Vol. VI. 



ICjOJ 



1 C.\MPBELL, The Family Cevthiidce in Australia. 1 83 



lighter in tone than that of the female — a paradox when 

 compared with other birds — and the lores or cap where grey in 

 the male arc black in the female. Does the male with these 

 little birds carry out the task of incubation ? 



Observations on the Pilot-Bird (Pycnoptilus 



floccosus).* 



By F. E. Howe, Albert Park. 



During the recent months a ''triumvirate," consisting of 

 Messrs. Mattingley, Ross, and myself, spent many hours in the 

 Dandenong Ranges with the object of improving our acquaint- 

 ance with the Pilot-Bird (^Pycnoptilus floccosus). 



Although the bird is plentiful enough, it is so very shy and 

 retiring in its habits that it is more often heard than seen, 

 and one is led to think it is very rare. The eggs, on the 

 other hand, are exceedingly rare, and the nest is seldom found, 

 on account of the class of country the bird inhabits, and the skill 

 displayed in concealing the nest. Why it is called Pilot-Bird I 

 cannot quite make out, nor have I been able to ascertain, 

 although I have made exhaustive inquiry. One observer says 

 that as the pilot fish is always found in the company of a shark, 

 so the Pycnoptilus is always to be found where the Menura 

 (Lyre-Bird) is. Certain it is that wherever I met the first- 

 mentioned bird, the Memcra, though seldom seen, was always to 

 be heard. 



The Pilot-Bird is strictly a ground bird, and in the dense 

 scrubs of secluded gullies that it loves so well finds such shelter 

 that the legs have been greatly developed at the expense of the 

 wings. This is, of course, obvious, as it obtains its food on the 

 ground, and covers a lot of country in search of it, and will only 

 fly when forced to — as, for instance, when crossing a track or 

 open part in the scrub or, if alarmed, and even then it will only 

 fly a short distance, trusting rather to its legs for safety. Its 

 dexterity in getting through the sword and wire-grasses is 

 marvellous, and it goes with such pace that it resembles a small- 

 sized rat more than a bird when in motion. It is a near 

 ally of Sericornis frontalis (White-browed Scrub- Wren), but is 

 considerably larger. When in quest of food it has the same 

 strange habit of " flicking " the tail in a smart up and down 

 motion. It is insectivorous, and is also very partial to worms, 

 which form the staple part of its food (I saw a male eat half a 

 dozen in as many minutes, besides giving his mate a few), and 

 often uses its feet to turn over the larger pieces of bark in search 

 of some such morsel. 



* Supplementary lo Pilot-Bird Notes, Emu, vol. vi., p. 130. 



