^•^'j^^^^j Jackson, Second Trip to Macp>hersnn Ean^e, Q. 203 



mon of the throe \'(niii,i;- hinls -secured. Tlic (Nilour througliout is 

 a pale rr(Ulish-l)i(i\vn. 



We saw two youiii; birds toj^etlier ; lliey uttered a peculiar 

 rasping or squeatcing note, as described, became very excited, 

 and kept tlieir short tails well cocked up. They hid for nearly 

 an hour in the dense weeds known as Pollia crispata and Elato- 

 stcnuna rdiciilatitm growing in the creek and on the adjoining 

 ])aits. We succeeded in disturbing the birds by throwing stones 

 into the weeds and ferns. They were very active, and, although 

 the inotlier was with them, she kept well hidden ; we frequently 

 heard her call in the weeds and debris. Eventually these two 

 youi\g birds got on a small rotten log lying across the creek, and 

 almost covered with the weeds ; they ran along this rapidly, and 

 then, like " feathered mice," went up the almost perpendicular 

 bank. When up about 4 feet they flew, or rather fluttered, down 

 into the weeds in the creek, and joined the mother, who was still 

 hiding. This fluttering down surprised me much, considering 

 the birds were so young. No doubt our presence and persistent 

 hunting caused them to do so. We at last captured one young 

 one in a hole under the foot of a tree standing on a steep bank, 

 at an altitude of about 3,000 feet. When captured it died in my 

 hand almost immediately. It is a fine specimen, and in colour 

 and size a big contrast to specimen [a). 



[c] (Juvenile male) — total length, 168 ; wing, 63 ; tarsus, 19 ; 

 bill to base of gape, 19 ; tail, 69 ; upper mandible blackish-horn 

 and pale brown horn at tip, lower mandible all yellow ; eyes pale 

 brownish-slate ; gape of mouth very rich yellow ; inside mouth 

 yellow ; legs and feet pale brownish-horn, with yellowish tinge ; 

 claws pale brown ; under feet yellow. The plumage is more 

 advanced than in specimen {b), but not nearly so much developed 

 as in specimen {a). Underneath, on the left side of the breast, 

 the feathers have started to become rufous, and the bird is different 

 in colouring compared with the adult male. It was the curious 

 note of this young bird that attracted my attention, this being 

 the first young one found, (ireat difficulty was experienced in 

 securing it, on the crest of the range, at an altitude of about 

 3,400 feet. 



Early in December a female was making her " ticking " note 

 at an altitude of about 3,200 feet, and, in order to see her, a tree 

 was climbed. We plainly saw her below, some 30 feet away, 

 with two young ones. They were busy feeding and picking from 

 ferns and old rotten logs. They remained only a few seconds in 

 one place. They were active, and their movements remarkably 

 rapid. The mother moved on quickly through the dense under- 

 growth, rendering her little note now and then until she was 

 beyond hearing. While this was going on the male was calling 

 loudly some 100 yards away to the west : they travelled in his 

 direction. 



It seems remarkable that it has taken 55 years to bring the 

 young of the shy and interesting Scrub-Bird to light. 



