GROUND-FREQUENTING BIRDS 
4i 
PLATE VII 
GROUND-FREQUENTING BIRDS 
1. Nullarbor Quail-thrush Cinclosoma alisteri Mathews — 1A. Female 
Cin-clo-soni-a — Gk, cinclos ( kigklos ), bird; Gk, soma , body: alisteri — 
Alister, son of Gregory M. Mathews, ornithologist. 
Distribution . — Western Australia (Nullarbor Plain). 
Notes. — Also called Black-breasted Ground-bird. In pairs or family 
parties, according to the season of the year; it is very shy and difficult 
to approach, and keeps out of sight in the shelter of bushes. When 
flushed, it rises with a “whirring” noise of the wings, flies a short distance, 
and then alights seeking further cover. Food : chiefly insects. 
Nest. — An excavation in the ground, neatly lined with dried grasses, 
the rim being finished off with a thick edging of coarse herbage. Usually 
placed at the foot of a dead blue-bush. 
Eggs. — Three, dull creamy-white with a very faint greenish tinge, 
spotted and blotched all over with olive-brown and slaty-grey markings, 
more numerous at the larger end. Breeding-season : October is the only 
month on record. 
2. Cinnamon Quail-thrush Cinclosoma cinnamomeum Gould — 2A. 
Female 
cin-na-mom-e-um — L., cinnamomeus , cinnamon. 
Distribution. — The interior of Australia, and South Australia (Gawler 
Ranges). 
Notes. — Also called Cinnamon Ground-bird and Cinnamon Ground- 
thrush. Usually in pairs or family parties; lives in the most arid stony 
country, where the colours of its plumage closely harmonize with the 
surroundings. During early morning it roams the open country seeking 
food, but keeps to the shelter of low dense bushes during the heat of 
the day. Food : chiefly insects. 
Nest. — Open cup-shaped, formed of a few twigs and dead leaves; 
placed at the foot of a low bush. 
Eggs. — Two, greyish- white to brownish-grey, marked with large 
blotches and longitudinal streaks of umber brown and a few underlying 
markings of dull bluish-grey. Breeding-season: March, April. 
3. Chestnut Quail-thrush Cinclosoma castanotum Gould 
cas-ta-not'-um — Gk, castanon, shortened to casta, chestnut; Gk, noton, 
back. 
Distribution. — Interior of New South Wales, south-western Queens- 
land, Victoria, and South Australia; also south-western Australia and 
central Australia. 
