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Official Organ of the JUtstraksian Ornithologists' oEtnion. 



Birds of a feather. 



Vol. III.] ist OCTOBER, 1903. • [Part 2. 



Notes on Some Birds Peculiar to Tasmania. 



By Frank M. Littler, Launceston. 



{Read before the Aust. O.U., Melbourne Congress, 21s/ November, 1902.) 



Part II. 



Large-billed Ground-Thrush {Geocichla jnacrorhyncha).— 

 There is so little difference in outward appearance between this 

 species and the Ground-Thrush {Geocichla lunulatd) found on 

 the mainland that Gould did not at first consider it worth while 

 to treat them as separate and distinct species. After further 

 observation and comparison, it was decided to treat the species 

 as distinct. The chief differences between the two species is that 

 the Tasmanian one is more bulky and has a stouter bill. The 

 plumage of the Large-billed Ground-Thrush is rather pretty, not 

 that the colouring is at all brilliant, but the blending of shades 

 is very harmonious. The whole of the upper surface, wings, 

 and tail are russet-brown, each feather being margined with black. 

 The under surface is brownish-white, deepening into buff on the 

 breast and flanks. Each feather, with the exception of those 

 on the centre of the abdomen and under tail coverts, has a black 

 lunar-shaped mark near the tip. The irides are dark brown, 

 the bill dark horn colour, and the legs and feet olive. The young 

 in first plumage are very pretty little creatures. They are more 

 spotted and have the lunar-shaped marks more distinct than the 

 adult birds. The nest is usually placed on a stump or thick 

 horizontal limb of a tree in dense scrub, not far from the ground. 

 Unlike most birds, this species returns to the same nest year after 

 year, after adding more material, until it attains a great size. The 

 prettiest nest of this species it has been my pleasure to find was 

 in a lovely shady glen. Dogwood, musk, and sassafras trees 

 interlaced overhead, forming a lovely canopy and effectually 

 protecting the delicate ferns. Tree-ferns grew in profusion, 

 many with their trunks 15 feet and more in height, and com- 

 pletely covered with delicate ferns. " Staghorn " and other hardy 

 ferns flourished luxuriantly ; and through the centre of the glen 

 a little brook babbled musically, the whole forming one of the 

 prettiest of scenes. In a fork, where a tree branched into two, 



