THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
The Paroquets hold it in enmity, nor do they ever part before a severe combat. 
It varies from the Knob-fronted [Bee-eater] in the sex or age."’ Obviously 
plate 88 was the basis of the Cowled Bee-eater, not plate 87. 
For this group Vigors and Horsfield introduced the genus Tropidorhynchus, 
and in coimection with the species T. corniculatus recorded Caley’s observations: 
“ Friar. A very common bird about Paramatta, called by the natives 
Goldong !—^It repeats the words ‘ poor soldier ’ and ‘ four o’clock ’ very 
distinctly—^I have frequently seen three or four of them flying after a hawk, 
which they seemed desirous of attacking. It is a strong and sharp-clawed 
bird. I have never shot a specimen of the species which had white on the 
head, as figured in White's Journal." 
Mr. Thos. P. Austin has written me from Cobbora, New South Wales: 
“ Always numerous in the spring, but more so some years than others, especially 
if the native apple-trees are in bloom. They do not all remain here to breed, 
but still almost every year nests are to be fomid, yet mostly only in certain 
localities, and about such spots several nests will often be found in close 
proximity. They generally place their- nests near the end of a long, thin, 
horizontal branch, and though I have examined a great number of them have 
only formd two which I could climb out to, and handle in its natural position. 
To secure the eggs of tlus species it is usually necessary to use a mirror and 
scoop with a long rod. They usually lay three eggs for a sitting and are i-ather 
late breeders, the earliest record I have of takhig eggs being September 28th, 
and the latest December 16th. In this district I have never known them to 
be any trouble in the orchard. These birds have very loud peculiar notes, 
and sound very extraordinary coming from a number of buds, but a single 
bird calhng sounds very much as if it were trying to say ‘ Don’t forget your 
coat.’ ” 
Gould’s notes read: “ There are few birds more familiarly known in the 
colony of New South Wales than this remarkable species of Honey-eater; 
it is generally dispersed over the face of the country, both in the thick brushes 
near the coast and in the more open forests of the interior. My own observations 
induce me to consider it as a summer visitant only to New South Wales; but 
as a lengthened residence in the country would be necessary to determine this 
point, my limited stay may have led me mto error. It does not visit Tasmama, 
neither have I traced it so far to the westward as South Australia. The Friar- 
Bird, selecting the topmost dead branch of the most lofty trees whereon to 
perch and pour forth its garrulous and singular notes, attracts attention more 
by its loud and extraordinary call than by its appearance. From the fancied 
resemblance of its notes to those words, it has obtained from the colom'sts the 
various names of ‘ Poor Soldier,’ ‘ Pimlico,’ ‘ Four o’clock,’ etc. Its bare 
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