204 INSEGTIVORO'US BIRDS 



grows, and hence the name of the bird, as it is always 

 associated with the mallee or similar scrub. The country 

 where this tree grows is mostly sandy, and has a small 

 rainfall, often being intersected with sandy ridges, popularly 

 called pine-ridges, from the fact that the Murray pine 

 geneially grows on them. 



"The male and female birds differ very little in markings, 

 and their mottled black-and-grey colour harmonizes wonder- 

 fully with their surroundings. As they are shy and 

 solitary, they are rarely seen, but specimens are sometimes 

 obtained by patient watching near their nesting-mound. 

 They occasionally utter a low, soft note, and their gait, 

 when undisturbed, is a slow walk, although they can run 

 fast if necessary. Their food consists of insects, berries, 

 and the buds of a small shrub. They go to roost in trees 

 when it is almost dark. 



" The nesting-mound of these birds is generally situated 

 close to some pine trees, or with thick scrub near or round 

 it, and rarely without cover being near. When the scrub 

 has been cut down round their old nesting-place they leave 

 it and form another, but they prefer to make up their old 

 mounds if possible, and the same places are often used year 

 after year. When the birds have selected a site, they 

 scrape out a slight hollow in the ground, from 6 to 8 inches 

 deep in the centre and about 2 feet wide. Next they 

 scrape up leaves, bits of bark, twigs, and other vegetation 

 that may be lying about, and put enough on, not only to 

 fill the depression, but to make a small mound of it, about 

 8 inches or more above the level of the surrounding ground. 

 They then form a hollow in the centre of the vegetation 

 about 1 foot wide and 6 inches or more deep, this being 

 the egg-chamber ; after which they scrape sand all round 

 the nest and leave it until rain comes and well wets the 



