An Australian Bird Book Part 31

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.

[Page 109]

2 11

=229* Pallid Cuckoo= (Unadorned), Harbinger-of-Spring, Scale (Semitone, Brain-fever, Storm) Bird, Mosquito (Gra.s.shopper) 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.

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[Ill.u.s.tration: [233] [234] [235] [236]]

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.

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=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_, Woodp.e.c.k.e.rs, 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 peac.o.c.ks," whereas most Wrens are very small. However, the Lyre Bird is not now cla.s.sed 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 a.s.sist 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 pa.s.sing 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.