262 iVASTS A.XD EGGS 01- AUSTRALIAN BIKVS. 



In my manual, " Nests and Eggs " (1883), I furnished a description 

 of an egg supposed to belong to this Scrub or Ground Robin. 

 I entertain doubts now as to its parentage, more especially as 

 Mr. C. French, jun., has lately received an authenticated specimen 

 from Mr. J. C. Goucho, Bircliip. 



In October, 1898, my son Archie procui-ed a pair of skins of tliis 

 rare Robin in the North-west province of Victoria, where the bird 

 appears partial to the acacia scrubs. Early in November the same 

 season, and in the same district, Mr. Goudie found one of their nests 

 containing a young bird newly hatched, and on the 10th January 

 following was foi-tunate in finding another nest containing a single egg. 



During a pleasant camp-out with two young companions (Messrs. 

 Smart) in the Mallee, September, 1899, I had the good fortune 

 to examine a nest and .secure an egg of this rare Robin. The nest 

 was discovered by Mr. A. Smart, who was attracted to the spot by the 

 antics (hopping about with quivering wings half-extended) of one of 

 the parent birds. The rim of the nest was flush with the surface of 

 the ground, strewn with dead leaves, sticks, &c., and was situated in 

 the centre of a clump of Mallee saplings that had grown up evidently 

 after a fanner's " Mallee roller " had cleared the original scrub. The 

 egg cavity, which was three inches across by two inches deep, and lined 

 with fine pieces of bark and grass, was protected by dry dead sticks 

 like miniature logs (two inches in diameter and three or four inches 

 long), fixed round about. Tlie nest, although in Mallee, was near a 

 strip of acacia scnib, only about a mile from the township of Nhill. 



It was thought that this species extended to West Australia, but 

 it is apparently represented there by a variety which Dr. Sharpe has 

 caUed Drijmfufdes iiallidus. 



213. — Drymacedes PALLiDus, Sliarpe. 

 PALE SCRUB ROBIN. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii., p. 344. 



Geiiyra phical Distribution. — West Australia. 



Nest and Eggs. — Undescribed. 



Observations. — Dr. Sharpe remarks that this Scrub Robin apparently 

 represents the common species in Western ( ? North-west) Australia. 



214. — Drymacedes buperciliaeis, Gould. — (174) 

 EASTERN SCRUB ROBIN. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., supp,, pi. 16. 

 Reference. — Cat Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii., p. 344. 



Previous Description of Eggs. — Gould; Birds of Australia, Handbook, 

 vol. i., p. 291 (1865). 



Geiiyraphiciil Distribution. — Northern Tenitoiy and North Queens- 

 land. 



