An Australian Bird Book: A Pocket Book for Field UseLeach, John Albert
Science
An Australian Bird Book: A Pocket Book for Field Use
Leach, John Albert
Birds -- Australia
The male Black-capped Nuthatch (Tree-runner) is true to name, but the
female has the head and hind-neck black, instead of a black cap only.
Nuthatches are not found in Tasmania. Possibly Bass Strait was formed
before they reached Southern Victoria. Thus bird-study supports the
geographer and ethnologist when they declare that Bass Strait is of
comparatively remote formation. As the Tasmanian blacks were ignorant
of boats, they evidently reached Tasmania before Bass Strait was
formed. They are a more primitive type than the Australian blacks, who
were improved by later influxes of more highly-developed Caucasians.
Many country dwellers will not admit that there is no Woodpecker in
Australia, but it is a fact, nevertheless. Our so-called "Woodpecker"
is the Tree-Creeper. It never chisels mortice-holes in a tree to get
out a grub, as the true Woodpecker does. These birds occur all over
the continent, and are often to be seen alighting on the side of a
tree or fence post and then running up spirally to the top. They soon
fly off to another tree, alighting lower than the place they started
from. The bright-brown band on the wing is conspicuous as they fly.
Their lively notes brighten a country drive.
The White-eye is one of a large genus, for no less than 157 species
have been accepted by Dr. Sharpe. However, one of the rarest of these
was a Victorian species. It was based on one specimen, a female, taken
at Marong, near Bendigo. It was said to be slightly different from the
common White-eye. Hence Dr. Horne, of Clifton Hill, one of our most
enthusiastic bird-lovers, created a new species, and named it in honor
of his niece, Miss Bowie, who is a favorite with all the birds in
Dr. Horne's extensive aviaries. White-eyes are found from Africa
and Madagascar to India and Japan, and from Australia out past New
Zealand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account