Order XXI. (continued)
The most characteristic family of birds of the Australian region is the Honey-eaters. Flowering eucalypts and other myrtaceous plants, with their honey-bearing flowers and usually inedible fruits, are the characteristic Australian trees; so are these birds, depending so largely on the honey of these brilliant flowers and the insects which visit them, the characteristic Australian birds. The Honey-eaters form a very large family, and are found throughout the Australian region as far as New Zealand and away to the Sandwich Islands, which, zoologically, belong to Australia. Strange it is that only one species should have spread to the west across Wallace's line to the island of Bali. These birds are provided with a brush tongue, which is used in brushing up honey from the flowers. They have usually a long, slender, curved bill, suitable for exploring flowers. Their feet are well developed and strong, for they are used while hanging in all sorts of positions as the flowers are explored. No less than eighty-eight Honey-eaters are found in Australia, but they are often restricted to very limited areas, so that no district would contain many kinds of these birds. Many are well known, though not by the name Honey-eater. Who does not know the harsh note of the Wattle-Bird (Wattled Honey-eater)? Again, who does not often meet the Noisy Miner (Garrulous Honey-eater), a bird that makes such a fuss when a snake appears that he is sometimes called the Snake-Bird? Is there a city boy who does not know the Greenie (White-plumed Honey-eater)? Some of the Honey-eaters are amongst the most beautiful of birds.
The Regent (Warty-faced) Honey-eater is a glory, and is often figured in British books as one of the world's beautiful birds.
The Helmeted Honey-eater is very rare, and is probably confined to the deep forests of Gippsland. It is one of the most splendid of Honey-eaters.
That active city-dweller, the Greenie, is found in almost every large eucalypt that happens to be in flower. It is pugnacious. As it busily brushes honey from the flowers, or catches an insect on the wing, the white ear plume can be seen. Otherwise, it has not conspicuous colors. Its lively call of "chick-oo-wee" adds something to life for the busy city toiler.
Now come the Miners. The Noisy Miner is known to nearly everyone. It is a common visitor to school grounds at lunch time, and is a noisy bird that is little loved by sportsmen, for it persists in alarming all game within reach. A second Miner is famous as the Bell-Bird, better Bell-Miner. The tinkling notes, "like silver bells from a distant shrine," must be heard in a deep fern gully to be appreciated fully. The green birds are seldom seen. Kendall has immortalized this bird in his beautiful poem, "Bell-Birds."
The Wattle-Bird is known to all. It is a pugnacious bird, and has a rough, disagreeable note. It has a small wattle of naked red flesh hanging at the side of the neck, hence the name. The bold, pugnacious Brush Wattle-Bird is not so well known, though its notes are even more remarkable. Both birds to-day are common in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens on the flowering plants in the "Australian" section.
The Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater is said to be a rare bird, but there is probably not a park about Melbourne but has some of these at present, as well as all through the winter. It is somewhat similar in build and habits to the Wattle-Birds, but is an elegant and attractive bird, with many peculiar notes.
The Blue-eye (Blue-faced Honey-eater) is a conspicuous bird in country districts. He is noisy, and is handsomely attired. His nesting habits are peculiar, for he often builds in the deserted nest of a Babbler.
The remarkable Friar-Bird has a naked, dark-blue head, and is an "impudent and daring" bird, that does not hesitate to steal fruit. Its loud call has been variously interpreted as "Four o'clock," "Pimlico," or "Tobacco-box." This bird has a hump on its long curved bill. The Yellow-throated Friar-Bird, when young, has yellow on the end of the throat feathers, and has no hump on the bill. It is a summer visitor to Southern Australia.
The well-known Ground-Lark, or Australian Pipit, is the Australian representative of the cosmopolitan family (147) of Pipits. Even New Zealand has its representative of this family. The Wagtails of Britain and North America belong to this family, whereas the so-called Australian Wagtail is a flycatcher. Like the other members of its family, our Ground-Lark, or Pipit, sometimes sings beautifully as it soars.
The Skylark of Britain comes in the next family (the Alaudidae), which is almost cosmopolitan. This beautiful songster, singing at Heaven's gate, pours forth a flood of melody. The man who has these delightful songsters on open land near his home is indeed fortunate. Australia has its representative of this family—the Bush-Lark, a bird so remarkably like the Australian Pipit in external appearance that it is well-nigh impossible to distinguish them in the field. The Bush-Lark, however, is "shorter, plumper, and has a stouter bill." It further has a peculiar, greatly undulating flight. It mounts up, then sinks, then mounts, and so on alternately, "singing all the time very melodiously, but with a weaker strain than that favorite bird" (the British Skylark).
Four introduced Finches have succeeded in establishing themselves in Southern Australia. The Greenfinch is spreading, though slowly. A specimen was recently sent in from Horsham, in Western Victoria. The Goldfinch, "one of the prettiest birds in Britain," is spreading rapidly. It is often to be seen on thistles, for it destroys their seeds.
The Tree-Sparrow is rare as yet, but the House-Sparrow is already a serious pest, though probably he has not been valued highly enough as a weed destroyer. However, it was a pity early colonists did not take notice of Gould's protests and warnings, for possibly the greatest harm introduced birds do is the displacing of native birds.
(continued below)
F. 142. NECTARINIIDAE (1), SUN-BIRDS, 234 sp.—36(33)A., 77(74)O., 2(1)P., 123(122)E.
F. 143. Promeropidae, Promerops, 2 sp. E. (S. Afr.)
F. 144. MELIPHAGIDAE (88), HONEY-EATERS, Honey-Suckers (-Birds), 251 sp.—250(250)A., 1(1)O.
11
11
342[*] White-naped Honey-eater (Lunulated), Blackcap, Melithreptus atricapillus, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., Kent Group.
Stat. v.c. timber 5.5
Upper yellowish-olive; quills brown; head, hind-neck black; narrow white band on nape; under white; naked patch about eye orange-scarlet; f., sim.; young no black cap. Tame. Honey, pollen, insects. Peevish, half-whistling note.
343 Black-chinned Honey-eater (Black-throated), M. gularis, E.A., S.A., W.A.
Stat. r. timber 6.7
Upper olive-yellow; head, nape black; whitish band on nape joins white band up to eye; sides of throat white, centre blackish; chest grayish; sides creamy; centre-abdomen white; naked skin about eye turquoise-blue; f., sim. Honey, insects, seeds. Sweet song.
344 Brown-headed Honey-eater (Short-billed), M. brevirostris, E.A., S.A., W.A.
Stat. r. timber 5.7
Greenish-olive upper; quills brown; head, nape dark-brown; whitish band on nape continued as brownish-white band on head; under creamy; bare skin about eye greenish-blue in winter, dull yellow (delicate flesh-tint) in summer; f., sim. Honey, insects. Rough, rattle-like note.
1
1
345[*] Striped Honey-eater (Lanceolated), Plectoramphus lanceolatus, E.A., S.A., W.A. (inland).
Stat. r. timber 8.8
Upper grayish-brown, striped blackish-brown; wing-quills brown, edged lighter; throat white; under, upper base tail white; black marks side of neck, flanks. Honey, insects. Cheerful, loud whistle, "Chirp, chirp, cherry, cherry."
6
52
346[*] Sanguineous Honey-eater (Blood), Humming-Bird (e), Blood-Bird, Myzomela sanguinolenta, E.A. (coastal).
Nom. r. thick bushes, heath 4.3
Head, neck, breast, back, upper base tail rich shining scarlet; side-face, wings, tail black, wings lined lighter; abdomen buff; f., light brown, lighter below. Pollen, honey, insects. Beautiful song.
347[*] Black Honey-eater, M. nigra, A. exc. N. Ter. (interior).
Mig. v.r. plains 4.4
Black; side abdomen, under base tail white; f., brown; under dull-white; breast marked dark-brown; under base tail white. Insects. Plaintive song.
4
4
348[*] Spinebill, Spinebill Honey-eater, Humming-Bird (e), Cobbler's Awl, Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris, E.A., S.A., T., Bass St. Is.
Stat. c. Banksias, heath 6.5
Crown, line to crescent on side of chest, wings, tail black; chest white, chestnut-brown patch on throat; back brown; abdomen light chestnut-brown; outer tail tipped white; eye scarlet; f., duller. Insects, honey. Monotonous strong call.
4
12
349[*] Tawny-crowned Honey-eater (Fulvous-fronted), Gliciphila melanops (fulvifrons), S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A., T., Bass St. Is.
Stat. c. sandy, heathy 7
Upper ashy-brown; crown tawny, blackish line from bill past eye down side of breast; buff spot behind ear; throat, abdomen white. Insects, honey. Plaintive notes.
350[*] White-fronted Honey-eater, G. albifrons, N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A., T. (inland).
Stat. c. dry scrubs 5.7
Upper grayish-brown; crown, throat black; forehead, behind ear white; abdomen white, streaked dark-brown. Insects, honey. "Tink-tink."
1
1
351[*] Painted Honey-eater, Entomophila picta, N.S.W., V., S.A. (inland).
Stat. v.r. plains 5.5
Upper black; band on wings, side tail yellow; tip tail white; abdomen white, faintly streaked brown; f., smaller. Insects.
1
1
352 Pied Honey-eater, Certhionyx variegatus, N.S.W., V., S.A., C.A., W.A., N.W.A.
Stat. v.r. dry scrubs 6.5
Black and white; head, throat, back, wings, tip-tail black; rest white; f., light-brown upper; under whitish, throat buffy, streaked dark-brown. Pollen, honey, berries.
1
1
353[*] Regent Honey-eater (Warty-faced), Turkey-Bird (Mock Regent), Flying Coachman, Meliphaga phrygia. S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.
Nom. flocks r. eucalypts 9.2
One of the most beautiful of birds; see colored plate; richly contrasted black and yellow; warty patch about eye; pugnacious; f., sim. Ringing "Clink-clank."
27
53
354 Fuscous Honey-eater, Ptilotis fusca, S.Q., N.S.W., V., (exc. dry parts).
Stat. c. open forest 6.2
Grayish-brown, quills dark-brown, edged yellow; a circle blackish feathers round eye; pale yellow ear tufts; under whitish, chest faintly streaked brownish; f., smaller. Insects, honey.
355[*] Yellow-eared Honey-eater (Lewin), P. chrysotis, E.A.
Stat. c. humid scrubs 9
Upper olive-green, under lighter; large bright yellow ear tufts; gape straw-white; about eye blackish. Insects, honey. Quavering whistling notes.
356[*] Singing Honey-eater (Large-striped), P. sonora, A. exc. extreme N.
Stat. c. forest, scrub 7.5
Upper brown; black stripe through eye to side of neck; faint yellow band below black stripe; bright yellow ear patch, behind this a small white patch; throat whitish; under gray, faintly streaked blackish; f., sim. Insects, berries. Loud calls.
357[*] Yellow-faced Honey-eater (Yellow-gaped), Chick-up, Love-Bird (e), P. chrysops, E.A., S.A.
Stat. c. scrub 6.8
Ashy-brown; two black lines along side of face, bright yellow band between these to ear tufts; spot of white behind ear; throat grayish-white; chest ashy-brown; f., sim. Insects, honey. Strong musical call.
358[*] White-eared Honey-eater, P. leucotis, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A.
Stat. c. scrub, timber 8
Fine, showy bird; upper, abdomen yellowish-olive; head dark-gray; throat, chest black; ear patch pure white: f., smaller. Insects. Loud ringing note.
359[*] Yellow-tufted Honey-eater (Golden-tufted, Black-faced, Spectacled), Yellow-Whiskers, P. melanops (auricomis), S.Q., N.S.W., V.
Stat. c. eucalypts 7.8
"One of the most beautiful of birds," crown olive-yellow; throat, about ear bright yellow; black from bill, round eye above ear; upper dark-brown; under yellow; f., smaller. Insects, honey. Varied, high-pitched notes.
360[*] Helmeted Honey-eater, P. cassidix, V.
Stat. r. forest 8.5
"This splendid" Honey-eater; greenish-black; head black; crown, ears, under yellow; tail tipped white; about eye black; f., smaller, paler. Insects.
361 Wattled-cheeked Honey-eater, P. cratitia, V., S.A., W.A.
Stat. r. eucalypts 7
Crown gray; upper olive-green; tail, wings brown; about eye, ear black; narrow yellow line below black; from bill to side of neck naked lilac skin; under olive yellow; f., smaller. Pollen, honey.
362[*] Yellow-plumed Honey-eater (Graceful), P. novae-hollandiae (ornata), N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A.
c. scrub 6.5
"Elegant bird;" upper olive-brown; under grayish-white, streaked brown; yellow ear-tuft; f., sim. Honey, insects. Loud ringing note.
363[*] White-plumed Honey-eater, Greenie, Linnet (e), Chickoowee; Ringeye (e), Ringneck (e), Australian Canary (e), P. penicillata, E.A., S.A., W.A.
Stat. v.c. gardens 6.7
Grayish-brown, tinged olive; under light yellowish-brown; long white ear plumes, sometimes not seen until the head is moved; f., smaller. Insects, pollen, honey. Loud ringing notes; "Chick-oo-wee."
5
6
364[*] Crescent Honey-eater (Horseshoe, Tasmanian), Egypt, Meliornis pyrrhoptera (australasiana), N.S.W., V., S.A., T.
Stat. c. forest, heath 6.2
Upper dusky black; black bar each side of breast; under white; flanks dusky; wings, tail marked golden-yellow; side-tail spotted white; f., dusky-brown, faint yellow on wings and tail. Loud varied calls, "Egypt."
365[*] White-bearded Honey-eater (New Holland), Yellow Wings, M. novae-hollandiae, S.Q., N.S.W., V., SA., T.
Stat. v.c. scrubby, Banksias 7.2
Blackish-brown, marked white; much yellow on wings; tail black, margined yellow, tipped white; line side of nape, cheeks, behind ear white; f., sim. Insects, honey.
366[*] White-cheeked Honey-eater, M. nigra (sericea), S.Q., N.S.W., V., W.A.
Stat. r. scrub, undergrowth 7
Like 365, but forehead white; large tuft of white plumes on side of head; tail not tipped white; f., smaller. Insects, honey. Clear double whistling note.
1
1
367[*] Bell-Miner, Bell-Bird, Manorina melanophrys, E.A. f., sim. Insects. Bell note, "Tink."
Stat. r. dense gullies 7
Olive-green; bright yellow patch between eye and bill; small red patch behind eye; forehead, about eye black.
4
4
368[*] Noisy Miner, Garrulous Honeyeater, Snake-Bird, Cherry-eater, Soldier, Micky, Squeaker, Myzantha garrula, E.A., S.A., T.
Stat. v.c. open forest 10
Gray; marked whitish on hind-neck, marked dusky-gray chest; crown, about eye, ear, chin black; wing tinged yellow; tail tipped white; legs, bill, skin behind eye bright yellow; f., smaller. Insects, fruit, honey. Noisy.
369 Yellow-throated Miner, M. flavigula, E.A., S.A., C.A. W.A. (inland).
Stat. r. timber 10
Gray; hind-neck marked whitish, chest marked brown; rump, tip tail white; naked space behind eye; forehead, throat, bill, legs yellow; a little olive-yellow on wing, base-tail; f., smaller. Insects, honey.
2
2
370[*] Wattle-Bird, Red Wattle-Bird, Gill-Bird, Wattled Honey-eater, Mutton-Bird (e), Acanthcchaera carunculata, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., W.A.
Stat. c. timber 14.5
Brown streaked, lined white; red wattle ¼in.; whitish below eye, between shoulder and gill; wing quills and tail tipped white; centre abdomen yellow; f., smaller. Insects, honey. "Kwock, kwock;" "Up with the rag." Many curious guttural notes.
2
2
371 Brush Wattle-Bird, Mocking-Bird, Mocker, Cookaycock, Anellobia chrysoptera (mellivora), S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., T.
Stat. c. timber 12
Brown, lined white; quills lined, tipped white; tail tipped white; throat whitish; no wattle; f., smaller. Showy, pugnacious, many curious notes.
1
1
372[*] Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater, Acanthagenys rufigularis, A.
Nom. c. timber, scrub 10
Upper dusky-brown; white spiny feathers, below eye to ear; throat, chest rufous; abdomen whitish, streaked dusky-brown; tail tipped white; f., sim. Insects, honey. Many peculiar loud notes, a plaintive trill.
3
3
373[*] Blue-faced Honey-eater, Banana-Bird, Blue-eye, Entomyzon cyanotis, E.A., S.A.
Stat. c. timber 12
Attractive, beautiful; upper golden olive-green; head, hind-neck black; throat dusky; line on hind-neck, side throat, under white; about eye blue; f., sim. Insects, honey. Loud monotonous call.
3
8
374[*] Friar-Bird, Monk, Leatherhead, Four-o'-clock, Pimlico, Poor Soldier, Tropidorhynchus corniculatus, E.A., S.A. Insects.
Nom. c. open forest, orchard 13.2
Head naked, ink-black; knob on bill; brown; tail tipped white; silver-white lanceolate feathers on throat; f., sim. Noisy, "Tobacco-box," "four-o'-clock." Fruit.
2
12
375[*] Yellow-throated Friar-Bird, Little Leatherhead, Philemon citreigularis, N. Ter., E.A., S.A., N.W.A.
Nom. r. timber 10
Upper brown; under pale brown; throat yellow (young), white (adult); the colored plate shows a young bird; the adult loses yellow on throat, black on face, grayish marks on back, and becomes "one of the plainest of birds"; f., similar to adult male. Insects, berries, honey. "Five-o'-clock."
F. 145. Mniotiltidae, American Warblers, 231 sp.—2(0)P., 80(12)Nc., 219(151)Nl.
F. 146. Drepanididae, Sandwich Island Honeyeaters, 40 sp. A.
F. 147. MOTACILLIDAE (2), Pipits, Wagtails, 107 sp.—11(6)A., 32(6)O., 53(12)P., 49(32)E., 7(1)Nc., 11(9)Nl.
1
55
376[*] Australian Pipit, Ground-Lark, Anthus australis, A., T. =vt. Eur. Pipit.
Part-Mig. v.c. grass 7
Upper dark-brown, feathers edged lighter; buff stripe above eye; under white streaked dark-brown; most streaked on chest; outer-tail white; f., sim. Insects, small seeds. Sometimes soars singing melodiously.
F. 148. ALAUDIDAE (4), Larks, Skylark, Horned-Larks, Shore-Larks, 224 sp.—6(6)A., 45(29)O., 69(48)P., 108(99)E., 18(10)Nc., 11(4)Nl.
1
12
376a Skylark, Alauda arvensis, Eur., N. Afr., V. (introduced).
Mig. c. grass 7
Upper warm-brown mottled, streaked darker; stripe over eye lighter; throat, chest brownish-buff, streaked brown; abdomen yellowish-white; f., smaller. Insects, seeds. Sings soaring; famous songster.
4
45
377[*] Bush-Lark, Horsfield Bush-Lark, Skylark (e), Mirafra horsfieldi, E.A., W.A.
Stat. r. grass 5.3
Like 376, but plumper, shorter; bill stouter, almost finch-like; f., sim. Insects, small seeds. Sings melodiously soaring, also on moonlight nights; "one of our most pleasing songsters."
F. 149. Catamblyrhynchidae, 2 sp. Nl. (Peru).
F. 150. Fringillidae, Finches, Grosbeak, Bullfinch, Bunting, Cardinal (Am.), Crossbill, Chaffinch, Linnet, Redpoll, Canary, 1087 sp.—129(83)O., 202(138)P., 107(96)E., 191(125)Nc., 529(474)Nl.
1
10
377a Greenfinch, Green Linnet, Ligurinus chloris, Europe to Persia, V. (introduced).
Stat. c. fields, gardens 6
Upper olive-green; golden-yellow eyestripe; tail yellow base, black tip; wing dark-brown, lined bright yellow; under greenish-yellow, darker on flanks; f., much duller. Seeds. "One of the prettiest of British songsters."
1
11
377b Goldfinch, Thistle-Finch, Carduelis carduelis, Europe, Canary Is. to Egypt, to Persia, Siberia, V. (introduced).
Stat. v.c. fields 5
Crown black; face, chin red; behind eye, throat, under, upper base tail white; bright yellow on wings; f., sim. Thistle seeds, insects. Loud, sweet song; "twit-it."
2
56
377c Tree-Sparrow (Mountain-), Passer montanus, Eur., N. Asia, A. (introduced).
Stat. r. trees 5.6
Like 377d, but head, nape chestnut; black ear patch in centre of a large white patch; two white bars on side of wing; shier; f., sim. Seeds, insects. Chirps.
377d House-Sparrow, P. domesticus, Eur., Siberia, A. (introduced).
Stat. v.c. houses 5
Crown, nape bluish-gray; behind eye, side neck broad chestnut band; upper brown; one white bar on wing; cheeks, throat black; under whitish; f., duller; darker below; no black throat. Seeds, insects. Chirps.
F. 151. Coerebidae, Honey-Creepers, 93 sp.—1(0)Nc., 93(92)Nl.
F. 152. Procniatidae, 1 sp. Nl.
F. 153. Tanagridae, Tanagers, 424 sp.—6(0)Nc., 424(418)Nl.