114 Order Passeriformes, Family Turdidae, Genus Ephthianurci. 



feathers of the back lack the median dark line. Bill, brown; 

 legs and feet, bro*wn. 



Distribution. — All the southern parts of the State, in- 

 cluding Kangaroo Island. It has been recorded as far as 400 

 miles north of Adelaide, and possibly extends still further. 

 It is also found in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and 

 Western Australia. 



Habits. — They frequent open plains and swampy lands — 

 samphire swamps and flats are favourite resorts. In the north 

 they inhabit lightly timbered country and salt bush plains. 

 They seldom perch in trees, but may often be seen on the tops 

 of the samphire bushes or on wire fences. They are sprightly 

 little birds, very pipit-like in their actions, running along the 

 ground, and bobbing the tail up and down at each stop. Most 

 of the food is taken upon the ground, though they occasionally 

 search thistles or low bushes for insects, and now and then 

 capture flying ants upon the wing. "During the breeding 

 season they are found in pairs, but after nesting is over young 

 and old congregate in large flocks up to several hundreds, 

 which move about the country in search of food supplies. 

 They are nomadic rather than migratory, for some individuals 

 are to be found on the Adelaide plains at all times of the year. 



Food. — Insects and their larvae, occasionally small seeds. 



Flight. — Low and jerky; not long continued, but when 

 gathered in flocks they sometimes fly very high, and for long 

 distances. 



Song. — Consists of two or three simple notes. It is 

 uttered chiefly when on the wing. The alarm call t consists 

 of two notes, said to resemble the words "tin-tac." hence its 

 local name. 



Nest. — They are very early breeders. Nests have been 

 discovered early in July, and the young have often left the 

 nest by /the end of the month. The season extends until 

 December, two, and sometimes three, broods being reared 

 in that time. Both sexes sit, and when disturbed from -the 

 nest they flutter along the ground as though legs or wings 

 were broken, or struggle on the back, as if in a fit, in order to 

 entice the enemy from the vicinity. The nest is always built 

 low down, often quite upon the ground in a tuft of couch 

 grass or rushes — more often a few inches to two or three 

 feet up in a samphire, salt bush, or thistle. Other favourite 

 breeding places are prickly acacia and gorse bushes. They 

 are favourite hosts of the narrow-billed bronze cuckoo. The 



