18 DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS. 



HARMONIOUS SHRIKE THRUSH. 



(CoUuricincla harmonica)— ^^^'of^Ws Hand Book. 



(CoUyriocichla harmonica) — Mathews' Hand List. 



Size. — The thrush is about the size of the grass parrakeet, being between Sin. and 

 9in. long 



Bill. — The beak is nearly black. 



Feet and Legs. — Both feet and legs are dark, almost black 



Plumage. — The forehead, crown, and back of the head are brownish grey, owing 

 to a brown streak down the centre of each grey feather. Around each 

 eye is a light ring. The back of the neck and the back are dark brown. 

 The rump is grey, and the tail feathers of a darker grey. The feathers 

 in the wings are dark, with lighter grey edges. The white on the throat 

 merges into grey over the chest, each feather having a faint brown streak 

 down the centre. The abdomen is nearly white. 



Habitat. — This sweet-voiced bird is well distributed over the State, both in the 

 scrub land and open country. 



Food. — Its food is chiefly insectivorous, and often consists of caterpillars. 



Nest. — The nest is cup shaped, and built of bark and line twigs. Sometimes the 

 nest is built in a prong of a bough, but is often placed in the hollow at 

 the end of a broken limb. 



Eggs. — The number varies from three to four. They are pearly white to salmon 

 pink in color, and ornamented with faint light-brown spots and blotches 

 of bluish grey. The egg measures about IJin. x fin. 



