440 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



also among its favourite places of resort. In Tasmania, the 

 slopes of Mount Wellington, and other similar bold elevations 

 are situations in which it may always be seen if closely looked 

 for. During the summer it ascends high up the mountain 

 sides, but in winter it descends to the lower districts, the 

 outskirts of the forests, and occasionally visits the gardens of 

 the settlers. In New South Wales, the Cedar Brushes of the 

 Liverpool range and all similar situations are frequented by 

 it ; I also observed it on the islands at the mouth of the 

 Hunter ; and I possess specimens from the north shore near 

 Sydney and the banks of the Clarence. Its chief food is 

 helices and other mollusks, to which insects of many kinds 

 are added; and it is most likely that fruits and berries occa- 

 sionally form a part of its diet. It is a solitary species, more 

 than two being rarely observed together, and frequently a 

 single individual only is to be seen, noiselessly hopping over 

 the rugged ground in search of food. Its powers of flight are 

 seldom exercised, and so far as I am aware it has no song. 

 Considerable variation exists in the size and colouring of indi- 

 viduals from different districts. The Tasmanian specimens 

 are larger, and have the bill more robust, than those from 

 New South Wales ; considerable difference also exists in the 

 lunations at the tip of the feathers, some being much darker 

 and more distinctly defined than others. The young assume 

 the plumage of the adults from the nest, but have the luna- 

 tions paler and the centre of the feathers of the back bright 

 tawny instead of olive-brown. 



The Mountain-Thrush breeds in many of the localities 

 above-mentioned during the months of August, September, 

 and October, the nest being placed on the low branches of 

 the trees, often within reach of the hand; those I saw w^re 

 outwardly formed of green moss and lined with fine crooked 

 black fibrous roots, and were about seven inches in diameter 

 by three inches in depth ; the eggs are of a buffy white or 

 stone-colour, minutely freckled all over with reddish brown, 



