Narrative of an Expedition into Central Australia Part 29

This creeper was, with another Climacteris Pic.u.mnus, common in the pine forests and on the open box-tree flats all over the interior. It is not a showy bird in any way, but is very active and indefatigable in its search for insects. It is remarkable that no Picus has been found in Australia.

56. ACROCEPHALUS AUSTRALIS.--The reed singing Bird.

This beautiful warbler is common in south-eastern Australia, wherever there are reeds by the banks of the rivers or creeks, but where they were wanting its voice was silent. On the banks of the Murray and the Darling its note was to be heard during the greater part of the night, almost equal to that of the nightingale, and like that delightful bird, its plumage is any thing but brilliant, it is however somewhat larger, and although its general shade is brown, it has a light shade of yellow in the breast that makes it brighter in its plumage than the European songster.

57. HYLACOLA PYRHOPYGIA.

A common species inhabiting scrubs.

58. HYLACOLA CAUTA, GOULD.

A small bush bird, common to the belts of the Murray and other similar localities.

59. CYSTICOLA EXILIS, GOULD.--Exile Warbler.

This little bird has a varied note, indeed it is not a bad songster. It inhabits gra.s.s beds and scrubby lands, but its range does not extend beyond the 32 degrees parallel. The Barrier Range appearing to form a limit to the wanderings of many of the smaller birds.

60. ACANTHIZA PYRRHOPYGIA.--Red-rumped Acanthiza.

A small bush bird of brown plumage on the back, with a reddish spot over the rump.

61. ACANTHIZA CHRYSORRHAEA.--Yellow rumped Acanthiza.

This bird is similar to the last in every thing but the colour of the feathers over the rump, which in the present specimen is yellow. Very common on the plains and open glades of woods.

62. XEROPHILA LEUCOPSIS, GOULD.--White-faced Xerophila.

It is singular, as Mr. Gould relates in his work, that this bird should not have been known or procured until he shot it, almost on the steps of Government house in Adelaide. It was occasionally seen in the interior, but not to the westward of the Barrier Range. It keeps generally on the ground. Mr. Gould has distinguished it in consequence its having a front of white. It is short and compact in form, and like the preceding bird keeps a good deal on the ground.

63. CALAMANTHUS CAMPESTRIS, GOULD.--Field Reed Lark.

This bird is smaller than the regular lark, and differs from it in many respects: indeed it more resembles the t.i.t lark than the sky lark, and altogether wants the melodious song of the latter. It is a very common bird all over such parts of Australia as I have visited; frequenting open ground.

64. CINCLORAMPHUS CANTILLANS, GOULD. Great singing Lark.

This bird, both in its habits and song, resembles the Bunting of Europe, rising like it from the top of one bush, with a fine full note, and descending with tremulous wing to another. Its range, as far as I can judge, is right across the continent, since we fell in with it at our most distant northern points. It is much larger than the above, has a stronger bill, and a dark breast. This bird is good eating.

65. CINCLORAMPHUS RUFESCENS.--Singing Lark.

This is also a good songster.

66. CORCORX LEUCOPTERUS.--White-winged Chough.

This bird has a dirty black plumage, excepting a white bar across the wings. It is generally seen in groups of six or seven, flying from tree to tree, and is widely distributed all over the continent.

67. CORVUS CORONOIDES, VIG. AND HORSF. White-eyed Crow.

This bird approaches somewhat to the raven. Its plumage is black and glossy, its neck feathers like a c.o.c.k's hackle, and the iris white, the latter peculiarity giving it a singular appearance. Many of these birds remained with us at the Depot after we had been deserted by most of the other kinds, and served to fatten an old native who had visited the camp, on whose condition they worked a perfect miracle. I suppose indeed that there never was such an instance of an individual becoming absolutely fat in so short a time, from a state of extreme emaciation, as in that old and singular savage, from eating the crows that were shot for him, and which const.i.tuted his chief, I might say, his only food.

68. POMATORHINUS SUPERCILIOSUS.

A bird that frequented the cypress and pine forests; running along the branches of the trees like rats, and chasing each other from one to the other. This bird is about the size of a thrush, but is very different in other respects. It has dark brown plumage, with a rufous breast.

69. POMATORHINUS TEMPORALIS.

A bird very similar in plumage and habits to the last, but smaller and quicker in its motions. I shot these birds on a former expedition to the eastward of the Darling, and both are figured in my former work, page 219, vol. II.

70. GLYCIPHILA FULVIFRONS.--Fulvous-fronted Honey-eater.

A bird common amongst the honey-suckles (Banksias), in the sandy rises or mounds in the neighbourhood of the Darling. It appears in South Australia in similar localities, and has all the characters of its genus in the curved bill, pencilled tongue, and other points.

71. GLYCIPHILA ALBIFRONS, GOULD.--White-fronted Glyciphila.

This bird is about the size of a chaffinch, and was first killed by me on the Darling.

72. PTILOTIS CRAt.i.tIUS, GOULD.

This Honey-eater is remarkable in having a narrow lilac skin on the cheek, with a light line of yellow feathers beneath it. It is long both in the body and tail, and is of graceful form. Its colour is grey, but the breast is of a lighter shade and is slightly mottled. First shot by Mr. Gould in South Australia, from whose searching eye, and persevering industry, few things escaped. It was not common in the interior, but was occasionally seen in favourable localities.

73. ANTHOCHAERA CARUNCULATA.--Wattle Bird.

Frequents Banksias, and is common wherever those trees are to be found.

The Anthochaera carunculata is the largest of the wattle birds in South Australia. It has a grey plumage, mottled with white, and is by no means inelegant in its shape, being a long, slender, well proportioned bird.

The whole of the Honey-suckers have curved bills and pencilled tongues.

74. ANTHOCHAERA MELLIVORA.--Brush Wattle Bird.

This Honey-eater is of very limited range, and was so seldom seen during the progress of the Expedition up the Darling, that it may almost be said to be confined to the located district of South Australia. Its range, however, is as far as to the parallel of 30 degrees, beyond which point, as the majority of the honey-bearing trees cease, the larger Honey-suckers are not to be found. Like all the birds of the same genus, it is quick in its movements.

75. MELITHREPTUS GULARIS, GOULD.--Black-throated Honey-eater.

This bird is distinguished by its black throat, and a white lunate mark on the nape of the neck. It is to be found in most places where honey-bearing flowers or trees are to be seen. The general plumage is a dull green.

76. MELITHREPTUS LUNULATUS.--Lunulated Honey-eater.

This species partakes of all the characters of the genus, but is much smaller.

The range of the Honey-eaters does not extend beyond the 28th parallel--towards the N.W. interior, or Central Australia; as there are few honey-giving trees in that desert region. They are found all along the summits of the Barrier Range, however, in considerable numbers; and are always known by their loud wild note.

77. MYZANTHA GARRULA.--The Old Soldier.

A very sociable and tame bird. Its range is over the whole of south-eastern Australia, and we saw nests of these noisy birds at Fort Grey, in 29 degrees. The general colour is grey; their bill, and some portion of the head being yellow. They are fond of being near habitations, and frequent the trees round a stock station in great numbers.

78. SITTELLA PILEATA, GOULD.--Black-capped Sittella.

A creeper, with a black head, and grey brown plumage. Not very common, though often seen in the interior. It is larger than the S. Chrysoptera.

79. CACATUA GALERITA.--Sulphur-crested c.o.c.katoo.