INSESSORES. 219 



parts of the forests, where it appeared to resort to the ground 

 rather than to the branches, and to frequent guUeys and low 

 swampy situations beneath the branches of the &^Qxi Eucalypti 

 and other trees, with which its oHve-brown colouring so 

 closely assimilated, that it was very difficult to perceive it. 



Although I felt assured that the bird was breeding in many 

 parts of the country, and made repeated attempts to discover 

 its nest, I could never succeed in so doing ; the eggs are 

 therefore among the desiderata of my cabinet. 



But little outward difference is observable in the sexes ; 

 the male is rather the largest, and has the head of a sooty 

 greyish brown, while the head of the female is olive-brown. 

 The young resemble the female, and assume the adult 

 colouring at an early age. 



The stomachs of several specimens dissected were very 

 muscular, and contained the remains of coleoptera and hemi- 

 ptera mingled in some instances with small stones and seeds. 



Crown of the head and ear-coverts dark brown ; back, 

 wings, and tail chestnut-olive; throat greyish white, each 

 feather tipped with brown ; chest, abdomen, and under tail- 

 coverts reddish brown ; bill black ; irides reddish brown ; 

 feet mealy reddish brown. 



Genus COLLURICINCLA, Vigors and Horsfield, 



The members of the present genus are more strictly con- 

 fined to Australia than those of the last mentioned. Each of 

 the colonies, from north to south and from east to west, is in- 

 habited by a species peculiarly and restrictedly its own. They 

 have many characters which would appear to ally them to 

 the Pacliycephalcs, which they also somewhat resemble in their 

 nidification. They are neither Shrikes nor Thrushes, but are 

 most nearly allied to the former ; and feed on insects to a very 

 great extent, but occasionally partake of mollusks and berries. 

 Some of them defend themselves vigorously with both bill 

 and claws when attacked. Their voice is a loud whistle. 



