RUFOUS-BREASTED THICKHEAD 233 
We saw that the latter frequents wooded parts of the 
comparatively dry belt round Geelong in the winter 
time, and goes back into the better-watered forest 
areas of the Otway and Anakie to breed. Now, the 
Rufous Thickhead breeds in just those localities 
where the White-throated spends its winter, but it 
does not arrive until the White-throated birds have 
gone. Where the Rufous Thickhead passes its winter 
is not with certainty known ; but as it arrives here 
in September with several other species which we 
know winter north of the Dividing Range, that is 
on the inland plains, it is reasonable to assume that 
it does the same thing. 
For very many years this has been a regular spring 
and summer resident in the Eastern Park, about 
half a dozen pairs resorting thither to breed. The 
male has a rich and varied call, ending with one note 
repeated loudly three or four times ; it is, in my 
opinion, a much fuller and more musical strain than 
that of the White-throated species. One hears it 
first about the second week in September, immediately 
on the birds' arrival, and nesting starts a week or two 
later. The nest is very similar to the White-throated 
Thickhead's, but is built in a more open position, 
either in a pine tree (in the Park) or in a eucalyptus 
sapling, the birds trusting rather to similarity in 
surroundings than to actual concealment of the nest. 
The eggs are of a light chocolate ground-colour, with 
a ring of dark spots rather nearer the large end. 
I found this species very numerous at the You 
