BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 45 



and secondaries dark brown ; ' ' chest crossed by a broad crescent 

 of deep black, the points of which run up the sides of the neck 

 and join at the back of the occiput ' ' (Gould) ; remainder of the 

 under surface white; flanks tinged with grey; bill, legs, and feet 

 black. Dimensions in mm.: Length, 118; bill, 11; wing, 71; 

 tail, 40; tarsus, 17. 



Female. All the upper surface, including head, wings, and 

 tail, greyish-brown ; the white spot on the tip of the inner webs of 

 the lateral tail feathers indistinct ; throat and under surface buffy- 

 white ; crescent on chest narrow and less distinct than in male. 



Young. Kesembles adult female, but a little more dusky in 

 hue. 



Nest. Cup-shaped; the favourite situation appears to be the 

 centre of a tussock or clump of band-grass, when the nest is com- 

 posed of fine grass-stems and lined with horse-hair. 



Eggs. Clutch three usually; roundish oval in shape; texture 

 of shell fine ; surface fairly glossy ; colour white, spotted and 

 freckled, especially on the larger end, with reddish-brown and 

 purplish-brown. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : (1) 18 x 14, (2) 

 17.5 x 13.5, (3) 18 x 13.5. 



Breeding Season. August to October generally, November 

 sometimes. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, King and several other 

 Bass Strait Islands, New South Wales, Victoria, South Queensland, 

 South, Western, and North-Western Australia. 



Observations. By many people this species is known as the 

 "Moony" on account of the crescent-shaped band on its chest. 

 The range and numbers of the White-fronted Chat have increased 

 greatly during the last few years. Not so long ago it was restricted 

 to a few districts, and rare in these; now it is a plentiful species 

 in many. It appears to have been first noted in the southern end 

 of the island, and, after having spread over a wide area, gradually 

 advanced up north by way of the midland districts. As a rule 

 open grassy country is mostly favoured, where it may be seen 

 busily engaged searching for seeds and insects among the grass. 

 On the North-West Coast it may frequently be seen in fairly large 

 flocks on the sea shore about high water mark, eagerly searching 

 among the debris. The muddy edges of lagoons, clay-pans, and 

 the like are resorted to. When rising from the ground with rapid 

 flight, sharp and distinctly metallic notes are uttered, dissimilar 

 to those of any other bird I know of. This bird is distinctly nomadic 

 in its habits, suddenly appearing in a district for a longer or shorter 

 time, and then as suddenly disappearing. 



