BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 31 



Nest. — The structure is large and open, composed externally 

 of green moss, grass, tiny sticks, and rootlets, the whole being 

 tightly matted together; the inside lining usually consists of grass 

 only. When moss is unobtainable, mud is emplo3'ed to mat the 

 various materials together with. A sheltered situation among 

 thick scrub is always chosen ; a moist, w^ell-wooded gully is a 

 favourite resort. The nest is either placed in the fork of a dog- 

 wood, musk, or some similar tree, or else against the base of a 

 bough springing from a horizontal limb. The moss used is the 

 kind that keeps perpetually green as long as tliere is any moisture 

 in the atmosphere. The egg cavity is often oval instead of round. 



Eggs. — Clutch two to three usually, four rarel}'; elongated oval 

 in shape ; texture fine ; surface glossy ; colour light warmish green, 

 marked all over with fine spots and diffused cloudy markings of 

 reddish or rufous brown. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch: — (1) 

 39 X 23.5, (2) 35 x 22.5, (3) 37 x 23. 



Breeding Season. — July to October or November. 



Geographical Di^stribution. — Tasmania, King Island, Furneaux 

 and Kent Groups in Bass Strait. 



Observations. — JMoist gullies where there is an abundance of 

 ground food are mostly favoured by this handsomely-marked bird. 

 Owing to the amount of clearing that has been going on in many 

 districts during the past few years, and also to its comparative 

 tameness, it has decreased greatly. Ordinary domestic cats and 

 domestic cats gone wild are its greatest enemies. It seldom flies 

 except when hard pressed, trusting to its legs and similarity of 

 colouring to that of its surroundings to escape from its enemies. 

 Its note is a long-drawn-out whistle, half sweet and half melan- 

 choly, mostly to be heard early in the morning and just at dusk. 

 Like the Whistling Shrike-Thrush, when suddenly disturbed it 

 will often jump on to a log or stump, should one be close b}^ and 

 gaze all round in an inquiring manner before quietly flying a short 

 distance and again settling on the ground. On account of the 

 assiduity with which it searches for " cut-worms " and other cater- 

 pillar pests among the farmer's root crops, it should be rigorously 

 protected by him and given every encouragement. 



FAMILY-TIMELIID^ (12 species). 

 Sub- Family — Timeliinae. 



-p:]mu-wren 



(Stipiturus malachurus , Shaw). 



Male. — Crown of the head light rufous streaked with black; 

 neck and back ash-brown, passing into pale chestnut on the rump ; 

 all the feathers are centrally streaked with black ; primaries and 

 secondaries dark brown, with lighter margins; tail feathers 

 blackish-brown and loosely webbed, outermost feathers shortest; 



