CINCLOSOMA CASTANEONOTUJM (Gould). 



( 'HESTNUT BACKED GROUND THRUSH. 



r 1 1 1 1 1 S is the representative in the interior of the Cinclosonw Punctatum, from which bird, however, 

 -L it differs in some important particulars. The principal difference is that it inhabits, chiefly, 

 plains studded with small trees and hushes, and open forest country. In some places, however, it is 

 lound in the same rocky and barren situations which are favoured by its congener. 



It is ot a very shy and timid disposition, so that it requires a great deal of energy and 

 patience to procure specimens. 



It is found in small troops of from five to six, generally running with great ease and swiftness 

 from one scrub to another, taking to its wings when passing over any intervening plains. 



On dissection, the stomach, which is very muscular, is found to contain seeds and Coleopterous 



insects. 



Its bleeding time and mode of nidification do not materially differ from those of the 

 Cindosoma Punctatum. 



The crown of the head, ear-coverts, upper part of the back, upper tail-coverts, and two central 

 tail feathers arc brown ; a stripe over the eye and one down the side of the neck, white ; scapularies 

 and lower part of the back, rich chestnut-red ; wing-coverts, blackish-brown, tipped with white ; throat 

 and centre of the breast and lateral tail-feathers, black, the latter tipped with white ; primaries 

 and secondaries, dark brown, margined with lighter brown ; side of the chest, grey ; flank, buff, each 

 leather marked with black, centre of abdomen, white; irides, brownish-buff; bill, black; legs and feet, 

 blackish-brown. 



The female has the whole of the plumage lighter and not so distinctly marked. 



Total length of male, 9 inches ; bill, 1 inch ; wing, \\ inches ; tail, \\ inches ; tarsi, 1 j inch. 



Habitats : Interior of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. 



