ARTAMUS SORDIDUS.
Wood Swallow.

Turdus sordidus, Lath. Ind. Orn., Supp., p. xiii.

Sordid Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn., Supp., vol. il. p. 186.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 238.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol.
v. p. 131.

Ocypterus albovittatus, Cuy. Regn. Anim., tom. iv. t. 3. f. 6.—Valenc. Mém. du Mus. d’Hist. Nat., tom. vi. p. 23.
t. 8. f. 2.—Gould, Syn. Birds of Australia, Part L fie, 3.

Artamus lineatus, Vieill. 2nde Edit. du Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xvii. p. 297.—Ib. Ency. Méth., Part IT.
p 798.

Artamus albovittatus, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 210.

Leptopteryx albovittata, Wagl. Syst. Av., sp. 5.

Be-w6-wen, Aborigines of the lowland and mountain districts of Western Australia.

Worle, Aborigines of King George’s Sound.

Wood Swallow of the colonists.

 

Tis Wood Swallow has been long known to ornithologists, but unfortunately under so many generic and
specific appellations, that it may be cited as an instance of the manner in which our science has been
burthened with useless names, thereby producing an inextricable confusion, and which in this instance, by a
reference to Latham’s accurate description, and the slightest care on the part of other writers, might have
been avoided.

No other species of the Australian 4rtami with which I am acquainted possesses so wide a range from east
to west as the present ; the whole of the southern portion of the continent, as well as the island of Van
Diemen’s Land, being alike favoured with its presence. The extent of its range northward has not yet
been satisfactorily ascertained, beyond the certainty that it has not hitherto been received in any collection
from the north coast.

It may be regarded as strictly migratory in Van Diemen’s Land, where it arrives in October, the beginning
of the Australian summer, and after rearing at least two broods departs again northwards in November.
On the continent a scattered few remain throughout the year in all the localities favourable to its habits, the
number being regulated by the supply of insect food necessary for their subsistence. I may here observe,
that specimens from Swan River, South Australia and New South Wales present no difference either in size
or colouring, while those from Van Diemen’s Land are invariably larger in all their admeasurements, and are
also of a deeper colour ; I regard them, however, as mere varieties of each other, the greater size of the
latter being doubtless caused by the superabundance of food which this more southern and humid climate
affords.

This Wood Swallow, besides being the commonest species of the genus, must I think be rendered a
general favourite with the Australians, not only from its singular and pleasing actions, but by its often
taking up its abode and incubating near the houses, particularly such as are surrounded by paddocks and
open pasture-lands skirted by large trees. It was in such situations as these in Van Diemen’s Land, at the
commencement of spring, that I first had an opportunity of observing this species; it was then very
numerous on all the cleared estates on the north side of the Derwent, about eight or ten being seen on :
single tree, and half as many crowding one against another on the same dead branch, but never in
such numbers as to deserve the appellation of flocks: each bird appeared to act independently of the other ;
each, as the desire for food prompted it, sallying forth from the branch to capture a passing insect, or to
soar round the tree and return again to the same spot; on alighting it repeatedly throws up and closes one
wing at a time, and spreads the tail obliquely prior to settling. At other times afew were seen perched on
the fence surrounding the paddock, on which they frequently descended, like Starlings, in search of coleoptera
and other insects. It is not, however, in this state of comparative quiescence that this graceful bird is seen
to the greatest advantage, neither is it that kind of existence for which its form is especially adapted ; for
although its structure is more equally suited for terrestrial, arboreal and aérial habits than that of any other
species I have examined, the form of its wing at once points out the air as its peculiar province : hence
it is, that when engaged in pursuit of the insects which the serene and warm weather has enticed from
their lurking-places among the foliage to sport in higher regions, this beautiful species in these aérial
flights displays its greatest beauty, while soaring above, in a variety of easy positions, with white-tipped
tail widely spread. Another very extraordinary and singular habit of the bird is that of clustering like
bees on the dead branch of a tree, as represented in the Plate; this feature was not seen by me, ad by
my assistant Mr. Gilbert, during his residence at Swan River, and I have here given his account in his cp
words. ‘ The greatest peculiarity in the habits of this bird is its manner of suspending itself in perfect

clusters, like a swarm of bees; a few birds suspending themselves on the under side of a dead branch

 

 

 

 

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