New Species Named by Gould from the Tip of Cape York 1848 to 1869 - Part II

Here is Part 2 of Gould's New Species at Cape York.

Fawn breasted Bowerbird:

A bower was sent to London to be displayed in the British Museum. Named by Gould in 1850. Local indigenous name recorded at the time Tewinya. A detailed description of the bird’s behaviour near the bower was recorded which alluded to how difficult bowers are to locate and how secretive the bird can be.

Fawn-breasted Bowerbird at the bower

Yellow-breasted Boatbill:

Named by Gould in 1851 based on a single specimen which appears to be a male. The plate below shows a reproduction of the original depiction of Gould’s Yellow-breasted Boatbill

The Yellow-breasted Boatbill was “…observed it on the skirts of …dense brushes…making short flights…snapping at passing flies…returning to the same tree…no other samples were seen”  

 

Lovely Fairy-wren:

Collected in 1849 and named by Gould in 1852. He erroneously named the female and the male as separate species. This took some years to be clarified. Interestingly, James Cockerell who shot the “two species” which, he noted to be always in each other’s company, claimed them to be the same species and Gould refers to this fact in his supplement but refutes it.

White-eared Monarch: Gould received specimens from the Tip of Cape York and Dunk Island so assumed the species was present at all points between. There are 2 records on eBird in the last 7 years for the Tip of Cape York. A single specimen was collected by McLennan in 1914. The authors have not had the good fortune to see this bird at this location, nor did other recent guides. It was named by Gould as a new species in 1851.

Yellow-spotted Honeyeater:

Named by Gould in 1867 the specimen having been sent by John Jardine the original superintendent of Somerset. “…it belongs to a section of the genus of which three or four species are known…largest is Lewin’s Honeyeater…the smallest is Graceful Honeyeater…” (Gould 1869) Gould here perhaps unknowingly foreshadowing the issues separating these species for the next century and a half.

White-streaked Honeyeater:

Named in 1869 initially after the collector James Cockerell. Cockerell was the first native-born non-Indigenous Australian to collect for Gould, previously all had been British. This is the only true endemic Cape York species, all other endemics are found south of Cape York or in New Guinea.

Graceful Honeyeater:

Named by Gould in 1866 for the gracilis subspecies from Cape York. The Wet Tropics imitrix subspecies was named by Mathews in 1912. Following Nielsen’s landmark paper, this split is now accepted by the IOC as 2 separate species i.e., Cryptic Honeyeater now replacing ssp. imitrix. Graceful Honeyeater is now a Cape York species.

Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo:

A specimen was sent to Gould from Cape York by John Jardine of Somerset and named by Gould in 1867.

More interesting and entertaining historic birding information from Cape York and the Gulf coming soon!

New Species Named by Gould from the Tip of Cape York 1848 to 1869 - Part I

This information was researched and written up by Rob Reed. The text has been edited by Doug Herrington who also supplied the photos. Rob Reed has had the opportunity of living for 7 years in the area in all seasons and has developed familiarity with the local birds and their habitats and was readily conscripted to assist with guiding for Birdwatching Tropical Australia. Doug Herrington, owner guide for Birdwatching Tropical Australia has conducted many tours and private trips to the region alone and together with Rob Reed and has extensive experience with the species to be found here. 

John Gould

 Ten birds were obtained and named for the first time as novelties (new species known to science) and are still attributable to Gould.

Northern Scrub-Robin (Drymodes Superciliaris):

Attained in 1849 by MacGillivray and named to Gould in 1850. MacGillivray writes “…after watching near the nest for some time, one of the owners appeared, and was procured…it (the second bird) approached me within three or four yards, hopping with sudden jerks…it uttered no cry…” 

Our experience with sighting of this birds has similarities – it can be very difficult to find as we find the calls to be quite ventriloqual in nature but is quite confiding if you keep totally still. The Aboriginal name when procured in 1849 was Trokaroo. 

Northern Scrub-Robin

Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera Sylvia):

Named by Gould in 1850.  The Gudang name was Quatawur. The Gudang people of the area were also able to enlighten MacGillivray as to the nest arrangements “…3 eggs in a rainforest termite mound…” MacGillivray also suspected this bird was present on the south coast of New Guinea as he had seen a head on a necklace of a local tribesman there which had close resemblance. “…plentiful…frequents the dense bushes…first made aware of its presence by the glancing of bright colours as it darted out with a rapid arrow-like flight…disappeared in an instant…its cry…uttered when perched on a bare transverse branch…its look-out station...is a shy suspicious bird, and one well-calculated to try the patience…”. We, and others who have stalked this bird, believe this to be a very accurate description and feel his frustration.

Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher

John Jardine, superintendent at Somerset (Injinoo name Pulu) published an account of this bird which, despite his highly intransigent relationship with the local indigenous peoples, shows how thoroughly reliant collectors and observers were on these peoples for accurate information. “My collection comprises more than one hundred species of land-birds…” and “To my constant enquiries to the blacks for this bird I was always told by them that when the wind and rain came from the north-east the birds would come, and their prediction was verified to the letter. They also say the birds come from Dowdai (New Guinea).”

Part II will be published soon!