104 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



ground birds, including the European Lapwing. The 

 White-fronted Chat is a well-known Australian example. 



The Mountain-Thrush, Geocichla hmulata, Lath., is a bird 

 of similiar habitat, showing a preference for moist land, 

 such as near creek banks. It is well distributed, and is 

 the most familiar of the three species known on this con- 

 tinent. The nest is a bulky one, placed off the ground, and 

 the eggs are laid as early as July, in or without the company 

 of the Lyre-bird of moister districts, 



Nest. — Placed upon the ground, and mostly in a slight 

 depression. It is cup-shaped and made of grasses. 



Fggs. — Two or three for a sitting ; white, with large 

 brownish marks u\)on them, varying in intensity, with some 

 as if beneath the surface. Length, 1*3 inches; breadth, 0*9 

 inches. 



WHITE -BROWED BABBLER 



(Chatterer, Cat-bird), 

 Poinatorliiiius siiperciliosiis, Vig. and Hors. 



Pu-ma-to-r't' iius su-per-sil-i-ui' siis. 

 Poma, a lid ; rhimis, nostril ; super, over ; cillum, eyelid. 



PoMATORHiNCS suPERCiLiosus, Goukl, "Birds of Australia," fol, 



vol. iv., p]. 22. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Distinct white eyebrow ; lower breast 

 whitish, without any rufous ; forehead and crown brown ; 

 culmen long, and longer than tarsus ; wings rounded (3J inches 

 long). 



It is characteristic of certain species of birds to be gregari- 

 ous. In this disposition there are ways employed that 

 vary greatly from one another, such as those of the Crow, 



