OF SOUTH EFN AUSTRALIA. 241 



GRASS-BIRD 



(Little Grass-bird), 



Megaliirus grammeus, Gld. 



Meg-a-lur'vs gra-min'e-us. 

 Megas, great ; oura, tail ; gramineus, pertaining to the grass. 



Sphenceacus gramineus, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. iii., 



pi. 36. 



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



Key to the Species. — General appearance brown; fore-neck and lower 

 throat more or less clearly streaked with dark brown ; secondaries 

 black, edged with buff ; tail feathers graduated. Tail 2.5 inches, 

 longer than wing. Total length, 5.75 inches. 



This little bird, leading the quiet, retired life of a recluse, is 

 a little known form, though well dispersed over the continent. 

 Its reserved habits convey the impression that it exists only 

 in scanty numbers. Unless one goes through the scrub or 

 rank grass, and actually forces them to rise and fly a few yards 

 beyond, the presence of the bird will not become evident by 

 sight. I have waded into creeks and explored for many of 

 their nests, yet I have never seen a bird except under these 

 circumstances. In fact, it was years before I traced correctly 

 the weird call of the little bird. Sportsmen who hunt swamps, 

 and cow lassies who bring in their kine, hear the uncanny 

 monotone of some little animal in the distance, without being 

 able to trace the source of it. To further demonstrate the 

 quiet life of the species, I have examined thousands of birds' 

 eggs in boys' collections, and on one or two occasions only 

 have I met with the eggs of tliis bird. I use the present 

 opportunity to tell the boys it is a barbarous habit to take 

 birds' eggs unless they are collecting for the local museum. 

 Such there should be in every hamlet, in order that one may 



17 



