Page:Some Interesting Links with John Gould.djvu/1

Some Interesting Links with John Gould

By GREGORY M. MATHEWS, F.R.S.E.

Many years ago there came into my possession, through a daughter of John Gould, some interesting bird plates sent from Australia by Eli Waller, of Brisbane. These were of birds new to science since Gould had finished his great work.

Kendall Broadbent was collecting birds at the time and sending the material to Waller, who was then the best authority in Brisbane. Presumably Waller painted the birds.

Silvester Diggles, in 1866, Part VII., says of Eli Watler, "to whose large and valuable collection I am so much in- debted for most of my figures and to whose scientific and extensive practical knowledge of the birds of Australia, and energy and perseverance as a collector, I am happy to bear testimony."

The first plate is the Blue-faced Lorilet, which is called Cyclopsitta wallerii, and is undoubtedly the first painting of Opopsitta leadbeateri. In Waller's writing is the follow- ing:—"This Parrot was collected by Mr. Broadbent in the scrubs of Rockingham Bay, both in the lower and mountain scrubs. It feeds on the native figs and other fruits in- digenous to the scrubs of the north coast." "They are diffi- cult," says Mr. Broadbent, "to obtain, and their presence is only to be found by the falling of the refuse of the fruit they are feeding on. They utter a weak screech when they enter and also when they leave, but make no noise while feeding."

A covering letter by Broadbent gives us the date:—

Edward Street, Brisbane,

July 11, 1874.

To J. Gould, Esq.

Dear Sir,

The new Parrot Cyclopsitta, which you will receive the drawing of, you will see by the notes accompanying it, that it was collected by me at Rockingham Bay, and should it prove to be new I wish it to be called after my friend, Mr. Waller, of Brisbane, as a mark of my esteem for his kind- ness to me, and who has worked hard for many years collecting the ornithology of Australia.

I remain, dear sir,

Yours respectfully,

KENDALL BROADBENT.

This bird was named by Ramsay on November 5, 1874, or four months after Broadbent had sent his letter to Gould.

The next plate is Collocalia francica terræreginæ. Waller says, "This Swallow was also collected by Mr. Broadbent