The twelve swiftest birds of Australia.



73



of the Great-bill growing fainter in the distance. High up in an

ash-tree the hen Barraband watched them go ; she could not be

bothered to follow her restless mate on all his excursions: he would

be hack in half an hour.



THE TWELVE SWIFTEST BIRDS OF

AUSTRALIA.


By E. S. Sorenson.


Kindly communicated by Mr. R. Colton from the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald,

May loth. 1918/


While lying on the cool grass in the delightful sunset hour of

summer days, listening to the chatter of Parrots in the gum trees

and following the rapid Might of a belated one across the bight, we

have speculated and argued as to which were the swiftest Australian

birds. In ascertaining this one had to depend mainly on the eye,

since it was not possible to get the candidates to race, like Homing

Pigeons, for the honour, nor always possible to catch an earnest

Might with a stop-watch. Thus the endless arguments on this

subject that took place in hut and camp.


From long observation we had no doubt that the Jerriang or

Little Lorikeet was the swiftest Parrot; shooters gave the palm for

speed among Waterfowl to the Pink-eared Duck, which some called

the Widgeon, and among Pigeons to the Common Bronzewing, and

it was generally conceded that the Grey Falcon (Blue Falcon or Blue

Hawk) was the champion among the birds of prey, while the

Australian Pratincole or Swallow Plover and the Australian Curlew

or Sea Curlew were the speediest of the Waders. But the Spine-tailed

Swift could challenge any of these. The speed of this bird has been

computed at 180 miles an hour—double that of the House-Swallow.

Besides its swiftness it was almost tireless of wing, being second

only in that respect to the Frigate Bird, the bird of eternal Might.

Both had very long wings in relation to the body—an indication of

rapid Might. The Swift, a bird of passage which crossed the wide

sea after breeding in Japan, w T as not known to alight in Australia,



