ORDER XVIII.—CORACIIFORMES, PICARIAN BIRDS.
F. 78. Steatornithidae, Oil-Bird, Guacharo, 1 sp. Nl.
F. 79. PODARGIDAE (6), FROGMOUTHS, 32 sp.—20(20)A., 12(12)O.
4
7
217 Tawny Frogmouth (Tawny-shouldered), Mopoke (e), Podargus strigoides, A.T.
Stat. c. open forest 18
Upper brown freckled grayish-white and darker-brown; wings lighter, spotted black and buff; tawny patch on wing; tail tawny-brown barred blackish-brown; wide bill brown; nocturnal; f., sim. Insects. "Oom, oom."
2
13
218 Owlet Nightjar (Little), Banded Goatsucker (e), Moth Owl (e), Ægotheles novae-hollandiae, A., T.
Stat. r. timber 8.5
Blackish-gray; tail faintly banded; obscure collar; short, wide bill; bristles round bill; nocturnal; f., sim. Insects, mosquitoes, moths.
F. 80. Leptosomatidae, Kirombos, Madagascar Rollers, 2 sp. E.
F. 81. CORACIIDAE (1), ROLLERS, 32 sp.—5(5)A., 6(3)O., 3(0)P., 22(21)E.
1
11
219[*] Australian Roller, Dollar (Star) Bird, Eurystomus pacificus, Cel., Mol., A. exc. S.A., W.A., Lord Howe Is., N.Z.
Mig. r. timber 12
Head, upper dark-brown; inner-wing bluish, outer-wing dark-blue with a silvery-blue patch (dollar); throat dark-blue; eyelash, wide curved bill, feet red; many shades of blue and green; abdomen light-green; f., sim. Insects.
F. 82. ALCEDINIDAE (14), KINGFISHERS, 200 sp.—112(105)A., 52(44)O., 5(0)P., 31(30)E., 3(0)Nc., 11(8)Nl.
3
7
220[*] Blue Kingfisher (Azure, Water, River), Alcyone azurea, E.A., S.A., T.
Mig. r. water 8
Upper ultramarine-blue; behind ear yellowish-white patch; wings black; throat whitish; under rusty-orange; bill black; f., sim. Fish, insects.
3
4
221[*] Laughing Kingfisher (Great Brown, Giant), Laughing Jackass, Bushman's (Settler's) Clock, Kookaburra, Dacelo gigas, E.A., S.A.
Stat. v.c. timber 17.5
Upper, line from bill past eye brown; side-head, under whitish; blue, white spots on wing; tail barred brown, black, tipped white; f., sim. Lizards, insects, snakes.
6
71
222 Red-backed Kingfisher (Golden), Halcyon pyrrhopygius, A. (interior).
r. open country 8
Back, rump reddish-brown; collar, under white; crown dull-green streaked white; dark band from bill through eye round back of head; wings, tail bluish; f., sim. Fish, insects.
223[*] Sacred Kingfisher (Wood, Forest, Tree), H. sanctus, Cel., Java to A., T., N. Heb.
Mig. c. timber, near water 8
Head, upper greenish-blue; whitish collar; buffy-white under; bill long black; f., sim. Insects, ants, lizards, fish.
F. 83. Bucerotidae, Hornbills, 71 sp.—4(4)A., 33(33)O., 34(34)E.
F. 84. Upupidae, Hoopoes, 6 sp.—2(1)O., 2(0)P., 4(3)E.
F. 85. Irrisoridae, Wood-Hoopoes, 12 sp. E.
F. 86. MEROPIDAE (1), BEE-EATERS, 41 sp.—5(4)A., 10(6)O., 2(0)P., 30(27)E.
1
21
224[*] Australian Bee-eater, Rainbow Bird, Sandpiper (e), Kingfisher (e), Spinetail, Pintail, Merops ornatus, Cel., Lesser Sunda Is., Mol., A.
Mig. c. open forests 10
Crown, back, inner-wing brownish-green; wing-quills orange-brown, tipped black; band on throat blackish; line below eye, lower-back blue; throat orange; tail black; two tail feathers longer; curved bill black: f., sim. Insects, very rarely bees.
F. 87. Momotidae, Motmots, 24 sp. Nl.
F. 88. Todidae, Todies, 7 sp. Nl. (West Indies).
F. 89. CAPRIMULGIDAE (3), NIGHTJARS, GOATSUCKERS, 124 sp.—11(8)A., 22(17)O., 10(4)P., 30(26)E., 11(5)Nc., 57(51)Nl.
2
3
225 White-throated Nightjar, Night Hawk (e), Moth (Fern) Owl, Eurostopus albigularis, N.G., E.A., S.A.
[~225 Eurostopodus albigularis.]
Stat. r. open forest 13
Upper mottled, striped gray, brown; head darker; wings dark-brown marked gray, spotted buff, with white patch (see figure); white patch side of throat; under buff marked dark-brown; f., sim. Insects. Valuable nocturnal birds.
226 Spotted Nightjar, E. argus., Aru Is., New Ireland, A.
Stat. r. open forest 12
Like 225, but uniform rusty-brown abdomen and under base tail; f., sim. Insects. Valuable, nocturnal.
F. 90. Macropterygidae, Tree-Swifts, 7 sp.—3(3)A., 4(4)O.
F. 91. CYPSELIDAE (4), SWIFTS, 103 sp.—11(7)A., 33(24)O., 9(1)P., 28(22)E., 4(0)Nc., 30(26)Nl.
1
34
227[*] Spine-tailed Swift, Chaetura caudacuta, Sib., Jap., China, to A., T., N.Z.
Mig. c. upper air 7.5
Throat, forehead, back edge wing, flanks, under base tail white; wings, tail deep shining-green; under, back grayish-brown; short tail ends in spines; f. smaller. Flying insects.
1
25
228 White-rumped Swift (Australian), Cypselus pacificus, E. Sib., Jap., Indo-China to A., T., N.Z.
[~228 Apus pacificus.]
Mig. r. upper air 7
Upper brownish-black; rump, throat white; under brown; long forked tail; indistinct collar; f., sim. Flying insects.
Few birds have attracted more notice, or have been more written about, than Cuckoos. To dwellers in lands with a dreary winter, the Cuckoo heralds the spring, so its call is most welcome. Then, too, the mysteries connected with its upbringing have proved of interest to all Nature and bird lovers. Its call, "Cuckoo," aptly described as the "most imitable of bird calls," has also assisted in making the bird a favorite.
The Pallid Cuckoo belongs to the same genus as the well-known Cuckoo of England. It also resembles that bird in appearance. Its note, however, is quite different. At times it seems to be endeavoring to run up a chromatic scale, so, in some districts, it is called the Scale Bird. At other times, after three running notes, it repeats one note strongly. So persistent is it in calling that it is called in places the Brain-fever Bird. Last September, in Castlemaine, it called all night in the street trees. Few, however, seemed to notice it, and fewer still knew what was uttering the persistent call.
Possibly other birds recognize the Cuckoo as an enemy, or possibly its remarkable superficial resemblance to a Hawk causes birds to chase it. However, in some cases, possibly, the male Cuckoo does not object to being chased. He draws the birds away, while the female Cuckoo quietly places an egg in a convenient nest, and retires unmolested.
The Fan-tailed or Ash-colored Cuckoo is not so conspicuous, as it keeps to more secluded places, and is a solitary bird. Its flight is heavy and labored. It also has a habit of elevating and lowering its tail several times both before and after flight. Its frequent, plaintive, trilling note often reveals its presence, which would otherwise be overlooked.
The Brush Cuckoo is rare. In fact, considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining a specimen for the photograph above, as there was no named specimen in the National Museum. Thanks to Messrs. Kershaw and French, the difficulty was at last overcome.
The Bronze Cuckoos are very similar. They will be immediately recognized by the under-surface barred brown and white, and the golden-green or bronze lustre of the dark back. The New Zealand Bronze-Cuckoo migrates from N.E. Australia and New Guinea. Apparently it sometimes migrates down the East Coast, instead of to New Zealand.
The Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo has a narrower bill, and the centre tail feathers are brownish-chestnut at the base. While the birds are so similar, their eggs are quite unlike. The Bronze Cuckoo lays a bronze egg, generally in dome-shaped or covered nests. It is sometimes found in Tits' nests. The Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo has a red-speckled egg, which is placed often in an open or cup-shaped nest.
The last Cuckoo—the Channel-bill—is one of the largest of Cuckoos. It is a northern bird, which very rarely reaches the southern part of the continent. Its large bill is characteristic. Its tail is large, and often spread out fanwise, thus giving a majestic appearance to the bird. Its call is not pleasing, as it is described by Gould as a "frightful scream," and again as consisting of "awful notes." It lays its eggs sometimes in the nest of a Sparrowhawk (not Kestrel), or in the nest of a Magpie, Bell-Magpie (Strepera), or even of a Crow. It appears with the first flood-waters, and follows the rivers from the Gulf of Carpentaria watershed down to Cooper's Creek and Lake Eyre.
One large Australian Cuckoo builds its own nest, and rears its own young. This bird, however, does not visit Southern Australia.
In addition to the interest of their habits and life history, Cuckoos are amongst the most valuable of insectivorous birds. Few birds will eat the vine caterpillar or hairy caterpillar. The Cuckoos, however, are very fond of these, and so should be encouraged. They do no harm to anything we need.
F. 92. Trochilidae, Humming-Birds, 581 sp.—18 (5) Nc., 576(563)Nl.
F. 93. Coliidae, Mouse-Birds, 14 sp. E.
F. 94. Trogonidae, Trogons, 54 sp.—16(16)O., 4(4)E., 1(0)Nc., 34(33)Nl.