J 52



Mr. Reginald Phillipps,



“ This bird is found throughout the greater part of Aus¬

tralia and Van Diemen’s Rand, and on account of the delicacy

of its flesh is greatly prized by both natives and colonists.

Being always attracted by certain localities, it may be easily

found by every one who is acquainted with its habits. Unlike

the generality of birds, it cares little for trees or bushes, and

seldom is known to perch upon the branches, preferring the

tops of low stone-covered hills, or rude and rocky gullies, having

a decided predilection for those which are clothed with grass

and scrubby brushwood. The spaces between fallen trees are

also a favourite haunt of this bird.


“The Spotted Ground Thrush is no great flyer, taking to

wing with much reluctance, and seldom voluntarily raising

itself in the air except to fly from one side of a gully to another.

When it does take to flight, especially if alarmed, it rises with a

loud fluttering noise, and proceeds through the air in an irregular

and dipping manner. To compensate, however, for its imperfect

power of wing, its legs are well developed, and render it an

exceedingly fast runner, so that it is able to conceal itself with


great rapidity as soon as it finds cause of alarm.The


flesh of the Ground Dove is remarkably good, and when the bird

is fat it meets with a ready sale, and is generally disposed of to

the game-dealers together with the painted quail, as it arrives

and leaves at the same time with that bird.


“ The voice of the Ground Dove is not very sweet, its cry

or song consisting of a low piping whistle.”


It will be observed that when Wood wrote, less than fifty

years ago I fancy, the Spotted Ground-bird was common and

well known—now it is rare. For over three years I have been

endeavouring to obtain another specimen—but in vain. Mr. P.

Peir of Sydney wrote to Mr. Carrick on the 9th June last as

follows “ Two days after you left Melbonrue I dropped on to

something rare in the soft-bill line, viz. a Spotted Rock-Thrush


. At the present time he is in perfect health and condition,


having had nothing to eat but yolk of egg and mealworms, of

which he will consume at a frightful rate. I hope he will be

alive when you come back as I am sure you could win in the



