T. =vt Eur. Cuckoo.
[~229 Cuculus pallidus.]
Mig. v.c. open, timber 12
Upper brown; under gray; tail barred white, brown; eyelash yellow; white at edge wing; wing spotted, marked lighter; f., upper mottled whitish, rufous. Caterpillars, insects. Runs up scale, calls frequently at night.
3
13
230[*] Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Ash-colored, Cacomantis rufulus (flabelliformis), Aru Is., A., T.
Mig. c. open, timber 10
Head, upper dark slate-gray; under rust-red; throat gray; tail dark toothed with white; white edge of wing; eyelash citron-yellow; f., smaller. Caterpillars, insects. Sad trill often repeated.
231 Square-tailed Cuckoo (Brush), C. flabelliformis (variolosus), Mol., Timor, N.G., A.
Mig. v.r. open timber 9.2
Like 230, but smaller; tail feathers toothed with white on inner web only; f., sim. Insects.
1
1
232 Black-eared Cuckoo, Mesocalius palliolatus, Mol., Aru Is., A.
[~232 Misocalius palliolatus.]
Mig. v.r. scrub 7.5
Head, upper, wings glossy olive-brown; shoulder darker; tail olive-brown tipped white; side tail feather five white bars; behind ear a narrow black streak; above this a lighter patch; under pale-brown; f., duller. Insects. Feeble plaintive note.
5
15
233 Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo, Chalcococcyx basalis, Mal. Pen., Java, Cel., to A., T.
Mig. c. open, timber 6.2
Upper beautiful bronze-green; under barred brown, white; like 234 but bill narrower; lighter brown head; paler back; outer tail feathers strongly barred blackish-brown, white; centre abdomen not barred; base tail much chestnut; f., duller. Insects, caterpillars.
234 Broad-billed Bronze Cuckoo (New Zealand, Shining), Pipiwharauroa, C. lucidus, E.A., T., N.Z., Chatham Is., Macquarie Is. (acc).
Mig. v.r. open, timber 6.2
Like 233, but outer tail feathers barred white; next feathers barred rufous; forehead freckled with white; crown, hind-neck shining-green; bill broader; f., duller. Insects.
235[*] Bronze Cuckoo, C. plagosus, A., T., Pac. Is.
Mig. c. open, timber 6.2
Like 233, 234; crown, hind-neck dark violet-brown; very little rufous on tail; f., duller. Insects, caterpillars.
1
1
236 Channel-bill, Giant Cuckoo, Storm (Flood, Rain) Bird, Toucan (e), Hornbill (e), Scythrops novae-hollandiae, Cel., Flores, Mol., A., T. (once).
Mig. r. plains 24
Gray; tail banded black; tipped white barred black, white below; bill very large, light horn-color; red about eye; f., smaller. Insects, berries.
F. 97. Indicatoridae, Honey-Guides, 18 sp.—2(2)O., 16(16)E.
F. 98. Capitonidae, Barbets, 140 sp.—40(40)O., 82(82)E., 18(18)Nl.
F. 99. Rhamphastidae, Toucans, 60 sp. Nl.
F. 100. Galbulidae, Jacamars, 22 sp. Nl.
F. 101. Bucconidae, Puff Birds, 45 sp. Nl.
F. 102. Picidae, Woodpeckers, Piculets, Wrynecks, Flickers, 440 sp.—6(5)A., 124(117)O., 41(33)P., 54(53)E., 44(32)Nc., 197(181)Nl.
F. 103. Eurylaemidae, Broadbills, 16 sp. O. The only family of birds restricted to the Oriental Region.
One of the most interesting birds in the world is the Lyre Bird, whose beautiful tail, alas, often brings early death to its rightful owner. There are three species of these birds, found only in the mountainous parts of South-eastern Australia, and as far as Wide Bay, in Southern Queensland. Two of the species are found in New South Wales and Southern Queensland, while the third is found in Victoria. Though these beautiful birds are supposed to be protected, hundreds of their tails are sold annually in London.
The Lyre Bird is responsible for the statement that Australia possesses "Wrens as large as peacocks," whereas most Wrens are very small. However, the Lyre Bird is not now classed with Wrens. In all its ways, the Lyre Bird is of interest. Its dancing mounds, its large domed nest, containing but one egg, and its remarkable mimicking powers have frequently been written about. Dr. Sharpe has lately placed the Lyre Birds in an Order by themselves—Order XX.
Gould considered the Lyre Bird the most shy of birds, for he spent days in the forest gullies surrounded by them, but though he was entertained by their many and varied calls, he caught no sight of a bird. The wonderful tail is not attained until the male bird is four years old. It is unique, and is the most beautiful tail ornament worn by any bird. Dr. Newton hoped that "so remarkable a form as the Lyre Bird, the nearly sole survivor, apparently, of a very ancient race of beings, will not be allowed to become extinct—its almost certain fate, so far as can be judged—without many more observations of its manners being made, and fuller details of them placed on record." Australians please note. You alone can assist by collecting facts and recording reliable observations. Bird-lovers hope that the Lyre Bird will be successfully established in the National Park, Wilson's Promontory, where some have already been placed, and so be preserved for future generations. Its large, domed nest is usually placed on the ground, and the large single egg (or the young one) is often taken by the fox. Further, its natural haunts—dense forest scrubs—are being rapidly cleared, so that the bird is doomed, except in special sanctuaries.
The Lyre Bird is now generally acknowledged to be the prince of mocking birds. It mimics clearly all bush noises, the chopping of trees, sawing of logs, barking of dogs, clucking of hens, the singing of native birds. Its dancing mounds are interesting. Near one of these mounds, on the Upper Snowy River, in the wild cherry scrub, we observed a nest at a height of about thirty feet from the ground.
Australians! you owe it to mankind in general to see that the protection supposed to be given to the Lyre Bird is a reality. Recently, after passing a lady much bedecked with Bird of Paradise plumes, I thought it was fortunate the Lyre Bird's tail was too large for a lady's hat. Imagine my surprise when, at the next street corner (Collins and Spring Streets), I met a lady with a Lyre Bird's tail stuck through her head-dress. However, I have seen no other tail used for such a purpose.
In America the Audubon Society has done splendid work by disseminating knowledge about American birds, and arousing public interest in the value of birds. There, also, thorough scientific investigation has been made of the value of insect-eating and seed-eating birds. It has been stated, as the result of full research, that one wild pigeon, in whose crop over 7000 weed seeds were found, was as efficacious in destroying weeds as two farm laborers.
It is to be noted that no less an agricultural authority than Professor Gilruth, of the Veterinary School, Melbourne University, has given it as his deliberate opinion that the Australian farmer would find life impossible without the aid of the detested Sparrow as a weed destroyer. This is the judgment of a man whose opinion is worthy of serious consideration.
It is open to serious doubt if it pays commercially to kill indiscriminately any kind of bird found on this continent. It may, of course, happen that one individual bird has learnt where to get an easy food supply at the expense of a farmer or orchardist. Such a bird could be kept away. To kill birds at all times, because of the damage done by a few at a particular time, is foolish.
On the lines of the American Audubon Society, the Gould League of Bird Lovers has recently been established. Just as Audubon was the great father of American ornithology, so "John Gould, the bird man," was the father of Australian ornithology. Hence his name has been associated with this movement to save our birds. The movement is progressing by leaps and bounds.
The Victorian branch has a very large body of members, about 40,000 certificates having already been issued to adults and children. Tasmania has a branch in full operation. In South Australia bird clubs are doing excellent work, especially amongst the young people, and Queensland and New South Wales bird-lovers have taken active steps to develop the movement in their States. A Bird Day, by order of the Minister of Education, Hon. A. A. Billson, and the Director, Mr. F. Tate, was observed in Victorian schools in 1909 and 1910, with gratifying results. Bird-nesting, for the collection of eggs, has practically wholly disappeared from our schools, while at most country schools native birds can be seen nesting on the school grounds, the children keeping observation notes of nesting and feeding habits of the birds as part of their work in Nature-study. What study is of greater economic importance to this wealthy, though occasionally insect-troubled, land?
