THE SPOTTED GROUND THRUSH. 249 



It is plentifully found in most parts of Europe, and favors the people with its vocal efforts 

 throughout a considerable portion of the year. The song of the Thrush is peculiarly rich, 

 mellow, and sustained, and is remarkable for the full purity of its intonation and the variety 

 of its notes. The Thrush begins to sing as soon as incubation commences, and continues its 

 song from the beginning of spring until the middle of autumn. In many cases the bird sings 

 to a very late period of the year, and has been heard in the months of ^November and 

 December. On account of its beautiful voice, it is in great request among bird-fanciers, and 

 is sold in large numbers as a cage songster. 



Another sub-family of the Thrushes is named after the genus which is accepted as its 

 type, and is called by the title of Timalina?. On account of their chattering propensities they 

 are more popularly termed Babblers. Several examples of this group will be given in the 

 following pages, the first of which is the Chestnut-capped Timalia, a bird which derives its 

 name from the peculiar >oloring of the head. 



This species is an inhabitant of Java, and is rather common in that country. It is a 

 sufficiently familiar bird, approaching human habitations without much diffidence, and 

 building in close proximity to the barn or the plantation. It is a pleasing songster, possess- 

 ing a sweet and musical voice, though its song has but little variety, consisting of only five 

 notes. A sixth note is sometimes added, but evidently forms no part of the real song. 

 This melody is repeated at very short intervals, with a peculiarly slow and well-modulated 

 intonation. 



In its habits this bird reminds the observer of the common Thrush, and in its mode of 

 feeding it also bears a great resemblance to that sweet songster. Its food consists chiefly 

 of insects, which it captures principally on the ground, but it will vary its diet with snails, 

 slugs, and other similar creatures, and will also feed upon berries and fruits. The bill is 

 strong and thick, in order to enable the bird to capture and crush its food, and to disinter it 

 from beneath the surface of the earth. Its feet are employed for the same purpose, and are 

 consequently better developed than in the true Thrushes. The general form of the bird is 

 rather thick and short in proportion to its size. 



The color of the Chestnut-capped Timalia is olive-brown on the upper portions of the 

 body, with the exception of the head, which is colored on the crown with deep chestnut. The 

 under parts are of a lighter hue than the back. A white band passes over the eye. The throat 

 and cheeks are pure white, an I the breast is also white, but is marked by a series of jetty 

 black stripes. 



Australia possesses a curious and valued specimen of this group, which is popularly 

 called the Spotted Ground Thrush. 



This bird is found throughout the greater part of Australia and Van Diemen's Land, 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 favorite 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. 



Vol. n.-32 



