Part 27 (1/2)

10 ELanus SCRIPTUS, GOULD--The Letter-winged Kite

This beautiful bird was first seen on a creek to the eastward of the Barrier or Stanley's Range, and before the party had crossed that chain of hills One was shot on the advance of the Expedition fro in the early part of Noverees, and on the return of the party from the interior, in December 1845, several speci the banks of the Darling In the interval they were seen in flocks of froated together in trees They were never seen to stoop at any thing, nor could we detect on what they fed, but I a in the air, and in such a position look beautiful, the black bar across the wing underneath thely with the otherwise delicate plue of the bird They left us for a time whilst we remained at the Depot, and the first that were afterwards seen by us were on the return of Mr Browne and myself from our first northern journey

These birds are widely distributed over that part of the interior traversed by the Expedition Like Elanus notatus, it has a bright full eye, the iris inclined to a light pink Its shoulders are black, and its back like a sea-gull, slate-coloured

11 CIRCUS JARDINII, GOULD--Jardine's Harrier

This bird, with its spotted plue, was not co, between Williorara and the junction with the Murray None of the same bird were seen in the NW interior, or to the ard of the Barrier Range

12 STRIX PERSONATA, VIG--Masked Barn Owl

This fine night bird was very rare in the interior, and only one specie is characterised by that softness so peculiar to the genus to which it belongs, and in consequence of which its flight is so silent and stealthy that, like the foot-fall of the cat, it is unheard

This oas shot on the Darling, after having been startled out of a tree

13 STRIX DELICATULUS, GOULD--Delicate Owl

Nearly allied to the Strix flaland This bird, widely spread over the continent of Australia, inhabits the interior in great nuh for it to build in

Their young were just fledged when the Expedition descended into the western interior, and at sunset cau a most discordant noise every time the old birds came with a fresh supply of food, which was about every quarter of an hour It was frequently i owls Their food is principally e moths

14 ATHENE boobOOK--boobook Owl

So called froenus it co place at sunset, and its note in the distance is exactly like that of the cuckoo, but the sound changes as you approach it This bird has a dark brown pluenus Strix, although very closely allied to it

15 AEGOTHELES NOVAE-HOLLANDIAE, VIG AND HORSF--Owlet night Jar

This sht bird, is very frequently seen in the day ti on the branch of a Casuarina, to which they appear to be partial It is very common in the brushes of the Murray belt, and when disturbed has an aard flight, as if it knew not where to go Its pluht

16 PODARGUS HUMERALIS, VIG AND HORSF--Tawny-shouldered Podargus

This singular bird is an inhabitant of the distant interior, and was seen on several occasions, but invariably near hills The appearance of this uncouth bird is very absurd, with his enormous mouth that literally reaches from ear to ear, and his eyes half shut Mr Browne surprised five of these birds on a stone, on the suree to the southward of the Depot They were all sitting with their heads together, and all flew in different directions when roused

17 EUROSTOPODUS GUTTATUS--Spotted Goat-sucker

This rapid-winged night bird is widely distributed over South-eastern Australia, if not over every part of the Continent I have often watched the ht and airy bird round a pond of water close to which I have been lying, with the full bright moon above me, and been amazed at its rapid evolutions; and admired the wisdom of that Providence which had so adapted this little anie of the universe So light, that it had no difficulty in ,never to require rest

The habit of this Goat-sucker is to lie under any tree or brush during the day, fro roused

18 CHELIDON ARIEL, GOULD

The brown-headed S, a coarious, and building clay nests, like bottles stuck against a tree, in rows one above the other Instinct guides these little birds to select a tree that slopes and is concave, in which the nests will be protected from rain or storms A white-headed sas also frequently seen, but it was always under circu a specimen

19 MEROPS ORNATUS, LATH--Australian Bee-eater

This beautiful little bird, with its varied pluratory, and visits the southern parts of the continent during summer, when its locality is near any river, or chain of ponds, although it is also found in other places I first shot this pretty bird on the banks of the Macquarie in 1828, where it was in considerable numbers It visits Adelaide, andit in the interior almost to our extreme north

20 HALCYON SANCTUS, VIG AND HORSF--Sacred Halcyon

This ill-proportioned bird in shape and general appearance is like the Kingfisher Instead however of living on fish, he contents hist these he e of this bird did not extend beyond the lat of the Depot