OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. Ill 



WHITE-BROWED BABBLER 



(Chatterer, Cat-bird), 



Pomatorliiniis siiperciliosus, Vig. and Hors. 



Po-ma-to-r~i nus su-per-sil-i-o sus. 

 Poma, a lid; rhinus, nostril; siiper, over; cilium, eyelid. 



PoMATORraNUS SUPERCILIOSFS. Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. 



iv., pi. 22. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 1, 2, 3, 4. 6, 7, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Distinct white eyebrow ; lower breast whitish, 

 without any rufous ; forehead and crown brown ; culmen long, and 

 longer than tarsus ; wings rounded (3i inches long). 



It is characteristic of certain species of birds to be gregarious. 

 In this disposition there are ways employed that vary greatly 

 from one another, such as those of the Crow, Martin, and 

 Quail. 



The manner of life of the Babblers differs from most birds, 

 yet agrees with that of the Grey Jumper (Struthidea) or 

 Chough (Corcorax). All are noisy. Each associates in a 

 number, from 6 to 10. and the three genera, very dissimilar 

 in form, are ground -loving birds, even though they are 

 correctly termed " Passeres " or " Perchers " because of 

 their structure. 



The power of flight in the Babblers is very limited, its 

 greatest use being to convey the birds from the top of one 

 sapling to the bottom of another. 



The company talks a great deal, hops over the ground 

 energetically, and when disturbed jumps from bough to bough 

 until each has got well up the young tree. They never seem 

 to rest a minute. With the wing and tail well spread, and 

 carried much above the plane of the back, a group presents a 

 strange sight, and one quite peculiar to the genus. 



When disturbed the notes of the birds become very much 



