222 Dr. P. L. Sclater on the Birds 



but, not being an accomplished fisher, failed to make a catch. 

 Both this bird and the Sacred Halcyon have recently surprised 

 me by laying eggs that are rusty brown instead of white. 

 Such seem to me to be cases of reversion. In the country 

 districts the Dacelo is known as the "Bushman's Clock" or 

 "Laughing Jackass." At an hour when farmers should be 

 leaving their beds the merriment of this bird is loud and 

 long. They hold " corrobories " upon our chimney-stacks. 



One of the birds that has interested me most of all in this 

 district is the White-throated Thickhead (Pachycephata). 

 Rusty brown when a few months old, uniform grey when 

 a year of age, and jonquil-yellow ventrally when adult, it 

 exhibits three most interesting phases. When the nestlings 

 of this species fare abroad, it is the rule of each parent to 

 look after the same young bird during the whole of the day, 

 and I believe throughout the early part of its life. There 

 are generally only two young in each brood. 



Autumn brings silence among the birds of our garden. 

 The Collared Crow-Shrike (Cracticus torquatus) almost alone 

 relieves it, and with a rich, liquid, impetuous, and pene- 

 trating voice talks to the animals alongthe hedges immediately 

 surrounding the town. Its voice appeals to me as being one 

 reserved for the quiet days of the autumn. Nature's com- 

 pensation for taking away the birds of the summer is the 

 gift of the more gaily dressed Robins {Petrceca phoenicea 

 and P. leggi). These birds are without the song of the 

 English Robin, but with their pleasing forms and demeanour 

 will help us through the winter to the time when spring 

 arrives again. 



XVI. — On the Birds of Sibthorp's 'Fauna Gr&ca.' 

 By P. L. Sclater, D.Sc, F.R.S. 



Dr. Sibthorp's ' Flora Grseca ' is a famous work in botany; 

 but it is not generally known that he had intended to 

 prepare also a e Fauna Grseca,' and left behind him at his 

 death a beautiful series of zoological drawings, which now 



