BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 67, 29 August 1911, Page 2

BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA.

I * BUTCHER-BIRD. ; (Tasmanian Jack, Whistling Jack, i Collared Crow-shrike.) i From “Useful Birds of Southern I Australia.”

Description ;—Throat white ; back grey ; flanks and sides of upper breast greyish-white ; bill strong and well hooked ; culmen 1.25 to 1.5 iriches in length ; nostrils longitudinal slits about the middle of the bill.

This is the bird I love to think of as the autumn songster.

Altogether nine Butcher-birds are found in Australia. The present species is the most common of the genus. The magpie is the nearest relation to the butcher-bird, but one is much more insectivorous than the other. When named Lanius in the first meeting, it was well called so, as it is a true butcher in so far as it hangs up little birds (silver-eyes, &c.) within forked branches and proceeds at once to dismember them, one at a time, to satisfy its appetite. At a later date the generic name was changed to Cracticus (noisy). This not only indicated one

means of recognising the bird, but in addition removed the delicate subject of bird-destroyer from it. That was well, because vermin and beetles form a very large portion of its food. In, autumn the bird is garrulous, and has a musical and rich liquid note. That butcher-birds are pugnacious is quite evident to me. I know of three that tried to fight their shadows in water and finally got drowned. I am sorry to write so, but this bird is fond of stealing canaries when it is making its autumn tour of the outskirts of suburbs. In a few words, It pounces upon the cage, disconcerts the domesticated bird, and subsequently gets it out peacemeal, if not whole. I have the knowledge of at least a score of cases, though I say so without prejudice, because of its other good qualities. Nest,—Cup-shaped, made of twigs and lined with grasses or rootlets. It is placed' in any trees of the district, without a preference being shown.

BELL-BIRD. (Crested Orcoica.) Description : Male Crest deep brownish-black ; upper surface red-dish-brown ; forehead and lores white; black stripe extends over cheeks and unites with black of lower throat ; chin and mpper parts of throat white; upper part of breast deep brownishblack ; lower breast and abdomen white. Female —Lighter in colour ; lower throat and upper breast nearly uniform reddish-brown. The crested bell-bird is an inhabitant of the lower reaches of the Murray River and north and west throughout the contindht. Its actions are spirited—a series of hops—and when disturbed a flight into the nearest tree. The bulk of its food consists of insects, their larvae, and seeds. It stays in the same district winter and summer, and sets about preparations for rearing a brood in October.

“The most singular feature,,” says filbert, ‘‘connected with this bird is that it is a perfect ventriloquist. At first its note commences in so low a tone that it sounds as if at a considerable distance, and then gradually increases in volume till it appears over the head of the wondering hearer, the bird that utters it being all the while on the dead part of a tree perhaps not more than a few yards distant, its motionless attitude rendering its discovery very difficult. It has two kinds of song, the most usual of which is a running succession of notes, or two notes repeated together rather slowly, followed by a repetition three times, rather quickly, the last note resembling the sound of a bell from its ringing tone. I’he other song is nearly the same, only that it concludes with a sudden and necnltar fall of two notes.”