1S4 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRAL/ AN BIRDS. 



the season, together with tlie excitement of shooting ducks, it did not 

 occur to me to wade in and explore the reed beds for Warblers' nests. 

 I have regretted only once — that is, ever since — that I did not do so, 

 because I should have most certainly found nests of some late breeding 

 birds. 



To-day the eggs of this Western Warbler are still among the desiderata 

 of my collection. 



In Western Australia the Long-billed Reed Warbler commences laying, 

 aa Gilbert has told us, in August and September, and is apparently an 

 earUer breeder than its eastern cousin. 



Sub-family — Turdid^ : Thrushes. 



155. — Geocichla lunulata, Latham. — (275) 

 GROUND THRUSH. 



Figure. — Gould; Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv., pi. 7. 



Reference, — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. v., p. 155. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould ; Birds of Australia (1848), also 

 Handbook, vol. i., p. 440 (1865); Ramsay: P. Z. S., p. no 

 (1875); Campbell: Southern Science Record (1882); North: 

 Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 171 (1889). 



Geographical Dixtrihution.. — New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Australia. 



Nest.- — Large, open, beautiful ; outwardly composed of green moss, dried 

 leaves, grass, &c., matted together with earth or sand ; lined inside with a 

 thick ply of grass, sometimes with pieces of rushes and rootlets added. 

 Usually situated on a thick limb or fork of a coastal tea-tree 

 ( Leptospermum) or banksia, in a swamp tea-tree (Melaleuca) by a creek, 

 or in a mossy musk or other tree in the mountains, but always sheltered 

 by thick scrub. Dimensions over all, 8 to 10 inches by 5 or 6 inches in 

 depth ; egg cavity, 2| inches across by 2 inches deep. 



Eygs.- — Clutch, two to three ; true oval in form ; texture of shell fine ; 

 siuiace glossy ; colour, light warmish-gi'een, spotted and blotched, usually 

 all over, with reddish or rufous-brown, intermingled with clovid-like 

 markings of dull-red. Dimensions in inches of proper clutches : 

 A (1) 1-33 X -9, (2) 1-32 x -92, (3) 1-31 x -92 ; B (1) 1-29 x -87, (2) 1-28 x -86. 

 (3) 1-24 X -86. (Plate 9). 



Ob-?ervations. — The true home of this lovable bird is the gi'eat forest 

 region and coastal scrubs of South-east Australia. 



My associations with the Mountain Thrash, or, more strictly speaking. 

 Ground Thrush, have been of the most pleasant and interesting kind ; 

 therefore if I have wandered too much into detail in giving my observations 

 on this bird, please " skip," and put down to excessive enthusiasm on 

 my part. 



