THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
and hopped about the ground ‘ fluffing ’ (not dragging) her feathers, in exactly 
the manner that Eopsaltria often adopts to draw away an intruder. (This 
pretty performance is distinct from the broken wing ruse used by Ptilotis auri- 
comis , Ephthianura albifrons , and one or two other species.) There were two 
eggs in the nest ... It was worth while to spend many hours in the vicinity, 
if only to hear the melody of the birds. The call most frequently used was a 
ventriloquial ‘ Chup, chup,’ which seems to roll softly off the chest and 
swell powerfully as it leaves the beak. It is not unlike the vesper hymn 
of Eopsaltria .” 
F. E. Wilson, writing of the Victorian Mallee, stated : “ Was met with in 
most parts of the country visited, but was particularly plentiful south of Kow 
Plains. Curiously enough, every nest found was built upon the top of a 
Babbler’s old nest. The nests were very deep, and lined with fine rootlets 
and Casuarina needles.” 
L. G. Chandler also stated of Kow Plains : “A common form. Several 
nests were built on old Babbler’s ( Pomatostomus superciliosus ) nests. The 
male bird assists in building the nest, and also in the work of incubation. 
The bird is very tame. P. gilberti has a variety of notes. Those which 
are freely used resemble ‘Rath-u, Rath-u,’ and ‘ U-rath, u-rath.’ A note 
sometimes given sounds phonetically like ‘ Ice-cream.’ ” 
When Capt. White recorded the birds observed on the Lower Murray 
excursion he mentioned: “These birds were very plentiful at Bell Rock, 
between Lake Bonney and the river. Many pairs were located in the pine 
scrub. They were very wary, and moved on in front of us. It was necessary 
to procure one for identification, and this was managed by standing amongst 
the lower limbs of a pine tree and calling a bird up. Although no nests 
were seen, I feel sure they were breeding at the time of our visit.” 
It may be noted that the preceding writer found them “ very tame.” 
Captain S. A. White, recording his trip to the Gawler Ranges, stated: 
“P. gilberti was very plentiful through the ranges; its loud and clear note 
could be heard at some distance. It seems to be very pugnacious, for it was 
often seen attacking much larger birds, and, although we did not see a nest, 
from its restless manner and loud calling nesting -time must have been close 
handy. When we rediscovered P. rufogularis last year, I remarked upon its 
distinct call, and was told by more than one ornithologist that it was their 
opinion that P. gilberti made the same call. I am now in the position to affirm 
my first statement, for we listened to dozens of P. gilberti calling at different 
times, and never once did we hear a note resembling that of P. rufogularis. 
We found P. gilberti to be great ventriloquists.” 
When I prepared my “ Reference List ” I recognised that rufogularis referred 
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