XESTS Ai\P EGGS OF AUSTRAL/ AN BIRDS. 



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Ohservntiiinx. — This bird is one of the large Honeyeaters, wearing a 

 drab-coloured coat, lighter in colour on the under surface. It receives 

 its vernacular name. Friar Bird or Leather Head, from its curious 

 naked black head, which has a wart-like excrescence on the nose ; eyes, 

 dark-brown; length, 13 inches; wing, 6 inches; tail, 5^ inches; bill, 

 1 1 inches ; feet, 1 \ inches. 



This remarkable Honeyeater, with its curious appearance and 

 chattering calls, is not only well-known in collections, but likewise to 

 all bush folk. Tt ranges over much of Australian forest and open 

 country alike, west and north excepted. 



Gould regarded the Friar Bird as a summer visitant to the more 

 southern limits of its range. Probably he wa.s correct, and its visits 

 mav be regulated by seajsons, and the blossoming of various eucalypts. 

 One season (about 1870) these birds were in great numbers in tlie 

 district of Springvale, Victoria, and no doubt in other localities con- 

 tiguous. Tlie forest evcrvwhere resounded with their vocalisation. Wi- 

 shot as many birds for the tabic as our bags could conveniently hold. 

 If a bird were wounded we soon learnt to be careful of its bill and 

 powerful claws. 



I shall always recollect my first Leather Head's nest, which I took 

 as a boy. On the 9th November, of the season mentioned, we found 

 a nest Isuilding, or about ready for eggs, in a medium-sized tree near 

 Fern-tree Gully, at the base of the Dandenongs. A fortnight after- 

 wards we walked from what is now Armadale to the ranges and back 

 in one day — forty-five miles — for the precious sot of eggs. Of course, 

 we also found other species of eggs — Tliickhcnds', Fantails', Tlobins', &c. 



Gould states the Friar Bird commences breeding in November, when 

 the birds become animated and fierce, readily attacking Hawks, Crows, 

 and Magpies, or other larger birds that may venture within the precincts 

 of the nest, never desisting from the attack imtil they are driven a 

 considerable distance. So numerous did Gould find the Friar Bird 

 breeding in the apple-tree ( Angapluim ) flats, near Aberdeen and 

 Yarrundi, on the Upper Hunter, New South Wales, that he remarks 

 the birds might almost be termed gregarious. 



T take the following interesting notes relating to the Friar Bird 

 from Mr. Hermann Laii's MS. : — " Not gaudy in plumage, nevertheless 

 of great interest. With it everything is odd. The tongue, unique in 

 itself, expresses laughable articulations. The naked cowl-like head 

 looks ridiculous. Impudent and daring, it steals material for its nest 

 whenever a chance offers. Tlie wool-shed of a station is very handy, 

 where it finds twine and wool. Tt was at Yandilla (Queensland) where 

 T found a nest wholly constructed of these two articles. At another 

 place (Wan-oo) the greater part, of a ne.st wa,s, I believe, about }-lb. 

 of twine. This stuff the bird wound within and out and round the 

 neighbouring branches, at the same time sewing it into a substantial 

 grass nest padded with wool. Far from habitation, it takes for it.s 

 nest the produce of land — dry grass — save now and then you will see 

 a string or ribbon interwoven and dangling down. Tlie Leather Head 

 is a bold orchard robber, and, approaching the site of its nest, it darts 

 down like a Magpie, inflicting hanri with bill and claws, whenever oppor- 

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