no THE USEFUL BIRDS 



It is much more difficult to secure than a Quail. If the 

 latter rises, it does so near one, and the experienced gunner is 

 enabled to kill the bird ; but the Thrush, which flies also 

 quickly, with a burr, rises so far ahead that a shot fired at 

 random serves only the purpose of frightening other birds 

 and disturbing the general peace. 



The nest is placed upon the ground, and the complement of 

 eggs is two. 



In November I have found them, with the assistance of the 

 sitting bird, who suddenly quitted the nest as I approached, 

 feigning a broken wing — a ruse adopted by many other ground 

 birds, including the European Lapwing, when the nest is in 

 danger. The White-fronted Chat offers also a well-known 

 Australian example of bird prone to this habit. 



The flight of the Babbling-Thrush is an undulatory one. 



The Mountain-Thrush {Geocichla lunulata, Lath.) is a bird 

 of similar habitat, showing a preference for moist land, such 

 as that in the vicinity of creek banks. It is well distributed, 

 and is the most familiar of the three species known on this 

 continent. The nest is a bulky one, placed off the ground, 

 and the eggs are laid as early as July, sometimes in the 

 company of the Lyre-bird of moister districts. 



Nest. — Placed upon the ground, and mostly in a slight 

 depression. It is cup-shaped and made of grasses. 



Eggs.— Two or three for a sitting ; white, with large 



brownish marks upon them, varying in intensity, with some 



as if beneath the surface. Length, L3 inches ; breadth, 

 0.9 inch. 



