INSESSORES. 189 



the latter like the Pied Wagtail of our own island. Gilbert 

 states that in Western Australia he observed it congre- 

 gated in large families on the banks and muddy flats of 

 the lakes around Perth, while in the interior he only met 

 with it in pairs, or at most in small groups of not more than 

 four or five together; he further observes, that at Port 

 Essington, on the north coast, it would seem to be only an 

 occasional visitant, for on his arrival there in July it was 

 tolerably abundant round the lakes and swamps, but from 

 the setting in of the rainy season in November to his leaving 

 that part of the country in the following March not an 

 individual was to be seen ; it is evident therefore that the 

 bird removes from one locality to another according to the 

 season and the more or less abundance of its peculiar food. 

 I believe it feeds solely upon insects and their larvae, parti- 

 cularly grasshoppers and coleoptera. 



The flight of the Pied Grallina is very peculiar — unlike 

 that of any other Australian bird that came under my notice, 

 and is performed in a straight line with a heavy flapping- 

 motion of the wings. 



Its natural note is a peculiarly shrill whining whistle often 

 repeated. It breeds in October and November. 



The nest is from five to six inches in breadth and three in 

 depth, and is formed of soft mud, which, soon becoming hard 

 and solid upon exposure to the atmosphere, has precisely the 

 appearance of a massive clay-coloured earthenware vessel ; and 

 as if to attract notice, this singular structure is generally placed 

 on some bare horizontal branch, often on the one most exposed 

 to view, sometimes overhanging water, and at others in the 

 open forest. The colour of the nest varies with that of the 

 material of which it is formed ; sometimes the clay or mud 

 is sufficiently tenacious to be used without any other mate- 

 rial ; in those situations where no mud or clay is to be ob- 

 tained, it is constructed of black or brown mould ; but the 

 bird, appearing to be aware that this substance will not hold 



