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Errata:
Errata:
A missing line on Page 25 ( in italics ) (Their wings are paddles, being flattened and devoid of quills. The wings are not folded, but are carried hanging awkwardly at the side.) was restored from a different Edition on Google Books (http:// books.google.com/books?id=Rn3uthhODo8C&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25). Sundry damaged or missing punctuation has been repaired, and a few index entries have been amended....
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J. A. LEACH, M.Sc.
J. A. LEACH, M.Sc.
First-class Honorman and University Exhibitioner and Scholar in Biology; Organizing Inspector of Nature Study, Education Department, Victoria; Member of the Council of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union; Vice-President of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria; &c....
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FRANK TATE, M.A., I.S.O.
FRANK TATE, M.A., I.S.O.
Published by arrangement with the Education Department of Victoria....
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WHITCOMBE & TOMBS LIMITED
WHITCOMBE & TOMBS LIMITED
Illustrations from Specimens (318) in the National Museum, Melbourne; the balance mostly from Specimens in the Entomological Museum, C. French (59), and in the collections of A. Coles, Taxidermist, (36), C. F. Cole, and D. Le Souëf. Twenty-two birds were photographed from Gould's "Birds of Australia," five from drawings specially prepared by C. C. Brittlebank, the well-known naturalist-artist, and one from the Report of the Horn Expedition. Photos by Ralph L. Miller. Engravings by Patterson Shug
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INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
Nature-study in our schools is fast producing a generation of Australians trained to look upon the characteristic beauties of our Australian skies, our trees, our flowers, our birds with a passionate appreciation almost unknown to our pioneering fathers and mothers. It was natural that newcomers from the Old World should have been impressed, and often unfavorably impressed, by the oddness of things here. Rural sights to them had hitherto been sights of trim meadows bordered by neat hedgerows, of
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NAMES RECENTLY AMENDED
NAMES RECENTLY AMENDED
The numbers 70, 74, and so on refer to the numbers of the birds. 20 Rallus pectoralis. 65-66 Genus Thalasseus. 70 Sterna fuscata. 74 Catharacta. 75 C. parasitica. 76 Morinella interpres. 80 Lobibyx novae hollandiae. 82 Squatarola squatarola. 83-89 Genus Charadrius. 90 Hypsibates 95 Numenius minutus. 96 Limosa baueri. 97 L. melanuroides. 98 Tringa hypoleuca. 99 T. nebularia. 100 Arenaria leucophaea. 101 Erolia ruficollis. 102 E. aurita. 103
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
This little volume is intended as a pocket book for field use, so that the many teachers, nature-students, nature-lovers, schoolboys, schoolgirls, and boy scouts, who like to " see what they look at ," may be able to name the birds they meet. The first step towards knowing the birds is a desire to know them; this will grow if a person is interested; so our first business, as in all nature-study work, is to arouse interest . Interest follows at once, as we have often found, if a person realizes t
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A LECTURE.
A LECTURE.
Australia is the wonderland of the scientist and of the Nature-lover. It is a great living "museum," stocked with marvels of many kinds, including so-called "living fossils," the sole survivors of otherwise extinct groups of animals. Competent authorities have proposed to divide the world, biologically, into two parts—Australia and the rest of the world, and they have considered Australia the more important part. This division was based mainly on the study of mammals—animals which suckle their y
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ORDER I.—CASUARIIFORMES.
ORDER I.—CASUARIIFORMES.
See diagram, second largest living bird; f., smaller. Fruits, grass. F. 4. CASUARIIDAE (1), CASSOWARY, 17 sp. A. F. 5. Apterygidae , Apteryx, Kiwi, 6 sp. A. (N.Z.). F. 6. Tinamidae , Tinamous, 69 sp. Nl. The birds of the second order are well known as "scratchers." They include the domestic fowl, which has been derived from the wild jungle fowl of India, and other fowl, such as the peafowl. Quail are also included here; so are Pheasants. The absence of Pheasants from Australia is more than compe
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ORDER II.—GALLIFORMES.
ORDER II.—GALLIFORMES.
F. 10. PHASIANIDAE (6), Pheasants, Partridges, Peafowl, Domestic Fowls, 242 sp.—12(10)A., 137(119)O., 47(31)P., 64(58)E. 1 6 3 * Stubble Quail (Pectoral), Coturnix pectoralis , A., T. =vt. Eur. Quail. Nom. c. stubble , grass 6.7 Brown lined white, black; throat dull reddish; breast streaked black; f., less distinctly marked with black. Weed-seeds, insects. Rises with a burr-r-r. 3 7 4 * Brown Quail (Swamp, Partridge), Synoicus australis , N.G., A., T. =vt. Eur. Partridge. Nom. c. grassy
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ORDER III.—TURNICIFORMES, HEMIPODES.
ORDER III.—TURNICIFORMES, HEMIPODES.
F. 14. TURNICIDAE (8), Button (Bustard) Quail, 27 sp.—14(14)A., 9(6)O., 3(0)P., 4(4)E. 7 26 7 Red-Backed Quail (Black-backed, Orange-breasted), Turnix maculosa , Cel., N.G., N.A., E.A., S.A. Nom. r. marshy 7 Back brown; crown blackish; sides, breast large black spots; abdomen lighter; no hind toe; f., larger. Weed-seeds, insects. 8 * Painted Quail (Speckled, Butterfly), Varied Turnix, New Holland Partridge (e), T. varia , A., T. Nom. r. sandy 8 Upper rufous-brown with buff, blac
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ORDER IV.—COLUMBIFORMES, PIGEONS, DOVES.
ORDER IV.—COLUMBIFORMES, PIGEONS, DOVES.
F. 16. TRERONIDAE (8), FRUIT-PIGEONS, 228 sp—159(155)A., 60(56)O., 1(1)P., 12(12)E. 2 2 12 Topknot Pigeon , Lopholaimus antarcticus , E.A., T. (acc.) "Quook-quook." Stat. c. thick brushes 17 "This noble pigeon;" under silvery-gray; upper dark-gray; crest rust-red; eyes orange; f., sim. Native fruits. F. 17. COLUMBIDAE (2), WOOD-PIGEONS, Passenger-Pigeon, Rock-Dove, 119 sp.—41(40)A., 25(17)O., 18(10)P., 19(17)E., 4(0)Nc., 24(20)Nl. F. 18. PERISTERIDAE (15), GROUND-PIGEONS, Turtle-Doves,
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ORDER V.—RALLIFORMES.
ORDER V.—RALLIFORMES.
F. 22. RALLIDAE (16), RAILS, 204 sp.—68(60)A., 37(18)O., 18(0)P., 37(24)E., 17(7)Nc., 72(65)Nl. 4 17 20 Slate-breasted Rail (Short-toed), Lewin Water-Rail, Eulabeornis (Hypotaenidia) brachypus , A., T., Auckland Is. =vt. Eur. Water-Rail. [~20 Rallus pectoralis. ] Stat. r. rivers , lagoons 8.5 Upper blackish striped olive; wings, flanks, abdomen barred black, white; throat, breast, slate-gray; f., duller. 21 * Pectoral Rail , Landrail, E. philippinensis , Malay Arch. to A., N.Z., Pac. Is
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ORDER VI.—PODICIPEDIDIFORMES.
ORDER VI.—PODICIPEDIDIFORMES.
F. 24. PODICIPEDIDAE (3), GREBES, 25 sp.—5(2)A., 8(2)O., 6(0)P., 5(1)E., 6(0)Nc., 11(7)Nl. 2 15 29 Black-throated Grebe (Little), Dabchick (e), White-bellied Diver (e), Podiceps novae-hollandiae , Java, N.G., A., N. Cal., =vt. Eur. Little Grebe. Stat. c. lagoons 9.5 Upper blackish-brown; white patch on wing; under silvery-gray; throat, side-face black (summer), brown (winter); beautiful fur-like plumage; lobed toes; f., sim. Small fish, snails, insects. 30 * Hoary-headed Grebe , Dabchic
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ORDER VII.—SPHENISCIFORMES.
ORDER VII.—SPHENISCIFORMES.
Upper light-blue; under glistening-white; wing a paddle; f., sim. Sea-animals, plants. 34 Fairy Penguin , E. undina , V., T., N.Z. Stat. c. coast 13.5 Like 33, but smaller. Order VIII. includes the true ocean birds—those wanderers seen far from any land by ocean travellers. Indeed, many of them do not go near land except to breed. Then they usually repair to small lonely islands often with bold precipitous shores. Ocean birds are readily divisible into four families. The first is made u
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ORDER VIII.—PROCELLARIIFORMES, TUBINARES, TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS.
ORDER VIII.—PROCELLARIIFORMES, TUBINARES, TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS.
F. 27. PROCELLARIIDAE (5), STORM-PETRELS, MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS, 25 sp—10(3)A., 2(0)O., 10(0)P., 7(0)E., 13(4)Nc., 13(3)Nl. 2 3 35 Wilson Storm-Petrel (Yellow-webbed, Flat-clawed), Oceanites oceanica , S. Polar regions N. to British Is. (acc), Labrador (acc.), India, A., N.Z. c. ocean 6.8 Blackish; base tail above below white; legs black; webs yellow; f., sim. Shellfish, small fish, greasy. 36 Gray-backed Storm-Petrel , O. (Garrodia) nereis , S. Oceans, A., T., N.Z. r. ocean
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ORDER IX.—LARIFORMES.
ORDER IX.—LARIFORMES.
F. 32. LARIDAE (21), TERNS, NODDIES, GULLS, Skimmers, 125 sp.—32(13)A., 35(3)O., 45(1)P., 42(6)E., 43(5)Nc., 46(19)Nl. 2 4 64 Whiskered Tern (Marsh), Hydrochelidon fluviatilis (hybrida) , Eur. (Br.) to China, Malay, Afr. to A. r. swamps (inland) 11 Head black; upper, wings, tail light-gray; face, throat, tail white; chest dark-gray; abdomen black; bill blood-red; winter, head grayish-white; f., sim. Water-insects, small fish. 1 1 65 Gull-billed Tern (Long-legged), Gelochelidon macrotar
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ORDER X.—CHARADRIIFORMES.
ORDER X.—CHARADRIIFORMES.
F. 34. Chionididae , Sheathbills, Kelp-Pigeons, 3 sp.—2(2)E. 1(1)Nl. F. 35. Thinocorythidae , Seed-Snipe, Seed-Plover, 5 sp. Nl. F. 36. CHARADRIIDAE (44), Waders, Plover-like Birds, 202 sp.—68(29)A., 75(5)O., 84(2)P., 70(24)E., 65(3)Nc., 74(28)Nl. 1 2 76 Turnstone , Sea-Dottrel, Calico (Beach) Bird, Arenaria interpres , cos. [~76 Morinella interpres. ] Mig. c. shore 8 Winter plumage, mottled brown, black; summer plumage in far north; black and white conspicuous; short bill black; legs,
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ORDER XI.—GRUIFORMES.
ORDER XI.—GRUIFORMES.
F. 43. GRUIDAE (1), CRANES, 19 sp.—1(1)A., 8(2)O., 9(1)P., 7(5)E., 3(0)Nc., 2(0)Nl. 1 3 111 Australian Crane , Native Companion, Brolga, Antigone australasiana , A. [~111 Mathewsia rubicunda. ] Nom. r. plains 42 Deep silvery-gray; wing-quills black; naked red patch about face, throat; legs, feet black; f., smaller. Insects, lizards, bulbous roots, seeds. F. 44. Aramidae , Courlans, Limpkin, 2 sp.—1(0)Nc., F. 45. Rhinochetidae , Kagu, 1 sp. A. (N. Cal.). F. 46. Mesoenatidae , 1 sp. E. (M
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ORDER XII.—ARDEIFORMES.
ORDER XII.—ARDEIFORMES.
F. 50. IBIDIDAE (3), IBISES, 27 sp.—4(2)A., 6(2)O., 3(0)P., 10(8)E., 4(0)Nc., 11(7)Nl. 1 5 112 Australian White Ibis (Black-necked), Sickle-Bill, Ibis molucca , Mol., N.G., A. =vt. Sacred Ibis of Egypt. Nom. flocks, r. lagoons 30 White; head, upper-neck bare black; back of head and neck barred rose-pink; black bill arched; f., smaller. Insects. 1 1 113 Straw-necked Ibis , Dryweather (Letter) Bird, Farmer's Friend, Carphibis spinicollis , A. T. Nom. flocks, c. grassy 28 "This be
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ORDER XIII.—ANSERIFORMES.
ORDER XIII.—ANSERIFORMES.
F. 58. ANATIDAE (21), SWANS, GEESE, 206 sp.—39(30)A., 50(9)O., 68(10)P., 41(21)E., 56(11)Nc., 70(39)Nl. 1 1 126 Black Swan , Chenopsis atrata , A., T. [~126 Chenopis atrata. ] Stat. c. lakes 40 Black; white on wing; very long neck; f., sim. Plants. 1 1 127 Pied Goose (Magpie, Black and White, Semipalmated), Anseranas semipalmata , A., T. Stat. v.r. water 32 Head, neck, wings, lower-back, tail, thighs black; rest white; feet half-webbed; f., sim. Grass. 1 1 128 * Cape Barren Goo
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ORDER XIV.—PELICANIFORMES.
ORDER XIV.—PELICANIFORMES.
F. 59. PHALACROCORACIDAE (5), CORMORANTS, 42 sp.—16(14)A., 6(2)O., 7(3)P., 6(5)E., 10(4)Nc., 9(6)Nl. 5 42 142 Cormorant (Black), Black Shag, Phalacrocorax carbo ., A., T., N.Z., cos. exc. S. Am. [~142-146 Genus, Carbo. ] c. lagoons , sea 35 Glossy blackish-green; side of neck, face buffy white; white on thighs; f., sim. Fish. 143 Little Black Cormorant , Shag, P. sulcirostris , Borneo to N.G., A., T., N.Z. [~142-146 Genus, Carbo. ] c. lagoons , rivers 25 Glossy greenish-black,
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ORDER XV.—ACCIPITRIFORMES, DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY.
ORDER XV.—ACCIPITRIFORMES, DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY.
F. 66. Serpentariidae , Secretary-Bird, 2 sp. E. F. 67. Vulturidae , Vultures, 17 sp.—8(5)O., 6(0)P., 9(5)E. F. 68. FALCONIDAE (29), HARRIERS, GOSHAWKS, EAGLES, FALCON, etc., 485 sp.—99 (86) A., 106(58)O., 70(19)P., 118(91)E., 53(17)Nc., 144(112)Nl. 2 18 151 Spotted Harrier (Jardine), Spotted Swamp-Hawk, Circus assimilis , Cel. to A., T. Stat. c. plains 22 Facial disc, hind-neck, back, chest dark-gray; crown rust-red streaked black; shoulders, rest of under rich-chestnut spotted white;
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ORDER XVI—STRIGIFORMES, NOCTURNAL BIRDS OF PREY, OWLS.
ORDER XVI—STRIGIFORMES, NOCTURNAL BIRDS OF PREY, OWLS.
F. 70. BUBONIDAE (11) HAWK OWLS, 280 sp.—47(44)A., 88(74)O., 33(17)P., 48(42)E., 34(16)Nc, 75(61)Nl. 11 44 175 Boobook Owl (Cuckoo), Ninox boobook , A. Stat. v.c. timber 16 Head, upper, wings, tail reddish-brown; under rufous blotched white; facial disc indistinct, grayish-white edged black; f., larger. Insects, mice, birds. 176 Spotted Owl , N. maculata , S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., T., King Is. Stat. r. timber 13 Head, upper brown spotted white; under brown blotched tawny and whi
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ORDER XVII.—PSITTACIFORMES.
ORDER XVII.—PSITTACIFORMES.
F. 72. Nestoridae , Nestor, Kaka, Kea, 4 sp. A. (N.Z.). F. 73. LORIIDAE (9), BRUSH-TONGUED PARROTS, LORIES, LORIKEETS, 87 sp. A. 3 16 184 * Blue Mountain Lorikeet (-Parrot), Rainbow Lory, Blue—bellied (Swainson) Lorikeet, Trichoglossus novae-hollandiae , N.A., E.A., S.A., T. Nom. flocks c. eucalypts 14 Head, throat, abdomen blue; chest blood-red tinged yellow; back green; bill blood-red; f., sim. Honey. Screech. 3 5 185 * Musk Lorikeet , Green Keet, Green Leek (e), Glossopsittacus concin
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ORDER XVIII.—CORACIIFORMES, PICARIAN BIRDS.
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),
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ORDER XIX.—COCCYGES.
ORDER XIX.—COCCYGES.
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. Caterpil
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ORDER XX.—MENURIFORMES, LYRE-BIRDS.
ORDER XX.—MENURIFORMES, LYRE-BIRDS.
F. 104. MENURIDAE (3), LYRE-BIRDS, 3 sp. A. (South-Eastern A.). 3 3 237 Victoria Lyre-Bird , Pheasant (e), Menura victoriae , V. Stat. r. dense scrubs , m., 36; f., 27 Beautiful lyre tail; f., sooty-brown; all tail feathers fully webbed. Insects, centipedes, snails. Order XXI.—Perching-Birds—contains 11,500 species, more than three-fifths of the world's 19,000 birds. As Perching-Birds ( Passeres ) are still undergoing evolution, connecting links still live, so that it is very difficul
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ORDER XXI.—PASSERIFORMES, PERCHING BIRDS.
ORDER XXI.—PASSERIFORMES, PERCHING BIRDS.
F. 105. Pteroptochidae , Tapaculos, Tilt-birds, 31 sp. Nl. F. 106. Conophagidae , Antwrens, 16 sp. Nl. F. 107. Formicariidae , Ant-thrushes, 348 sp. Nl. F. 108. Dendrocolaptidae , Wood-hewers, Spinetails, 405 sp. Nl. F. 109. Tyrannidae , Tyrant-birds, American Flycatchers, Kingbird, Phoebe, 560 sp.—41(9)Nc., 551(519)Nl. F. 110. Oxyrhamphidae , 3 sp. Nl. F. 111. Pipridae , Mannikins, 84 sp. Nl. F. 112. Cotingidae , Cotingas, Chatterers, 145 sp.—1(0)Nc., 145(144)Nl. F. 113. Phytotomidae , Plant-cu
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Order XXI. (continued)
Order XXI. (continued)
More than half the species of birds making up the family of Caterpillar-eaters are restricted to the Australian region. The common Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike has many names. Leatherhead, Blue Pigeon, and Blue Jay are amongst the most common, and all are wrong. The Leatherhead is a Honey-eater, and is better known as the Friar-Bird. The Cuckoo-Shrike is not a Pigeon, but is a perching bird; nor is it a Jay, which is a Northern Hemisphere bird, a member of the Crow family. The Black-faced Cuckoo-Sh
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Order XXI. (continued)
Order XXI. (continued)
The family Timeliidae is an ill-defined one, the members of which are mostly ground birds, or, at least, spend a good deal of time on the ground. The Spotted and Chestnut-backed Ground-Birds are rare and are very quiet and shy as they run back under the shade of a bush. Thus, they are seldom seen, though they are very beautiful in their richly-spotted plumage. Driving along mallee roads, one sometimes sees these birds make a short, quick run to cover. A good name is required for them. Ground-Bir
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Order XXI. (continued)
Order XXI. (continued)
The Warbler family, Sylviidae , is a large one, found all through the Eastern Hemisphere. One migratory species crosses Behring Strait each year to summer in Alaska. As no less than 79 Australian small birds have been grouped in this family, it is of considerable importance to our bird lovers. At the head of the family, we have an exact representative of the Reed-Warbler of Europe in the delightful plain-brown songster which charms all who frequent river sides. Its song is "louder and more melod
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Order XXI. (continued)
Order XXI. (continued)
Family 132—Wood-Shrikes—contains two of the best known of Australian birds, for they are to be found about almost every town and city, as well as in the country. The well-known Magpie-Lark has but one close cousin in the world, a New Guinea bird. Its mud nest is familiar to country boys. It is notable that, excepting Swallows, only two other Australian birds build a mud nest. These birds, the Apostle-Bird and the White-winged Chough, are mentioned later. Its dainty, well-kept plumage renders the
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Order XXI. (continued)
Order XXI. (continued)
In Family 135—Titmice or Tits—Australia has but five representatives—the peculiar Wedgebill, "Kitty-lin-tof," and the four Australian "Whitefaces." The Whiteface is "lively, with sweet chirping notes." Its former scientific name ( Xerophila ) means "dry lover," for it is found mainly in the drier parts. The European Tits belong to this family, so it is not desirable to use the name "Tit" for the Australian birds of the genus Acanthiza , for they belong to the Warbler family ( Sylviidae ), and no
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Order XXI. (continued)
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 Zealan
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Order XXI. (continued)
Order XXI. (continued)
Gould placed the Australian Finches in the same family as the Sparrow—the Fringillidae —which includes also the Linnet and the cage Canary. Most writers now put them in with the Weaver-Birds or Weaver Finches (family Ploceidae ). Twenty-three Finches have been recorded from Australia. All have the well-known Finch bill, adapted for shelling seeds, and all are seed-eaters, though some occasionally take insects in addition. The Spotted-sided Finch is true to name, as a glance at the illustration s
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Order XXI. (continued)
Order XXI. (continued)
Mr. A. J. North, C.M.B.O.U., the ornithologist of the Australian Museum, Sydney, and one of the greatest of living Australian ornithologists, has declared that "without exception, the bower-building birds of Australia are the most extraordinary and interesting group of birds found in the world." These wonderful birds construct, apart from their nests, play-houses—structures that "are perfectly anomalous in the architecture of birds." Gould considered the accounts of the "extraordinary habits" of
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Order XXI. (continued)
Order XXI. (continued)
The members of the Crow Family—the Corvidae —were considered the most highly-developed of birds—the most highly organized, so far as structure was concerned, and the most intelligent. However, Sharpe has erected the seven Australian Bell-Magpies ( Streperas ) into a family which, in his Hand-List of Birds is placed at the top of the bird tree. In the Crow Family many well-known birds are placed. The Jays, Magpie, Daws, Rooks, and Nutcrackers of Europe are not represented in Australia. The Crows
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NOTE.
NOTE.
Having obtained the approximate length of a bird, look for it on the following pages. Compare the bird before you with the half-tone and colored illustrations, and, if necessary, the written description:—...
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