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— Tliruslies.^ 

 Another licautiful so]i<;stfn- was the hnff-boUiod shrike thrush 

 (Colluricinclii ritiventris). This bird's beautiful liquid notes re- 

 sounded throujih the scrub clear as a bell, and would be easily 

 mistakeu for that species found around Adelaide 

 (namely. C. harmonica). the harmonious shrike thrush; 

 but on comparin.n- the two birds they will be 

 found to differ in the followinji- particulars :— The 

 whole of the upper surface is pure grey instead of brown : the 

 abdomen and undertail coverts are deep buff, instead of greyish 

 Avliite. This is one of the interesting forms of bird life found 

 in Western Australia, and overlaps on Eyre's Peninsular. 

 Thrushes spend nearly as much time on the ground as they do in 

 trees, and their food consists of insects and their larvae. 

 A Great Ventriloquist. — 

 The crested bell-bird ( preoica cr istata), was observed by me not \ 

 far from Port Lincoln. "tMs is r^TniuTar bird, and is thinly dis- 

 persed over the southern portion of Australia. It is extremely 

 local, and Bowhere very plentiful. From my experience I have 

 found that it frequents the stony ridges or open patches in scrub 

 country. It keeps much to the ground, over which it moves with 

 great rapidity, and when flurried generally flies a short distance 

 and alights on a branch near the ground. The note is indescrib- 

 able, and must be hoard to be understood, for this bird is a per- 

 fect ventriloquist, and often its mournful whistle seems at a great 

 distance, while the bird may be a few yards away concealed in 

 the thick scrub. I quote Mr. Gilbert, who says:— "At first this 

 bird's note commences in so low a tone that it sounds as if at a 

 considerable distance, and then gradually increases in volume 

 until it appears over the head of the wondering hearer, the bird 

 that utters it being all the w4iile not more than a few yards dis- 

 tant, its motionless attitude rendering its descovery very difficult." 

 It has two kinds of song, the most usual of which is a running suc- 

 cession of notes, or two notes repeated very slowly, followed by 

 a repetition three times rather quickly, the last note resembling 

 the sound of a bell, with a ringing tone. Its food consists chiefly 

 of caterpillars and grubs, and it is, therefore, a very useful bird. 

 — Flycatchers.— 

 The pied fantail (Uhipidura-tricolor), is one of the most tame 

 and familar of Australian birds, and is a great favourite on ac- 

 count of its great liking for the habitation of man. for it frequents 

 the houses, gardens, and stockyards, rides upon the cats' and 

 dogs' backs, is a great friend to the stock, the latter showing great 

 appreciation for the services rendered by this little bird in ridding 



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