290 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
RUFOUS BRISTLE-BIRD 
Maccoyornis broadbenti broadbenti 
So far as Victoria is concerned the Rufous Bristle- 
bird is confined to the western side of Port Phillip 
Bay, and in that respect is one instance of many which 
prove the Bay to be a real and definite natural boun- 
dary, the effect of which is to enable us to study the 
effects of isolation on several species. 
The Bristle-bird's present eastern limit is a patch 
of scrub about two miles south-west of Torquay. 
From that point it is found in increasing numbers in 
the coast ti-tree and dwarf gums right round to 
Apollo Bay, and probably farther, seeing that a 
specimen has been recorded from Portland. There 
is a Bristle-bird in South Australia which is certainly 
closely related to this species, and may prove to be 
identical with it. 
Near the eastern extremity of its range it hardly 
leaves the sea-coast. In the Bull's Well one finds a 
pair or two about a mile from the sea, and the same 
is the case at Anglesea and Airey's Inlet. Once, 
however, we reach the country of greater rainfall 
and freshwater streams, about five miles east of 
Lorne, the Bristle-birds are found farther inland, and 
from Mount Sabine to the sea on the Forrest — Apollo 
Bay Road their voices are to be heard in all the 
mountain gullies. 
Both in appearance and general habits the Bristle- 
