TROPIDOKHYNCHUS COKNICULATLTS. 



(Friar Bird or Leatherhead.) 



Head, naked, and greyish black in color ; a stripe of brown feathers from the base of the bill to the eye ; a patch of whitish lanceolate 

 feathers with silver gloss on the chin ; the chest similarly clothed ; back, wings, and tail, greyish brown, the latter, tipped with white ; upper 

 part of abdomen, brownish grey, fading into the greyish white of the remainder of the under surface ; bill, black ; irides, red ; feet, lead color. 



Length, 13 inches; wing, 6; tail, 5i ; bill, If; tarsus, li. 



c 



This is a bird which generally excites the attention of a stranger, by its noisy and curious note, so well known to the Colonists 

 of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. Hence has originated the variety of popular names by which it is known in various parts ot 

 the country. These need not be enumerated, those above mentioned being sufficiently characteristic. Its flight is undulating. It associates 

 in small numbers, which, when alarmed, take flight in succession to some other part of the forest. It is an active bird, climbing most dex- 

 terously among the branches in every conceivable position and attitude, especially when in pursuit of food, which consists of pollen, insects, 

 and wild fruits ; it is also very destructive in gardens and vineyards. From the groat power and sharpness of its claws, it is capable of 

 inflicting severe injury, as many a sportsman has found to his cost on picking up a wounded specimen. 



It breeds in November, at which time it manifests the greatest courage, attacking and driving away all other birds, however 

 large and powerful. The nest is placed generally on the horizontal branch of a tree, without much attempt at concealment, and is outwardly 

 constructed of strips of stringy bark and wool, succeeded by a layer of small twigs, and lined with grasses and root fibres. Eggs, three or 

 four, pale salmon color, spotted minutely with a darker tint : size, 1 inch 5 lines by 11 lines. 



TEOPIDORHYNCIIUS ARGENTICEPS. 



(Silvery-crowned Friar Bird.) 



CEOYiTvr of the head, silvery grey ; the remainder of the head, naked and of a blackish brown ; throat and all the under surface, white ; back, 

 wings, and tail, brown ; bill and feet, blackish brown. 



Length, 10\ inches ; wing, 5^ ; tail, 4^ ; bill, 1| ; tarsus, li. 



The only portion of Australia from which this species has been obtained is the north coast, from the westward of the Grulf of 

 Carpentaria. Gilbert found it in great abundance in the neighborhood of Port Essington, and says : " It is most pugnacioas, a complete 

 mocking-bird, and utters so many cries and notes as fairly to distract the listener." It is found inhabiting almost every possible variety of 

 situation, feeding on the blossoms of the different Eucalypti, G-revillese, and the Melalucse; and even when thus employed, it is seen constantly 

 chasino; other birds from branch to branch. 



