Vol. III. 



1903 



LITTLER, Notes on Some Birds Peculiar to Tasmania. 23 



Notes on Some Birds Peculiar to Tasmania. 



By Frank M. Littler, Launceston. 



(Read before the Aust. O.U., Melbourne Congress, 21st November, 1902.) 



Part I. 



The following notes and observations apply only to the northern 

 portion of the island. Some of the species whose habits I shall 

 be describing later are far commoner in one district than in 

 another, although the nature of the country is very similar. 



When I say " birds peculiar to Tasmania," I include the various 

 groups of islands in Bass Strait. 



Mr. Robert Hall, in his " Key to the Birds of Australia and 

 Tasmania," lists fifteen species as peculiar to the latter place, 

 whereas Mr. A. J. Campbell, in his " Nests and Eggs of Australian 

 Birds," states the number to be seventeen, the two additional 

 species recorded by the latter author being the Long-tailed Blue 

 Wren (Malurus gouldi) and the Yellow-throated Honey-eater 

 (Ptilotis flavigularis). Four species, viz., the Hill Grow-Shrike 

 (Strepera arguta), Scrub-Tit (Acanthomis magna), Lesser White- 

 backed Magpie (Gymnorhina hyperleucd), and the Grey Butcher- 

 Bird (Cracticus cinereus) are recorded by Mr. Campbell as being 

 found only in Tasmania. 



Whistling Shrike-Thrush (Collyriocinda rectirostris). — This 

 bird is known to most Tasmanians as the "Whistling Dick," on 

 account of its noisiness and general cheerfulness. In some 

 districts this Shrike-Thrush is fairly plentiful. It always makes 

 its presence known long before it can be seen with its loud and 

 melodious whistling notes. There is some difference in the plumage 

 of the sexes. That of the male is slate-grey on the upper surface, 

 tail, and ear coverts ; the wings and the centre of the back are 

 brown, with the throat and chest white ; the remainder of the 

 under surface very light grey ; legs and feet greenish-grey. 

 The plumage of the upper surface of the female is brown ; under 

 surface light grey, with the throat and chest tinged with brown. 

 The nest is cup-shaped, and composed of strips of stringybark 

 lined inside with grass. The situations usually selected are in 

 a hollow of a tree or stump, sometimes even placed on the rough 

 bark at the foot of a tree. A clutch consists of from three to 

 four eggs. In shape the eggs are oval, inclined to round; their 

 colour is usually pearly white, spotted with olive and dull slate. 

 The average measurements are about \\ in. by slightly over 

 J in. 



The denser portions of the bush are mostly favoured by this 

 bird ; it is rarely seen in the open, except when passing through 

 a cleared portion of the forest to get into the scrub on the other 

 side. Caterpillars and insects of divers kinds, especially those 

 to be found under the bark of trees, constitute its principal food. 

 On account of its powerful bill, it is enabled with ease to strip 

 the loose bark from the limbs and search out its prey. In those 



