OLIVE THICKHEAD. 
creek. It has a most peculiar call, resembling the words ‘ I’ll-wet-you,’ dwelling 
on the middle word.” 
Mr. A. G. Campbell has written me : “ This bird is rare on the mainland, 
but very common in Tasmania. Most Tasmanian birds are looked upon as 
insular forms or representatives of mainland species, but this species, as far 
as numbers go, is an example of the converse, much more being known of its 
habits in Tasmania than in Victoria. I have noted it in solitary pairs in the 
Dandenong and Baw Baw Ranges ; probably its habitat extends to the Alps 
and into New South Wales. It is shy and retiring, but easily identified by its 
strong and pleasing whistle.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby’s notes read : “I have seen this bird not uncommonly 
in the tree fern gullies of Gippsland and Cape Otway, Victoria. This bird 
is very quiet in its movements, but if one moves but gently it will allow you 
to approach almost within arm’s-length. Its songs have a similarity to those 
of other Thickheads, but it has not their range of notes and is always very soft 
and gentle. The curious sound as of the swish (not crack) of a whip passing 
through the air is common to all this group, and as far as my experience goes 
is characteristic of the genus. He is also a ventriloquist, and after hearing 
the note it is sometimes difficult to place on this account.” 
Mr. Tom Tregellas wrote me : “ The Olive Thickhead is not at all plentiful 
in the district round Melbourne, one or two pairs at the most being found in 
one locality. There is very little difference in the marking of the males and 
females, the male being slightly more of an ashy -grey on head and throat. The 
young male had apparently left the nest a week or ten days, judging by the 
appearance of the downy feathers, and had the gape cream, the roof of mouth 
orange, the feet and legs slate, the irides brown. The cry is totally different 
from that of the White -throated or Rufous Thickheads, being not nearly so 
sweet in character and partaking more of the note of the Harmonious Thrush. 
The note is only heard in the nesting-season, and then only in the dark gullies 
or along the watercourses.” \ 
I have separated the mainland form subspecifically and H. L. White has 
named the Queensland form, and the three can be admitted : 
Timixos olivaceus olivaceus (Vigors and Horsfield). 
Tasmania and islands of Bass Straits. 
Timixos olivaceus tregellasi (Mathews). 
Victoria, Southern New South Wales. 
Paler below and not so reddish-chestnut above. 
Timixos olivaceus macjphersonianus (White). 
Northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland. 
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