INSESSORES. 221 



bird, living miicli among the branches, and feeding upon 

 insects of various kinds, caterpillars, and their larvae. 



The term harmonica applied to this species is very appro- 

 priate ; for although it does not give utterance to any con- 

 tinued song, it frequently pours forth a number of powerful 

 swelling notes, louder but less varied than those of the Song- 

 Thrush of Europe ; and it is somewhat singular that these 

 notes are emitted while in the act of feeding, and while 

 engaged in search of its insect food. 



The site of the nest is very varied : sometimes a hollow in 

 the upright bole of a small tree is chosen ; at others the ledge 

 of a decayed branch, or a rock, or any similar situation. The 

 nest is a cup-shaped and somewhat slight structure, externally 

 composed of the outer and inner bark of trees, and leaves, and 

 lined with fibrous roots ; I have occasionally seen wool inter- 

 mingled with the outer materials. The eggs, which are three 

 in number, and one inch and two lines long by ten lines 

 broad, are of a beautiful pearly white, thinly sprinkled with 

 large blotches of light chestnut-brown and dull bluish grey, 

 the latter colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the 

 shell. In one instance I found a nest of eggs which were 

 brownish white instead of pearly white. 



The sexes are very nearly alike, the only difference being 

 that the female has the bill browner and an indication of a 

 white stripe over the eye. 



Head brownish grey, with an indistinct line of brown down 

 the centre of each feather ; back of the neck, back, and 

 shoulders olive-brown ; wings slaty black, margined with 

 grey ; rump and tail grey, the latter with dark-brown shafts ; 

 under surface light brownish grey, fading into pure white on 

 the vent and under tail-coverts, and greyish white on the 

 throat, each of the throat- and breast-feathers with a fine 

 line of brown down the centre ; irides dark brown j bill 

 blackish brown ; feet dark greenish grey. 



