Songsters of New South Wales.



welcome in with cheerful notes the dawn of clay. Around Sydney

and the suburbs the Brown Flycatcher utters its melodious notes

at the first break of dawn, and reigns supreme amongst the

numerous smaller Warblers during the early spring months.

Another familiar species about the many public reserves of the

metropolis is the Superb Warbler ( 'Malurus australis), the adult

male of which, in his velvety-blue and black attire and length¬

ened tail-feathers partially turned over his back, may be often

seen, frequently in company Avith his modestly brown-plumagecl

consort, tripping over the grassy lawns or pouring forth his lively

tinkling notes from the top of some low shrub.A small bird, too,

that is sure to arrest one’s attention at this time of the year with its

lively trilling notes is the White-throated Bush-Warbler ( Gerygone

albigularis) , locally known as the “ Native Canary.” The Har¬

monious or Grey Shrike-Thrush ( Collyriocincla harmonica ), a tame

and familiar species about the suburbs and homesteads in the

country, too, with its clear whistling notes, must not he overlooked.

As a songster, few, if any, can vie with the Brown Singing Lark

(Cinclorhamplius cruralis). The rich, organ-like notes of the male

are usually poured forth while it mounts up high in the air, and the

song is accompanied by a tremulous motion of the wings. This

migratory species inhabits well-grassed lands, and, near the coast,

dry, open heath and stunted bracken. Another of our most pleasing

songsters is Horsfield’s Bush Lark ( Mirafra horsfieldi), occurring

principally about grass-lands and cultivation paddocks. A fair

amount of its time is passed on the wing high up in the air, singing

all the while. At night at the same time of the year, among others,

also may be occasionally heard the melodious notes of the Beed

Warbler ( Acrocephalus australis), the mournful piping calls of the

Little Grass-bird ( Meg alums gramineus), and of the various species

of Cuckoos, the “Sweet-pretty-creature” note of the Black-and-white

Fantail or “ Willy-Wagtail ” ( Sauloprocta melaleuca), and the some¬

what harsh piping cries of the Sacred Kingfisher.



* This species was figured in a characteristic attitude in the ‘Avicultural

Magazine,’ November, 1902.



