Part 34

The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size, from specimens procured in New South Wales.

CINCLORAMPHUS CRURALIS.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

CINCLORAMPHUS CRURALIS. Brown Cincloramphus.

Megalurus cruralis, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 228.

Cincloramphus cruralis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 150; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.

As there are two, if not three, species of this very singular genus inhabiting the southern portion of Australia, which bear a great resemblance to each other, it becomes necessary to state that the bird represented in the accompanying Plate is the one commonly seen during the months of spring and summer in all the open districts of New South Wales, in which country it arrives in August, and after performing the task of incubation, departs again in January or February. Open downs, grassy flats and fields of corn are its favourite places of resort. It is certainly one of the most animated of the Australian birds. Had I not visited Australia and personally studied its habits, my credulity would have been severely taxed upon being informed that the two birds here figured represent the male and female of the same species, many genera having been instituted upon much slighter grounds of difference; I had abundant proofs, however, that such is really the case, having seen many of the nests and eggs with the parent bird in the act of incubation, during the two seasons I spent in the country. In most of its habits and in its economy this bird closely assimilates to the Skylark of Europe. During the early months of spring it trips over the ground in the most sprightly manner with its tail nearly erect; mounts on the dead limbs of trees and the fences of enclosures, and runs along them with the greatest dexterity; at this season of the year also the male may be frequently seen running beside his diminutive partner, and so busily engaged in pouring forth his song for her amusement, as to be apparently unconscious of the presence of any other object. After the female has chosen the place for her nest, which is always on the ground, the male, like the Skylark, frequently mounts in the air with a tremulous motion of the wings, and after cheering her with his animated song, descends again to the ground or skims off to a neighbouring tree, and incessantly pours forth his voluble and not unpleasing notes.

I found it very abundant in all the Upper Hunter districts, as well as in all the surrounding country, both to the north and south: I killed numerous examples of both sexes, but not one male with the throat and under surface black, like specimens I have seen from Port Philip and South Australia, and which I consider to be specifically distinct.

The male has the entire plumage brown, each feather margined with brownish white; a large patch of dark brown on the centre of the abdomen; bill, inside of the mouth and tongue black; irides hazel; feet flesh-brown.

The female is similar in colour, but the feathers being more broadly margined with brownish white gives her a paler hue than her mate; the under surface is also much lighter, and the patch in the centre of the abdomen is much smaller.

The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size.

CINCLORAMPHUS CANTILLANS: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

CINCLORAMPHUS CANTILLANS, Gould. Black-breasted Cincloramphus.

Cincloramphus cantatoris, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 135.

Ye-jȕl-lup, Aborigines of the mountain districts of Western Australia.

Sky-Lark of the Colonists.

I consider it necessary to state that the figures in the accompanying Plate are taken from specimens killed at Port Philip in South Australia, and I have a specimen procured at Port Essington which is precisely similar. They all differ from C. cruralis in their smaller size and in their darker colouring, a character which is confined to the male sex, and which is, I believe, strictly a summer livery. At Swan River the individuals are still smaller, and like the C. cruralis are never so black on the breast as the bird here figured; shall we not then be justified in considering this again as distinct? The term cantillans was applied to a specimen in the winter dress, when neither the breast nor bill is black, otherwise a more appropriate appellation might have been applied.

I possess no information respecting the habits of the Port Philip bird.

The following notes are from the pen of Mr. Gilbert, and are the result of his observations of the bird in Western Australia:—

“This is a summer visitor to Western Australia, a remarkably shy and wary species, and a most difficult bird to procure, from its generally perching on a part of a tree whence it can command an uninterrupted view all round, rarely admitting any one to approach it within gun-shot. On being flushed from the ground it immediately takes to a tree, where, with its tail erect, and its head stretched out to the full extent of its neck, it presents a most grotesque appearance. It often ascends perpendicularly to a considerable height in the air, and then floats horizontally without any apparent motion of the wings to the distance of three hundred yards. While flying it utters a most disagreeably harsh and grating note, which is exchanged for an inward, rather plaintive tone when perched among the branches. The nest, which is deposited in a slight depression of the ground, is formed of dried grasses, and is so loosely put together that it is extremely difficult to preserve it entire; the eggs are four in number, and are similar to, but larger and of a lighter colour than those of the C. rufescens.”

All the upper surface sandy brown, the centres of the feathers darker; primaries and tail greyish brown, slightly margined with reddish brown; immediately before the eye a triangular spot of brownish black; throat and chest dull white, the latter with a stripe of brown down each feather; under surface light brown; in the centre of the abdomen a patch of dark brown, each feather margined with pale brown; bill and feet fleshy brown.

The figures represent two males and a female of the natural size in different states of plumage.

CINCLORAMPHUS RUFESCENS.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

CINCLORAMPHUS RUFESCENS. Rufous-tinted Cincloramphus.

Anthus rufescens, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 230.

E-rolȅ-del, Aborigines of the Mountain districts of Western Australia.