30 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



or thereabout. Odd individuals are sometimes to be noted both 

 earlier arid later than the dates above indicated. 



In the reeds along the banks of the North Esk and the Tamar 

 Eivers this species may be considered common during the breed- 

 ing season. On account of its shyness and its habit of keeping 

 close among the high reeds, it is seldom seen unless one lays 

 oneself out for that purpose. In the early morning, and also 

 towards dusk, especially when the female is incubating, the sweet 

 notes of the male may be heard floating up in the still air. Not 

 only does it pour forth its tuneful notes during the day, but 

 oftentimes throughout the summer nights. 



Its food consists of insects and mollusca gathered from the 

 reeds and from off the mud laid bare by the receding tide. 



From observations and information received, I find that this 

 species is very irregularly distributed, there being a number of 

 localities seemingly suited for it in which it is never seen. 



Sub- Family Turdinae. 

 *LAKGE-BILLED GKOUND-THKUSH 



(Geocichla macrorhyncha, Gould). 



Male. Upper surface olive-brown; the crown of the head has 

 a slight tinge of chestnut ; each feather has a crescent-shaped black 

 mark at the tip, the broadest markings being in the centre of the 

 back ; upper wing coverts dark brown, margined with olive-brown 

 and tipped with tawny-white; primaries and secondaries brown, 

 margined externally with a warm shade of olive-brown; tail 

 feathers olive-brown, the outermost feather on either side nar- 

 rowly tipped and margined for two-thirds of an inch on the inner 

 web with white ; the next feather on either side has only a tiny tip 

 of white ; sides of the neck white, tinged with pale chestnut and 

 tipped with black; chin and throat white, the latter margined 

 with pale chestnut, in addition to which some of the feathers are 

 tipped with black; chest and sides likewise washed with pale 

 chestnut ; the feathers are somewhat broadly tipped with black, 

 especially on the sides ; centre of the abdomen white ; under tail 

 coverts white, a few of the longer feathers narrowly tipped with 

 brownish-black; bill blackish-brown; legs and feet pale brown. 

 Dimensions in mm. : Length, 305; bill, 26; wing, 144; tail, 124; 

 tarsus, 28. 



Female. Usually differs from the male in that the markings 

 on the under surface are heavier and darker. Dimensions in mm. : 

 Length, 285; bill, 27; wing, 132; tail, 110; tarsus, 30.5. 



Young. Duller in colour, with the black markings smaller than 

 in the adult stage. 



Mr. A. J. North states that after an examination of a large 

 series of skins of the mainland G. lumdata and this species, he is 

 convinced they are one and the same species. 



