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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 6

Birds

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Birds.

The Avi fauna of Australia is considerable, though perhaps not so rich as that of other countries under the same latitude. Australia is famous for the beauty of her many parrots, over sixty species of which are found here; the honey-eaters are also numerous and varied in plumage, while bower-building satin birds, mound-raising Megapodes, and stately Emus, are peculiar to this favoured region. Game species abound; there are many pigeons, ducks, geese, plovers, and quail, and every bay or island along the coast-line is swarming with noisy seabirds. Some large groups are however altogether absent; we have no woodpeckers, no humming-birds, no Trogons, and few good songsters. Other handsome forms compensate in some measure for this loss. Numerous game and singing birds have been imported from other parts, and all thrive well, and thanks to laws for the protection of game during a few months of the year, there will always be good sport in the shooting season.

We cannot go into detail with our birds, and must refer students to Gould's Handbook, from which we extract a list of all the genera and species, with a revised habitat by Mr. George Masters.

The total number of species is about 690, which are distributed as follows:—
New South Wales 403
Queensland 442
Victoria 351
South Australia 313
West Australia 240
North Australia 236
Tasmania 162

Many of these species are however mere varieties of each other, but as new discoveries are constantly made, the number given as 670 will be tolerably correct.

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Table of Distribution—Birds of Australia.

Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Aquila audax * * * * * * * ——Hieraëtus morphnoïdes * * * * * Polioaëtus leucogaster * * * * * * * Haliastur leucosternus * * * ——sphenurus * * * * * * Pandion leucocephalus * * * * * * * Falco hypoleucus * * ——melanogenys * * * * * * * ——subniger * ——lunulatus * * * * * * * Hieracidea berigora * * * * * ——occidentalis * * Tinnunculus cenchroïdes * * * * * Leucospiza raii * * * * ——novæ-hollandiæ * * * * * Astur radiatus * * ——approximans * * * * * ——cruentus * * Accipiter torquatus * * * * * * * Gypoictinia melanosternon * * * * * Milvus affinis * * * * * * ——isurus * * * * * Elanus axillaris * * * * * * ——scriptus * * Baza subcristata * * Circus assimilis * * * * * * ——jardinii * * * * * Strix castanops * ——candida * * ——novæ-hollandiæ * * * * * * ——tenebricosus * * ——delicatulus * * * * * * Hieracoglaux strenuus * * ——rufus * * ——connivens * * * * * Spiloglaux marmoratus * ——boobook * * * * * * ——maculatus * * * * Ægotheles novæ-hollandiæ; * * * * * * ——leucogaster * Podargus strigoides * * * ——cuvieri * ——megacephalus * * * ——brachypterus * ——phalænoïdes * ——papuensis * ——plumiferus * * ——marmoratus *

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Birds of Australia— Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Eurostopodus albogularis * * * ——guttatus * * * * * * Caprimulgus macrurus * Chætura caudacuta * * * * * * * Cypselus pacificus * * * Hirundo frontalis * * * * * * * ——fretensis * Hydrochelidon nigricans * * * * * * * Lagenoplastes ariel * * * * * Cheramœca leucosterna * * * * * Merops ornatus * * * * * * Eurystomus pacificus * * * * Dacelo gigas * * * * ——leachii * * ——cervina * Todiramphus sanctus * * * * * * ——pyrrhopygius * * * * * ——sordidus * Cyanalcyon macleayi * * * Syma flavirostris * Tanysiptera sylvia * Alcyone azurea * * * * ——diemenensis * ——pulchra * ——pusilla * Artamus sordidus * * * * * * ——minor * * * ——cinereus ** ——albiventris * * ——melanops * ——personatus * * * ——supercilious * * * * ——leucopygialis * * * * * Pardalotus punctatus * * * * * * ——rubricatus ** ——quadragintus * ——striatus * * * * * ——affinis * * * * ——melanocephalus * * ——uropygialis * ——xanthopygius * * * Strepera graculina * * * ——fuliginosa * * * * * ——arguta * * * ——anaphonensis * * * * * Gymnorhina tibicen * * * * ——leuconota * * * ——organicum * Cracticus nigrogularis * * * *

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Australian Vertebrata—fossil and Recent. Birds of Australia.—continued. Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australis. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Cracticus picatus * ——argenteus * ——quoyii * ——torquatus * * * * ——cinereus * ——leucopterus * Grallina picata * * * * * * Graucalus melanops * * * * * * ——parvirostris * ——mentalis * * * ——hypoleucus * ——swainsonii * * Pteropodocys phasianella .. * * * * * Campephaga jardinii * * * * ——karu * * ——leucomela * * ——humeralis * * * * * * Pachycephala gutturalis * * * * * ——glaucura * ——melanura ——rufiventris * * * * * ——falcata * ——lanoïdes * ——rufogularis * * ——gilbertii * ——simplex * ——olivacea * * * Colluricincla harmonica * * * ——rufiventris * ——brunnea * ——selbii * ——parvula ** ——rufigaster * * Falcunculus frontatus * * * * * ——leucogaster * Oreoca cristata * * * * * Chibia bracteata * * * Manucodia gouldii * Rhipidura albiscapa * * * * * * ——preissi ——rufifrons * * * ——dryas * ——isura * Sauloprocta motacilloïdes * * * * * ——picata .. * Sesura inquieta * * * * * Piezorhynchus nitidus * Arses kaupi .. * Myiagra plumbea * * *

page 26

New South Wales. Birds of Australia— Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Myiagra concinna * ——nitida * * * ——latirostris * Machærirhynchus flaviventer * Micrœca fascinans * * * * ——assimilis * ——flavigaster * Monarcha carinata * * ——trivirgata * * * ——leucotis * ——albiventris * Gerygone albogularis * * ——fusca * * * ——culicivora * * ——magnirostris * ——lævigaster * ——personata * ——chloronota * Smicrornis brevirostris * * * * *? ——flavescens * Erythrodryas rhodinogaster * * * ——rosea * * * Petroca multicolor * * * * * * ——goodenovii * * * * * ——phœnicea * * * * * Melanodryas cucullata * * * * * ——picata * Amaurodryas vittata * Pœcilodryas cerviniventris * ——superciliosa * Drymodes brunneopygia * * * ——superciliaris * Eopsaltria australia * * * ——griseogularis * * ——leucogaster * ——capito * * ——leucura * Menura superba * * * ——victoriæ * ——alberti * * Psophodes crepitans * * * ——nigrogularis * Sphenostoma cristatum * * * * Malurus cyaneus * * * * ——longicaudus *? * ——melanotus * ——splendens * ——elegans * ——pulcherrimus *

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Australian Vertebrata—fossil and Recent. Birds of Australia.—continued. Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Malurus lamberti * * * ——amabilis * ——coronatila * ——leucopterus * * * * * ——leuconotus ——callainus * ——hypoleucus * ——melanocephalus * * ——cruentatus Amytis textilis * * * ——striatus * * * ——macrourus Stipiturus malachurus * * * * * * Sphenura brachyptera * * * ——broadbenti * ——longirostris * Atrichia clamosa * ——rufescens * Hylacola pyrrhopygia * * * * * ——cauta * Pycnoptilus floccosus *? Cisticola magna *? ——exilis * * * * ——lineocapilla * ——isura * * * ——ruficeps * * * Sericornis citreogularis * * ——humilis * ——osculans * ——frontalis * * * ——lævigaster * ——maculatus * * * * * ——magnirostris * * Acanthiza pusilla * * * ——diemenensis * ——uropygialis * * * ——apicalis * ——pyrrhopygia * ——inornata * * ——nana * * * * ——lineata * * * * ——magna Geobasileus chrysorrhous * * * * ——reguloïdes * * * * Ephthianura albifrons * * * * * ——aurifrons * * * * ——tricolor * * * * Xerophila leucopsis * Pyrrholæmus brunneus * *

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New South Wales. Birds of Australia— Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Origina rubricata * * * * Calamanthus fuliginosus * ——campestris Chthonicola sagittata * * * * Anthus australis * * * * * * * Cincloramphus cruralis * * ——cantillans * * * Ptenœdus rufescens * * * * * * Sphenæacus galactotes * * * * ——gramineus * * * * * * Calamoherpe australis * * * * ——longirostris * Mirafra Horsfieldii * * * *? Zonæginthus bellus * * * * ——oculeus * Stictoptera bichenovii * * ——annulosa * Ægintha temporalis * * * Bathilda rufiicauda * * * Aidemosyne modesta * * * Neochmia phaëton * * Stagonopleura guttata * * * * Tæniopygia castanotis * * * * * * Poëphila gouldiæ * ——mirabilis * ——acuticauda * ——personata * ——leucotis * * ——cincta * * Donacola castaneothorax * * ——pectoralis * Munia flaviprymna * Emblema picta * Pitta strepitans * * ——mackloti * ——iris * ——simillima * Cinclosoma punctatum * * * * * ——castaneonotum * * * ——cinnamomeum * * ——castaneotborax * * Oreocincla lunulata * * * Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus * * ——rawnsleyi * Ailurœdus smithii * * Chlamydodera nuchalis * ——maculata * * * ——guttata * ——cerviniventris *

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Australian Vertebrata—Fossil and Recent. Birds of Australia.—continued. Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Sericulus melinus * * Mimeta viridis * * ——affinis * * ——flavocincta * Sphecotheres maxillaria * * ——flaviventris * Corcorax melanorhamphus * * * * Struthidea cinerea * * Corvus australis * * * * * * * Calornis metallica * Pomatostomus temporalis * * * ——rubeculus * ——superciliosus * * * * * ——ruficeps * * Meliornis novæ-hollandiæ * * * * * ——longirostris * ——sericea * * * ——mystacalis * Lichmera australasiana * * * * * Glyciphila fulvifrons * * * * * * ——albifrons * * * * * ——fasciata * * * Stigmatops ocularis * * * * * ——subocularis * Ptilotis lewinii * * * ——sonora * * * * * ——cassidix * * ——versicolor * ——fasciogularis * ——flavigula * * * * ——leucotis * * * * ——notata * ——auricomis * * ——cratitia * * ——cockerelli * ——ornata * * ——plumula * ——flavescens * ——flava * ——penicillata * * * * ——fusca * * * ——chrysops * * * * ——filigera * Stomiopera unicolor * Plectorhyncha lanceolata * * * Meliphaga phrygia * * * * Lichnotentha picata * * Entomonhila picta * * * Previously described by Professor M 'Coy as Ptilotis lead beateri,

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New South Wales. Birds of Australia— Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Conopophila albigularis * ——rufigularis * Acanthogenys rufigularis * * * * * Anthochæra inauris * ——carunculata * * * * * Anellobia mellivora * * * * * ——lunulata * Tropidorhynchus corniculatus * * * ——buceroides * ——argenticeps * ——citreogularis * * * ——sordidus * Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris * * * * * ——superciliosus * Myzomela sanguinolenta * * * * * ——erythrocephala * ——pectoralis * ——nigra * * * * * * ——obscura * Entomyza cyanotis * * ——albipennis * Melithreptus validirostris * ——gularis * * * * ——lunulatus * * * * . ——chloropsis * ——albogularis * ——melanocephalus * Myzantha garrula * * * * * ——obscura * ——lutea * ——flavigula * * Manorhina melanophrys * * * Dicæum hirundinaceum * * * * * * Nectarinia australis * Zosterops cærulescens * * * * * ——gouldi * ——luteus * Ptilorhis paradisea * * ——victoriæ * Craspedophora magnifica * Climacteris scandens * * * * ——rufa * ——erythrops * * ——melanonota * ——melanura * ——leucophæa * * * * Orthonyx spinicaudus * * * ——spaldingi * Sittella chrysoptera * * *

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Australian Vertebrata—Fossil and Recent. Birds of Australia.—continued. Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Sittella leucocephala * * ——leucoptera * ——pileata * * * ——striata * Cuculus canoroides * Cacomantis pallidus * * * * * * * ——flabelliformis * * * * * * ——insperatus * * * * * ——dumetorum * ——castaneiventris * Mesocalius osculans * * * * * Lamprococcyx plagosus * * * * * * * ——minutillus * ——basalis * * * * *? Scythrops novæ-hollandiæ * * * * Eudynamis flindersi * * Centropus phasianus * * ——macrourus * ——melanurus * Cacatua galerita * * * * * * * ——leadbeateri * * * * * ——sanguinea * * ——roseicapilla * * * * * Licmetis tenuirostris * * * * ——pastinator * Calyptorhynchus banksii * * ——macrorhynchus * ——naso * ——leachii * * * * ——funereus * * ——xanthonotus * * ——baudinii * Microglossum aterrimum * Callocephalon galeatum * * Polytelis barrabandi * * * ——alexandræ * ——melanura * * * * * Aprosmictus scapulatus * * * Ptistes erythropterus * * * ——coccineopterus * Platycercus barnardi * * * * ——semitorquatus ——zonarius * ——pennantii * * ——adelaidensis * ——flaviventris * ——flaveolus * * ——palliceps * * ——cyanogenys *

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New South Wales. Birds of Australia— Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Platycercus venustus * ——eximius * * * * * ——splendidus * * ——icterotis * Purpureicephalus pileatus ** Psephotus hæmatorrhous * * * * ——xanthorrhous * ——chrysopterygius * ——pulcherrimus * * ——multicolor * * * * ——hæmatonotus * * * * Euphema chrysostoma * * * * ——elegans * * * * * ——aurantia * * * * * ——petrophila * ——pulchella * * * ——splendida * * ——bourkii * * * Melopsittacus undulatus * * * * * * Calopsitta novæ-hollandiæ .. * * * * * * Pezoporus formosus * * * * * * Geopsittacus occidentalis * Lathamus discolor * * * * Trichoglossus multicolor * * * * * ——rubritorquis * ——chlorolepidotus * * * Ptilosclera versicolor * Glossopsitta australis * * * * * ——porphyrocephala * * ——pusilla * * * * * Cyclopsitta coxeni * * Ptilinopus swainsonii * * ——ewingii * Lamprotreron superbus * * Megaloprepia magnifica * * ——assimilis * Leucomelæna norfolciensis .. * * Myristicivora spilorrhoa * * Lopholaimus antarcticus * * Chalcophaps chrysochlora .. * * * ——longirostris Leucosarcia picata * * * Phaps chalcopetra * * * * * * * ——elegans * * * * * * ——histrionica * * * * * Geophaps scripta * * * ——smithii * Lophophaps plumifera * * ——ferruginea *

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Australian Vertebrata—Fossil and Recent. Birds of Australia.—continued. Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Lophophaps leucogaster * Ocyphaps lophotes * * * * * Petrophassa albipennis * Erythrauchæna humeralis * * * * Geopelia tranquilla * * * * ——placida * Stictopelia cuneata * * * * * * Macropygia phasianella * * * Talegallus lathami * * * Leipoa ocellata * * Megapodius tumulus * * Turnix melanogaster * * ——varius * * * * * * ——scintillans * ——melanotus * ——castanotus * ——velox * * * * ——pyrrhothorax * * * * Pedionomus torquatus * * Coturnix pectoralis * * * * * Synocus australis * * * * * ——diemenensis ——sordidus * ——cervinus * Excalfatoria australis * * * * * Dromaius novæ-hollandiæ * * * * *? * * ——irroratus *? * Casuarius johnsonii * * Choriotis australis * * * * * * Œdicnemus grallarius * * * * * *? Esacus magnirostris * Hæmatopus longirostris * * * * * * * ——fuliginosus * * * * * * * Lobivanellus lobatus * * * * ——personatus * Sarciophorus pectoralis * * * * * Squatarola helvetica * * * * * * * Charadrius orientalis * * * * * * * Eudromias australis * * Cirrepidesmus asiaticus? * Ægialites monacha * * * * * * Ochthodromus nigrifrons * * * * * Ægialophilus ruficapillus * * * * * * * ——inornatus * * * * * * * ——-? bicinctus * * * * * * Erythrogonys cinctus * * * * * A cassowary with a red helmet and brown plumage was discovered by Wall, but no specimen preserved. A black species with horn-coloured helmet was subsequently found by Mr. R. Johnson, presented to the Museum, and first described by Krefft as C. Johnsonii.

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New South Wales. Birds of Australia— Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Actiturus bartramius * Glareola grallaria * * * ——orientalis *? Himantopus leucocephalus * * * * * * Cladorhynchus pectoralis * * Recurvirostra rubricollis * * * * * * * Limosa melanuroides * ——uropygialis * * * * * * * Limnocinclus acuminatus * * * * * * * Ancylochilus subarquatus * * * * * * * Actodromas australis * * * * * * * Tringa canutus * ——tenuirostris ** Terekia cinerea * Actitis hypoleucos * * * * * * Glottis glottoïdes * * * * * * Totanus stagnatilis * Gambetta pulverulentus * Strepsilas interpres * * * * * * * Gallinago australis * * * * * * * Rhynchæa australis * * * * * * Numenius cyanopus * * * * * * * ——uropygialis * * * * * * * ——minor * * * * * Carphibis spinicollis * * * * Threskiornis strictipennis * * * * Falcinellus igneus * * * * * Platalea regia * * * * Platibis flavipes * * * * Grus australasianus * * * * * Xenorhynchus australis * * * * * Ardea cinerea * ——sumatrana * ——pacifica * * * * * * ——novæ-hollandiæ * * * * * * Herodias alba * * * * * * ——egrettoides * * * * * ——melanopus * * * * * ——garzetta * ——asha * * * * ——picata * Demiegretta jugularis * * * * * * ——greyi * Nycticorax caledonicus * * * * * * Botaurus poiciloptilus * * * * * * Butoroides flavicollis * * * * * * ——macrorhyncha * * ——javanica * Ardetta pusilla * * *

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Australian Vertebrata—Fossil and Recent. Birds of Australia.—continued. Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Porphyrio melanotus * * * * * * ——bellus * Tribonyx mortierii ——ventralis * * * * * Gallinula tenebrosa * * * * ——ruficrissa * Fulica australis * * * * * Parra gallinacea * * Hypotæenidia philippensis * * * * * * Rallus brachipus * * * * * * Rallina tricolor * Eulabeornis castaneiventris * Porzana fluminea * * * * * * ——palustris * * * * * * ——-? tabuensis * * * * * * Erythra quadristrigata ** Chenopis atrata * * * * * * Cereopsis novæ-hollandiæ* * * * * * Anseranas melanoleuca * * * * Chlamydochen jubata * * * * * * Nettapus pulchellus ——albipennis * * * Tadorna radjah * * * Casarca tadornoïdes * * * * * * Anas superciliosa * * * * * * ——punctata * * * * * * Stictonetta nævosa * * Spatula rhynchotis * * * * * * ——clypeata * Malacorhynchus membranaceus .. * * * * * * Dendrocygna gouldi * * * ——eytoni * * * Nyroca australis * * * * * * * Erismatura australis * * Biziura lobata * * * * * * Larus pacificus * * * * * * Bruchigavia jamesonii * * * * * * ——gouldi * * Stercorarius catarrbactes * * * * * * Sylochelidon caspia * * * * * * Thalasseus cristatus * ——poliocercus * * * * * * ——bengalensis * Sterna melanorhyncha * * * * * ——gracilis * ——melanauchen * * Sternula nereis * * * * * * Gelochelidon macrotarsa * Gygis candida * *

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New South Wales. Birds of Australia— Name of Species. New South Wales. Queens Lands. Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Northern Australia. Tasmania. Hydrochelidon leucopareia * * * * * Onychoprion fuliginosa * * * * * * ——panayensis * * * * * * Anous stolidus * * * * * * ——melanops * * * * * ——leucocapillus * Procelsterna albivitta * * * * * Diomedea exulans * * * * * *? * ——brachyura * * * * * * ——cauta * * * * * * ——culminata * * * * * * ——chlororhynchos * * * * * * ——melanophrys * * * * * * Phœbetria fuliginosa * * * * * * Ossifraga gigantea * * * * * * Majaqueus conspicillatus * Adamastor cinerea * * * * * * Pterodroma macroptera * ——atlantica * * * * * ——solandri * * * * * * Æstrelata leucocephala * * * * * * ——mollis *? ——leucoptera * * * * * * ——cooki * * Halobæna cœrulea * * * * * * Puffinus nugax * * * * Nectris brevicaudus * * * * * * ——carneipes * Thiellus sphenurus * * * * * Thalassocia glacialoïdes * * * * * Daption capensis * * * * * * Prion turtur * * * * * * ——ariel * * * * ——banksii * * * * * * ——vittatus * * * * * * Procellaria nereis * * * * * * Oceanites oceanica * * * * * * Fregetta melanogaster * * * * * * ——grallaria * * * Pelagodroma fregata * * * Haladroma urinatrix * * * * * Pelecanus conspicillatus * * * * * * * Phalacrocorax novæ-hollandiæ .. * * * * * ——varius * * * * * * ——leucogaster * * * * * ——melanoleucus * * * * * * ——stictocephalus * * * * * Plotus novæ-hollandiæ .. * * * * * Tachypetes aquila *

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Australian Vertebrata—Fossil and Becent. Birds of Australia—continued. Name of Species. New South Wales. Queensland. Victoria South Australia. Western Australia Northern Australia. Tasmania. Tachypetes minor * * Phaëton phœnicurus * * Sula australis * * * * * * ——cyanops * * * * * fiber * ——piscator * Podiceps australis * * * * * * ——nestor * * * * * * ——gularis * * * * * * Chrysocoma catarractes * Eudyptula minor * * * * * * ——undina *

Fossil Birds.

Ornithic remains are by no means plentiful in Australia, and such bones as have been found do not differ much from those of living genera. The Emu (Dromaius) existed, and also a species of Moa, about the size of the Dinornis robustus. The specimen proving the presence of the gigantic bird, a large femur, was found on the Leichhardt Downs in Queensland, 86 feet below the surface, and is now in the Australian Museum.

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