IPL^TIE XXY. 



GENUS TROPIDORHYNCH US (Vig. and Horsf.) 



TWO species of this form inhabit the north-east of Australia and two the south-east. Others 

 found in New Guinea and the neighbouring islands. 



TROPIDORHYNCH US CORNICULATUS ( Vig. and Horsf.) 



FRIAR BIRD. 



T7WERY inhabitant of New South Wales knows the Leather Head, or Friar Bird, or at any rate has 

 J— i heard its peculiar note. It is found in every part of the colony, and also in Victoria, but its range 

 does not extend any further westward. During- the breeding season it is very pugnacious, driving away 

 from the vicinity of the nest, Magpies, Hawks and other large birds. 



It flies from one part of the forest to another, above the tops of the trees, with an undulating 



motion. 



The nest is strongly constructed of the inner rind of the stringy -bark, and wool, inside of which 

 is a layer of tine twigs, the whole being lined with grass and fibrous roots. It is suspended to a 

 horizontal branch of a gum-tree or Angophora (apple-tree). Three eggs are generally laid, one inch and 

 five lines long by eleven lines broad, pale salmon colour, speckled with a darker tint. 



The bill and head are dull black, the former with a sort of knob on the upper mandible; upper 

 surface, wings and tail, greyish-brown, the latter tipped with white ; chin and lanceolate feathers on the 

 chest, white ; remainder of the under surface, brownish-grey ; irides, hazel ; feet, lead-colour. 



Habitats : New South Wales and Victoria. 



TROPIDORHYNCH US ARGENTICEPS {Gould). 



SILVERY-CROWNED FRIAR BIRD. 



BY procuring the present species, Mr. Bynoe added another to the list of his valuable discoveries. He 

 found it on the north-west coast, and other specimens were obtained further inland. 



In habits it much resemble :s the Tropidorl/ync/tus Cornicidatus, but differs considerably from that 

 bird in appearance, particularly in having the crown of the head partially covered with small lanceolate 

 feathers. 



The crown of the head, silvery- white; the remainder of the head naked and of a brownish-black; 

 throat and under surface,', white ; back, wings and tail, brown ; bill and feet, brownish-black. 



Total length, 10^ inches; bill, If inch; wing, 5^ inches; tail, 4^ inches: tarsi, 1^ inch. 

 Habitat : North-west portion of Australia. 



