82 LITTLER, Notes on Some Birds P rati Kir to Tasmania. [ is t "Set. 



was situated a good-sized nest of the Ground-Thrush, containing 

 a fully-fledged, prettily-spotted young one, with big brown eyes. 

 The nest (of considerable size) was covered on the outside with 

 long, fine green moss and lichens. The moss on the tree-trunk 

 had spread on to the nest, so that it (the nest) appeared to be 

 a protuberance on the trunk. Fine roots and grass formed the 

 bulk of the structure, and the inside lining was the hair-like 

 substance from the bases of tree-ferns. The parent birds were 

 keeping watch to see that nothing happened to their " sole remain- 

 ing joy." It was a lovely picture — the whole having as a 

 background the gracefully waving fern fronds. 



Sometimes two and occasionally three eggs are laid by this 

 species. In shape they are a somewhat elongated oval ; the 

 surface is glossy, the ground colour light, warmish green, spotted 

 and blotched more or less heavily with reddish or rufous-brown 

 markings. The dimensions are about \\ in. by just short of 

 i in. This species is fairly well distributed through the island. 

 In no district is it very common. 



As may be expected, insects and seeds constitute the diet of the 

 Large-billed Ground-Thrush. Insects are almost entirely pro- 

 cured from out of the ground and from among the fallen leaves and 

 twigs. Many times I have, while seated at the edge of a clearing 

 on a summer's evening at dusk, watched this bird, with its mate, 

 come forth in search of its own and young's evening meal. 

 Cleared patches cultivated right up to the edge of the scrub 

 always afford a happy hunting-ground. It is most entertaining 

 to watch the bird dart along the.rows of vegetables, stop suddenly, 

 and with swift movement snatch up a succulent grub, then more 

 briskly hurry on. This Thrush seldom employs its wings, which 

 are not really strong, but trusts rather to its feet. The rapidity 

 with which it can get from place to place is really astonishing. 

 Being much of the colour of the soil, it is difficult in the gathering 

 gloom to follow the movements of one with accuracy. The note 

 is a very pretty low whistle, to be heard issuing from the scrub 

 early in the morning while the grass and leaves are yet wet with 

 dew, also at dusk. 



Lesser White-backed Magpie (Gymnorhina hyperleuca). — In 

 Tasmania this bird is simply known as the " Magpie." In some 

 districts it is the best known of birds, after the imported Sparrow. 

 I am not fully aware of the range of this species in Tasmania, 

 but know there are several districts where it is a complete stranger. 

 On the West Coast, I believe, some were introduced. On the 

 mainland its nearest relation is the White-backed Magpie {Gym- 

 norhina leuconotd). There is some slight difference in the 

 colouring of the sexes. In the male the whole of the under 

 surface, head, and cheeks are a beautiful glossy black ; the rest 

 of the plumage is white ; bill horn colour, legs and feet black. 

 What a really handsome bird the male Magpie is in nesting season ! 

 How carefully groomed he is ! Have you ever watched him, 

 perched on a rail with beak uplifted and chest swelled to its 



