482 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp.294. POMATOSTOMUS SUPERCILIOSUS. 



WhITE-EYEBROWED POMATOUHINUS. 



Pomatorhinus super ciliusus, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv, 



p. 330. 

 Pomatostomus superciliosus, Cab. Mus. Hein., Theil i. p. 84. 

 Gnow-un, Aborigines of the mountain districts of Western Australia. 



Pomatorhinus superciliosus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. 

 iv. pi. 22. 



This species ranges over the whole of the southern portion 

 of the continent of Australia, where it must be regarded as a 

 bird peculiar to the interior, rather than as an inhabitant of 

 the districts near the coast. It is common on the Liverpool 

 Plains, and it was particularly noticed by my friend Captain 

 Sturt during his expedition to the Darling. I myself met 

 with it near the bend of the river Murray, and it has also 

 been found in the York district of Western Australia, but I 

 have never heard of its having been seen either in the north 

 or north-western parts of the country. It usually moves about 

 in small troops of from six to ten in number, and is without 

 exception the most restless, noisy, querulous bird I ever ob- 

 served. Its mode of progression among the branches of the 

 trees is no less singular than is its voice different from that of 

 other birds ; it runs up and down the branches of the smaller 

 trees with great rapidity and with the tail very much spread 

 and raised above the level of the back. It usually feeds upon 

 the ground under the Banksias and other low trees, but upon 

 the least intnision flits on to the lowest branch, and by a run- 

 ning or leaping motion quickly ascends to the highest, when it 

 flies off to the next tree, uttering at the same time a jarring, 

 chattering, and discordant jumble of notes, which are some- 

 times preceded by a rapidly repeated, shrill, piping whistle. 



When a troop are engaged in ascending the branches, 

 which they usually do in line, they have a singnlaj" habit of 

 suddenly assembling in a cluster, spreading their tails and 



