INSESSORES. 393 



The breeding-season commences in the early part of Sep- 

 tember and continues until January, during which season two 

 or three broods are reared. 



The stomach is very muscular, and the food consists of 

 insects of various kinds and small seeds. 



The sexes are alike in plumage and may be described as 

 follows : — 



All the upper surface dark brown, each feather broadly 

 margined with reddish brown ; wings and two centre tail- 

 feathers brown, margined with whitish brown ; two lateral 

 tail-feathers w^hite, margined on the inner webs with blackish 

 brown and with blackish-brown shafts, the remaining tail- 

 feathers blackish brown ; stripe over the eye light buff ; ear- 

 coverts brown ; under surface dull white, washed with buff on 

 the under surface of the shoulder and on the under tail-coverts ; 

 the feathers of the breast, flanks, and sides of the neck with 

 a streak of dark brown down the centre, these marks being 

 most conspicuous on the sides of the neck and across the 

 upper part of the breast, where they are arranged in the form 

 of a gorget, the points of which proceed upward to the angle 

 of the lower mandible ; irides very dark brown ; bill and feet 

 fleshy brown. 



Freshly moulted individuals differ in having a rich tint of 

 rufous pervading the whole of the upper surface, the breast, 

 and flanks. 



Genus CINCLORAMPHUS, Gould. 



The members of this genus are closely allied to the Indian 

 genus Megalurm, and present even a greater disparity in the 

 size of the sexes ; they are all confined to Austraha, where 

 they frequent the grassy plains and open districts. The song 

 of the males is more animated than that of any other bird in- 

 habiting the country. 



