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THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
PLATE XXV 
BIRDS OF THE HEATH-LANDS 
1. Redthroat Pyrrholcemus brunneus Gould 
Pyr-rho-lcem'-us — Gk, pyrrhos, fire-coloured; Gk, laimos, throat: brun- 
ne-us — L., brunneus, brown. 
Distribution. — Central Australia, including the inland areas of New 
South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. 
Notes. — Usually singly or in pairs, inhabiting low stunted scrub-lands. 
Spends much of its time on the ground, over which it moves rapidly; it 
is extremely shy and possesses a very sweet and melodious song, fre- 
quently uttered while perched on the topmost twig of a low bush ; it is also 
a splendid mimic. Food : insects of various kinds, procured on the 
ground or among the herbage and undergrowth. 
Nest. — A round structure with an entrance at the side, composed of 
bark-fibre and grasses ; sometimes lined with feathers. Usually built in a 
low bush close to the ground. 
Eggs. — Three or four, of various shades of purplish-brown with a 
clouded zone or cap of a darker shade of the ground colour at the larger 
end. Breeding-season: August to November (March, April). 
2. Spinif ex-bird Eremiornis carteri North 
E-rem -i-orn -is — Gk, eremia , desert ; Gk, ornis , bird : carteri Tom 
Carter, British ornithologist, who resided in Western Australia for many 
years. 
Distribution. — Mid-western and north-western Australia and Monte 
Bello Island and Barrow Island. 
Notes .— Also called Desert-bird. Usually in pairs, inhabiting spinifex 
( Triodia ) and low scrub; it is shy and retiring in habits, spending most 
of its time on the ground. The song of the male is likened to the French 
words, Je suis, a vous, and the notes of the female to “Thrip-thrip.” 
Food : insects of various kinds, chiefly small grasshoppers and beetles. 
Nest. — Cup-shaped, substantially built of finely shredded grass or 
herbage, lined with fine roots, and placed in a bunch of spinifex. 
Eggs. — Two, pinkish-white, closely covered all over, particularly at 
the larger end, with minute markings of pale lilac and purplish-brown and 
from light to dark reddish-brown. Breeding-season: August (Barrow 
Island) . 
