396 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA, 



River the individuals are still smaller, and like the C. cruralis 

 are never so black on the breast. 



I possess no information respecting the habits of the Port 

 Philip bird. The following notes are the result of Gilbert's 

 observations of the bird in Western Australia : — 



" The Cindoramphus cantillans is a summer visitor, a 

 remarkably shy and wary species, and a most difficult bird to 

 procure, from its generally perching on a part of a tree whence 

 it can command an uninterrupted view all round, rarely 

 admitting any one to approach it within gun-shot. On being 

 flushed from the ground it immediately takes to a tree, where, 

 with its tail erect, and its head stretched out to the full extent 

 of its neck, it presents a most grotesque appearance. It often 

 ascends perpendicularly to a considerable height in the air, 

 and then floats horizontally without any apparent motion of 

 the wings to the distance of three hundred yards. While 

 flying it utters a most disagreeably harsh and grating note, 

 which is exchanged for an inward, rather plaintive tone when 

 perched among the branches. The nest, which is deposited 

 in a slight depression of the ground, is formed of dried 

 grasses, and is so loosely put together that it is extremely 

 difficult to preserve it entire ; the eggs are four in number, 

 and are similar to, but larger and of a lighter colour than 

 those of the C. rufescensJ" 



All the upper surface sandy brown, the centres of the 

 feathers darker ; primaries and tail greyish brown, slightly 

 margined with reddish brown ; immediately before the eye a 

 triangular spot of brownish black ; throat and chest dull 

 white, the latter with a stripe of brown down each feather ; 

 under surface light brown ; in the centre of the abdomen a 

 patch of dark brown, each feather margined with pale brown ; 

 bill and feet fleshy brown. 



Total length 8 inches ; bill \\ ; wing 4|^ ; tail A\ ; tarsi 1 J. 



