OF VICTORIA. 103 



members of the group (Crateropodes) are a rather silent 

 set, but they answer exactly to the structural description-. 



The Spotted Babbling-Thrush is the common species in 

 southern and eastern Victoria, while the Chestnut-backed 

 species is the most numerous in the north-west. A third 

 species, C, cinnainomeum, Gld., is associated in com- 

 paratively small numbers with the latter bird. No one 

 species can be said to be common anywhere. At all times 

 the bird is shy and keeps to scrubby timber. It performs 

 a similar service to mankind that the Ground-Lark (Pipit) 

 does on the adjacent open, and the Plover on the common 

 beyond. All feed upon terrestrial insects, and help to 

 maintain the balance of nature perfectly. To absolutely 

 prohibit bird friends from frequenting the environs of your 

 " lease " would mean to cultivate your insect enemies a 

 thousandfold, and to eventually assign it all to them. 

 Vegetable and mineral poisons solely used in the subjuga- 

 tion of noxious insects prove enormously expensive when 

 the birds' labour charge has been compared. 



This species associates in small flocks or in pairs upon the 

 ground, in the vicinity of gravel beds where present, and 

 when it rises for flight the course is an undulatory one. In 

 April little flocks are seen — some fifteen to twenty birds 

 assembled. It is much more diflicult to secure than a quail. 

 If a species of the latter rises, it does so near you, and the 

 experienced gunner kills the bird ; but the thrush, which 

 flies also quickly, with a burr, rises so far ahead that a shot, 

 fired otherwise than at random, serves only the purpose of 

 frightening other birds and disturbing the general peace. 

 The nest is placed upon the ground, and the complement of 

 eggs is two. In November I have found them, with the 

 assistance of the sitting bird, for it will leave the nest as you 

 approach, feigning a broken wing, as adopted by many other 



