Vol. XX. 1 j^ SouiJF AND Macphkrson, The Birds of Sydney. 8"^ 



1920 J J ■ ^ 



in evidence in the suburbs, and seems to get a li\'ing if there arc 

 any large gardens about. It, however, prefers the parks that 

 have been left in their natural state, and is more numerous in the 

 thickly-wooded grounds round the harbour than in the cleared 

 areas such as Centennial Park. These birds breed regularly in 

 Ash ton Park. 



The call of the Sacred Kingfislier {Halcyon sanciiis) is heard in 

 the spring, and many take up their summer residence in the parks 

 round the city, and make use of any white ants' nests in which 

 to make their own home, and very fussy and noisy they are abput 

 it. They are the first of the visitors to go north again, leaving 

 in February as soon as the young can fend for themselves. Eight 

 were noted in Ashton Park on 27th November, 1919. 



Pallid Cuckoos {Cuculus paUidus) arrive in numl^ers in Septem- 

 ber. They were especially numerous in 1919. Two pairs took 

 up temporary quarters in Mosman, adjoining Ashton Park. At 

 daylight each morning they would start chasing about, flying at 

 a tremendous pace through the trees, and evidently acting under 

 excitement, and chiefly uttering their " shriek " call ; but later 

 in the day their "scale" note is heard. The birds only stayed 

 about a fortnight, and then passed on, presumably going further 

 south. 



The Fan-tailed Cuckoo {Cacomantis flabelliformis) is a resident 

 and quite a suburban bird, making itself at home in our gardens, 

 and is often seen on the telephone or electric light wires above 

 the roadways. One was observed swallowing a large caterpillar, 

 and it seemed quite a difficult process, for it took about a minute 

 to get it down. On the 22nd of May about half a dozen of these 

 birds were noted in the hospital grounds at Long Bay ; they were 

 flying about the low tea-tree and banksia scrub, but made their 

 headquarters in a large banksia tree. This tree also attracted a 

 number of New Holland Honey-eaters. 



Bronze-Cuckoos {Chalcococcyx plagosiis) are often to be seen 

 in tlie_ city parks, but, owing to their quiet habits, they are 

 perhaps generally overlooked. 



The wonderful Lyre-Bird {Meniira superba) is not scared away 

 by habitation, and will take up its quarters in any natural scrub- 

 land if not molested. A pair have survived on the shores of 

 Middle Harbour, and still nest there, within two miles of the 

 General Post-Office. 



The familiar Welcome Swallow {Hirundo neoxena) is very 

 numerous in the city and suburbs, and is the only wild bird that 

 lives in the streets, where they are often seen sailing about, in 

 and out of the busy traffic. They nest in houses fronting busy 

 streets. One pair made their home on the portal of the Athen;eum 

 Club, in Castlereagh-street, where thousands of people passed 

 daily. Many of them flock in the autumn, making the Post-Offi.ce 

 and the Commonwealth Bank their headquarters, and sometimes 

 fifty or a hundred can be seen flying round there in the evening 

 preparatory to migrating. Many, however, stay for the winter. 



