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POPULAR HISTORY OP BIRDS. 
In Australia there are some prettily-variegated thrushes 
named Cinclosoma, Unlike our thrush tribe^ these birds 
are not famed for their melody^ though the beauty of their 
markings renders them very attractive objects among the 
stony hills and rocky gullies which they frequent. The flesh 
of one species^ the spotted ground-thrush [C. punctatum), is 
much prized. Mr. Gould tells us that in Hobart Town the 
bird is sold in the market under the name of '^Ground 
Dove/^ an appellation given to it from its habit of running 
and feeding on the ground like pigeons. The nest of this 
species is a careless structure^ formed of leaves and the in- 
ner bark of trees ; it is placed on the ground^ under the 
bield of a stone or tuft of grass. 
Closely allied to the thrushes in many respects^ are a 
curious-looking set of birds called Pitta, named by the 
Trench Breves.^^ They are seemingly devoid of all tail ; 
this appendage however is present^ although much curtailed. 
The birds are long-legged, and live much on the ground, 
running with great facility. Like the thrushes, the sexes 
very closely resemble each other ; but it is curious to find 
that the young, like those of the kingfishers, are plumed 
and coloured exactly like the adult from the time they leave 
the nest. Mr. Gould has noticed this pecuharity in his 
