138 NATURAL HISTOEY SKETCHES, 



The common Gray Thrush is a dull-looking bird, of a 

 uniform ash-gray colour, and in size and habits much 

 resembling the blackbird at home. It was shy, kept 

 as much out of sight as possible, and was generally 

 seen feeding on the ground. It appeared to be the com- 

 monest of the three, and remained with us throughout 

 the winter. 



The Mountain Thrush, of Australia is identical with 

 " White's thrush " of Britain; and this thrush must have 

 as wide a geographical range as any bird in the world, 

 for specimens have been killed as far north as Sweden. 

 It was by no means rare with us in the breeding season, 

 being partially scattered in pairs over the tea-tree and 

 other thick scrub. It is one of the shiest birds I know, 

 and not often seen, for they frequent the thickest scrub, 

 are almost always running on the ground, and rarely 

 rise on the wing. I never heard it utter a single note. 

 "We saw them very rarely, and late in the season. I have 

 killed them in the beginning of April, and taken their 

 nest the first week in August, and I am not certain that 

 some of them did not stop in our thick scrub throughout 

 the year. The colour is uniform rich brown, the breast 

 and belly light, each feather tipped or spotted with 

 black in the shape of a crescent. It is about the size of 

 the redwing at home. The nest and eggs very much 

 resemble those of the British blackbird. The nest is 

 very large, lined with coarse grass and fibres, placed at 

 different heights in the tea-tree scrub, or on the large 

 limb of an old honeysuckle. The eggs are three in num- 



