106 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



The generic name has been quite truly applied, Collyrio- 

 cincla meaning Thrush, or possibly a second construction, "a 

 particular kind of bird that has one note distinctly and boldly 

 given." But it has a rich, sweet voice as well, and for that 

 reason it earned the name of harmonica. 



If, while you are in the bush, you hear a rusthng noise 

 among the light branches of the timber you will in all prob- 

 ability be safe to assign the cause to the Grey Shrike-Thrush, 

 as the effect is so different from that caused by small birds 

 in the scrubby creek land. It is heavy-footed and seemingly 

 careless, its size and awkwardness appearing out of place 

 amongst the quiet of the matted vegetation in a humid 



gully. 



I once heard a naturalist say he hunted high and low for 

 small worms and insects in a certain gully, but without 

 success, thanks to the Thrush, who is the self -constituted 

 police bird of these same gullies, keeping in subjection the 

 snails and other vermin that quickly disturb the balance of 

 nature if allowed unchecked sway. 



The watchfulness of the bird applies as well to hundreds of 

 hillsides upon which fruit trees have in recent years been 

 planted. This creek-loving species is, in fact, ubiquitous. 



It has a varied taste, and any creeping thing do^s not come 

 amiss. It tugs away at a cluster of woven leaves till the 

 hidden spider's nest or that of certain caterpillars is dissected, 

 or carefully pries into any suspicious-looking corner that is 

 likely to harbour a good- sized beetle. Among many curious 

 forms I drew from a Thrush's gizzard a young Hzard in good 

 order, and in length 2 inches, which had evidently just been 

 swallowed. 



The usual nest is described below, but on two occasions, 

 on the 25th November, 1894, I discovered two nests, neatly 

 lined with mud, as if smoothed off into a spherical form by 

 the aid of a trowel ; each of these nests contained eggs. 



