10 The Insectivorous Birds of N.S.W. 



or sepia markings ; length, 0"87 x ; 68 inch. The breeding season in New 

 South Wales commences early in October, and continues until the end of 

 January. Also known as the Thunder-bird. 



34. Pachycephala olivacea, Vig. and Horsf. " Olivaceous Thickhead." 



Pachycephala olivacea, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. n, pi. 73 (1848) ; 

 North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 68, pi. vin, fig. 11 (1889). 



A comparatively rare species in New South "Wales, frequenting the under- 

 growth of our mountain ranges, and more particularly those of the New 

 England district. Eggs buffy -white, spotted and dotted on the thicker end 

 with reddish and blackish-brown markings and underlying spots of dark 

 lilac ; length, 1*08 x 078 inch. 



35. Pachycephala gilberti, Gould. " Gilbert's Thickhead." 



Pachycephala gilberti, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. n, pi. 71 (1848) ; 

 North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 67, pi. viii, fig. 10 (1889). 

 A species seldom met with in New South Wales ; inhabiting the central 

 and western districts of the Colony. Eggs, three in number for a sitting, of 

 a yellowish-buff ground colour, spotted with blackish- brown and underlying 

 spots of bluish-grey; length, 093 x 0"72 inch. 



36. CoLLYBiociNCLA harmonica, Latham. " Harmonious Thrush," " Grey 



Thrush." 

 Oolluricincla harmonica, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. II, pi. 74 (1848). 

 Oollyriocincla harmonica, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 80, 

 pi. Tin, figs. 2, 3, and 4 (1889). 

 A familiar and well-known resident species, distributed over the greater 

 portion of New South Wales. It frequents scrubs, partially-cleared lands 

 and open forest country, our mountain ranges, and the timbered portions of 

 the sides and banks of inland rivers and water-courses, but is never met with 

 in the clumps or belts of trees growing out on the plains. The nest, which 

 is formed of strips of bark and lined with fibrous roots, is usually placed in 

 the hollow top of a stump, the fork of a tree, or on a narrow ledge of rock. 

 The eggs are three in number for a sitting, rarely four, and are subject to 

 considerable variation ; the most usual variety found are pearly-white with 

 spots and blotches of brownish-black, and underlying markings of deep slaty- 

 grey ; length, 1*2 x 0"9 inch. The breeding season commences in August, and 

 continues until the end of December. While searching for insects, which 

 constitute its food, the Harmonious Thrush progresses over the limbs and 

 branches of the trees in a series of short hops. 



37. Collyriocincla rueigaster, Gould. " Rufous-breasted Thrush." 

 Oolluricincla rufogaster, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1815, p. 80. 

 Collyriocincla rufigaster, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 83 



(1889). 



In New South Wales this species is found only in the scrubs and brushes 

 of the northern coastal districts. It breeds during October and the three 

 following months, constructing a deep cup-shaped nest of leaves and the 

 pliant-stems of climbing plants, neatly lined inside with wiry rootlets, and is 

 usually built in the fork of a vine or in a tangled mass of creepers. The 

 eggs are two or three in number for a sitting, and resemble those of the 

 preceding species, C. harmonica, but are much smaller ; length, T05 x 0*73 

 inch. 



