COLLURICINCLA HARMONICA. 



(Harmonious Shrike Thrush.) 



Head, brownish grej, witli an indisitnct line of brown down the centre of each feather ; back and shoulders, dark grey, with a tinge of olive ; 

 wings, slaty black margined with grey ; rump and tail, grey — the shafts of the latter, dark brown ; under surface, light grey, blending into 

 white on the vent and under tail coverts ; throat, whitish ; irides, dark brown ; bill, blackish brown ; feet, dark greenish grey. The sexes 

 are nearly alike. 



Length, 9^ inches ; wing, 4| ; tail 4 ; bill, 1 ; tarsus, li. 



This plentiful species is found in all the eastern portions of Australia, and round the southern coast to South Australia, 

 frequenting all descriptions of country whether of the coast or the interior, being equally at home among the mangrove swamps bordering the 

 rivers, the thickly timbered forest, or woodland. Its food consists of insects, and its habits are active and interesting. It prospers well in an 

 aviary, and speedily becomes familiar. It has a powerful voice, and its notes, though not so much varied as those of the European Thrush, are 

 very melodious, and generally uttered while in pursuit of food. It builds in a variety of situations, and often in the branch of a tree at no 

 great height from the ground. The nest is a slightly made and cup-shaped structure, formed externally of strips of bark, leaves, &c., and 

 lined with fibrous roots or wool. Eggs, three or four, pearly bluish white, blotched with chestnut and dull bluish grey ; 1 inch 2 lines long, 

 by 10 lines broad. 



COLLURICINGLA RUEIGASTEE. 



(Busty Breasted Shrike Thrush.) 



All the head, upper surface, and tail, dark olive brown; an obscure band of buff across the rump ; inner webs of primaries and secondaries, 

 blackish brown — lighter at the edges ; chin, whitish; chest, abdomen, and under tail coverts, rufous buff; feathers of chest obscurely streaked 

 with greyish brown ; irides, hazel ; feet, fleshy brown ; bill, dark brown on the upper, and fleshy brown on the lower, mandible. 



Length, 7^ inches ; wing, 4 ; tail, 3^ ; bill, 1 ; tarsus, li. 



It can scarcely be doubted that the present species and the one named C. Parvula are merely varieties of one and the same 

 bird, and the suspicion expressed by INIr. Gould on this point is quite sufficient to induce me to adopt that supposition, and the more 

 especially as the name " Parvula " is required for a still smaller species recently discovered at Cape York. This plainly colored bird is at 

 times pretty plentiful in the haunts it is in the habit of frequenting. The brushes of the Clarence, Eichmond, Brisbane, and other rivers of 

 the east coast, to Port Essington in the north, may be mentioned as situations where this species has been obtained. Its voice is loud and 

 musical, and it is usually to be seen on the limbs and branches of trees searching for insects, and at all times in active motion. The cup 

 shaped nest is rather ingeniously hidden in a tuft of leaves partly interwoven into the rather loose outer substance of the nest by means of 

 fine grasses and twigs, of which also the main body is composed. Horse hair or wool is also appropriated when at hand. Eggs, three, white 

 speckled with rather large reddish brown spots, which are sometimes more numerous, and form a zone at the broad end. Size, a little smaller 

 than those of the former species, being about 1 inch long by 9 lines broad. The breeding season is November. 



COLLURICINCLA PAEVULA. 



(Little Shrihe Thrush) 



Uppee surface, wings, and tail, brownish olive; under surface, dull buff"; throat, whitish; secondaries and tertiaries, brown. 



Length, 6i inches ; wing, 3f ; tail, 3i ; tarsus, | ; biU, f . 



The above description, taken from the only specimen I have ever seen of this, the smallest species of the genus, applies to a 

 specimen which was shot at Cape York, and I regret to say was destroyed with other rare and valuable specimens on board the ill fated ship 

 " Fiery Star," on her passage to England, April 19, 1865. I did not figure it on account of its similarity to C. Eufigaster in everything but 

 size. 



