The Insectivorous Birds of N.S. W. 9 



30. Lalage lettcomel^na, Vig. and Horsf. " Eufous-vented Lalage." 



Gampephaga leucomela, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Yol. II, pi. 62 (1848). 

 Lalage leucomelcena, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 77 (1889). 



A common species in the brushes of the Clarence, Richmond, and Tweed 

 Rivers, its range in the Colony being confined to the northern coastal 

 districts. Nest similar to that of the next species, L. tricolor, its lesser 

 congener, but, strange to say, smaller, and barely sufficient to hold the 

 young bird when hatched. Only one egg is laid for a sitting, of an apple- 

 green ground colour, thickly freckled, dotted and spotted with reddish- 

 yellowish-brown, in some specimens forming a zone ; length, 1 x 72 inch. 



31. Lalage tricolor, Swainson. "White-shouldered Lalage," "Little 



Magpie Lark." 



Gampephaga humeralis, Grould, Birds of Austr., fol., Yol. n, pi. 63 (1848). 

 Lalage tricolor, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 78 (1889). 



A migratory species, arriving in New South "Wales about the middle of 

 September, and departing again at the end of February. Erom the con- 

 spicuous black and white plumage of the male, it is locally known in some 

 districts as the " Little Magpie Lark." It has a pleasing song, which can be 

 heard some distance away. The nest of this species is a scanty structure 

 formed of grasses loosely interwoven and held together with cobwebs, and is 

 usually placed at the junction of a forked horizontal branch of a Eucalyptus 

 or Syncarpia, the rim and outside of the nest having small pieces of bark 

 attached so as to resemble the branch on which it is placed. The eggs are 

 two or three in number for a sitting, of a light-green ground colour, blotched 

 all over with reddish-brown markings ; length, 0'82 x 0'65 inch. 



32. Pachycephala gttttttralis, Latham. " Yellow-breasted Thick head." 



Pachycephala gutturalis, G-ould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Yol. n, pi. 64 

 (1848) ; North, Nests and Eggs, of Austr. Bds., p. 64 (1889). 



A resident species frequenting the open forest country and lightly- 

 timbered scrubs of eastern New South Wales. The nest is an open cup- 

 shaped structure, composed of thin twigs, fibrous roots, or the wiry thread- 

 like leaves of the Oasuarina, and is usually placed in the upright fork of a 

 tree, within 6 or 7 feet from th.8 ground. The eggs are two or three in 

 number for a sitting, of a yellowish or brownish buff, thickly marked with 

 freckles of dark amber and blackish-brown, particularly towards the thicker 

 end, where, intermingled with underlying spots of violet-grey, they become 

 confluent and form a zone ; length, 0'95 x - 68 inch. Erom its habit of 

 starting to sing immediately after a clap of thunder, the report of a gun, or 

 any other loud and sudden noise, it is known to many residents of New South 

 Wales as the "Thunder-bird." The specimen figured is a male. 



33. Pachycephala rtjfiventris, Latham. " Rufous-breasted Thickhead." 

 Pachycephala pectoralis, Grould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Yol. n, pi. 67 (1848). 

 Pachycephala rujiventris, North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 67, pi. in, 



fig. 11 (1889). 



A resident species, but more frequently met with during the spring and 

 summer months. It builds a scanty nest of rootlets or twigs, and lays three 

 eggs of an olive ground colour, spotted and blotched with dark umber-brown 



