604 Mr. T. Carter on the Birds of [Ibis, 



a few leaves on it. The flowers on these buslies are much 

 like Hibiscus blooms, but the plant is of a different order. 

 Upon my approach on horseback, the bird jumped or dropped 

 to the ground, more in the manner of a rat than a bird, and 

 this peculiarity of the species was noticed on other occasions. 

 Tlie movement resembles the sudden dart of some species of 

 Robins to seize an insect or grub on the ground, but was 

 not quite the same. 



These Grass- Wrens appear to be very silent birds, and the 

 three peculiar movements that I have attempted to describe 

 do not appear to have been recorded for any others of the 

 genus, viz. : — 



1. Displaying themselves with outspread wings and tail. 

 It appeared to result from curiosity and anger combined. 



2. Climbing up the branches of bushes. As this action 

 was performed in the midst (not outside) of densely foliaged 

 bushes, it was impossible to be certain whether the beak 

 was used as well as the feet, but it seemed as if it was, the 

 action being the same as when Parrots climb. 



3. Jumping to the ground from bushes, apparently with- 

 out spreading out the wings, which most birds use in such 

 cases. 



The gizzards of almost all the Grass-Wrens examined 

 were found to contain a few very hard yellow objects that 

 looked like seeds from some bush or plant. They were 

 all about one-third of an inch in length, and one-tenth 

 of an inch in diameter at the large end. They tapered 

 to a point at the small end, I failed to collect any seeds 

 resembling them. They appeared to be too hard to be 

 eggs of any description, as it was very difficult to cut one 

 with a pocket-knife. Several of them were being brought 

 home for examination, but they, with many other specimens 

 of great interest, were lost with the rest of my luggage on 

 the way home. 



No breeding notes wore made, and no immature birds 

 were obtained. 



This species was very partial to the dark shade and 

 shelter afforded by the large clumps of spreading wattles, 



