474 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



this be not the case, then the nest of Struthidea is precisely- 

 similar, being like a great basin of mud, and placed in the 

 same kind of situation, on a horizontal branch. 



" Oct. 2i. — In the evening I again met with the Struthidea, 

 which I disturbed from a nest like the one above described, 

 and from the new appearance of the structure I am inclined 

 to believe it to be constructed by the bird itself, although it 

 does so closely resemble that of Grallina, especially as in this 

 case the nest was placed in a situation far from water, and 

 there were no GrallincB in the neighbourhood. This nest, 

 like the last, had a very thick lining of fine grass, and ap- 

 peared as if just finished for the reception of the eggs." 



There is no doubt that the nests above described were 

 those of Struthidea ; those of Corcorace and Grallina are pre- 

 cisely similar ; and we now know that all three birds build 

 the same kind of mud nests. 



The food, as ascertained by dissection, is insects ; the 

 stomachs of those examined were tolerably hard and muscular, 

 and contained the remains of coleoptera. 



The sexes assimilate so closely in size and in the colouring 

 of their plumage, that they are to be distinguished only by 

 dissection. 



Head, neck, back, and under surface grey, each feather 

 tipped with lighter grey ; wings brown ; tail black, the 

 middle feathers glossed with deep rich metallic green ; irides 

 pearly white ; bill and legs black. 



Total length 11 J inches j bill J ; wing 5 J ; tail 6 ; tarsi 1^. 



