30 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
22. Eastern Whip-bird Psophodes olivaceus Latham 
Psoph-o-des — Gk, psophodes, noisy: ol-iv-a-ce-us — L., olivaceus, olive- 
coloured. 
Distribution. — Eastern Australia, from northern Queensland to Vic- 
toria. 
Notes. — Also called Coachwhip-bird. Usually in pairs, inhabiting the 
brushes and scrubs, and also the coastal thickets; a shy bird, seeking the 
seclusion of the undergrowth, spending a considerable time on the 
ground, turning over fallen leaves and debris for insects. Its name is de- 
rived from its extraordinary call-notes — two soft drawn-out whistles end- 
ing on a loud “whipcrack” note, followed instantly by two notes — “Chew, 
chew,” which are generally uttered by the female, or occasionally by the 
male. Food: insects of various kinds. 
Nest. — A loosely built, cup-shaped structure, composed of rootlets, 
and lined with finer materials. Usually built in a low bush or among the 
undergrowth. 
Eggs. — Two, pale blue or bluish-white, spotted with irregular mark- 
ings of black and lavender. Breeding-season: August to January. 
23. Western Whip-bird Psophodes nigrogularis Gould 
ni-gro-gu-la-ris — L., niger, black; L., gularis, throated. 
Distribution. — South-western Australia and Mallee of Victoria. 
Notes. — Also called Black-throated Coachwhip-bird and Rain-bird. It 
once inhabited the tea-tree scrubs adjacent to the coast, but has not been 
observed for many years. 
Nest. — A small, saucer-shaped structure, composed of twigs, and 
placed in low scrubby undergrowth. 
Eggs. — Similar to those of the Eastern Whip-bird, but smaller. 
Note. — Mallee Whip-bird Psophodes nigrogularis leucogaster Howe and 
Ross. 
Nest. — A fairly large bowl-shaped structure of bark, lined with fine 
wiry grass, some dead, some green ; outside the nest proper is a thick layer 
of broom twigs, interwoven with sprigs of green broom tips and tea-tree, 
more particularly about the rim. Average measurement externally is five 
inches in diameter by four inches in depth ; egg-cavity three inches across 
by two and one half inches deep. Placed about a foot from the ground 
in a dense bush. 
Eggs. — Two, delicate shade of blue, one egg being slightly paler in 
colour than the other, marked with fine black and umber spots, the latter 
colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. Some markings 
about the larger end assume a scrawling character, and others are hiero- 
glyphic in nature. Type — clutch taken at Manya, north-eastern Victoria, 
in September, 1920. 
