SPOTTED GROUND-BIRD. 
Nest. Cup-shaped, loosely put together, composed of strips of bark, leaves and grasses. 
Lined with softer materials. Outside dimensions 5 inches by 3 deep. Inside 
3 by l\ deep. 
Eggs. Clutch, two (three). Whitish, spotted all over with dark brown and lavender 
spots. 34-35 mm. by 24. 
Breeding-season. August to February. 
When Latham published his Second Supplement to his General Synopsis of 
Birds , he described from “ New South Wales ” the Punctated Thrush, Turdus 
punctatus, as a new species. Six years before, however, Shaw had figured 
the same bird and, moreover, given it the same name. The genus Ginclosoma 
was introduced by Vigors and Horsfield for this species, and their note on the 
species reads : “ Mr. Caley says, that the weight of the male was 4 ounces. 
He adds : ‘ This species is by no means plentifully to be met with. It inhabits 
the small forest scrubs, and is frequently started from the ground. It appears 
to be more constantly on the ground than in the trees, taking a short flight on 
being disturbed, and then again alighting on the ground a little farther off. ’ ” 
Gould’s notes read : “ This is a stationary species, and is distributed over 
the whole of Tasmania and the eastern portions of Australia, from Moreton 
Bay to Spencer’s Gulf. It gives a decided preference to the summits of low 
stony hills and rocky gullies, particularly those covered with scrubs and grasses. 
Its flight is very limited, and this power is rarely employed, except for the 
purpose of crossing a gully or passing to a neighbouring scrub ; it readily 
eludes pursuit by the facihty with which it runs over the stony surface and 
conceals itself among the underwood. When suddenly flushed it rises with a 
loud burring noise, like a Quail or Partridge. Its short flight is performed by 
a succession of undulations, and is terminated by the bird pitching abruptly 
to the ground almost at right angles. It seldom perches on the smaller branches 
of trees, but may be frequently seen to run along the fallen trunks so common 
in the Australian forests. The note merely consists of a low piping whistle, 
frequently repeated while among the underwood, and by which its presence is 
often indicated. In Hobart Town it is frequently exposed for sale in the 
markets with Bronze-wing Pigeons and Wattle-birds, where it is known by 
the name of Ground-Dove, an appellation which has doubtless been given, 
both from its habit of running and feeding upon the ground like the Pigeons 
and the circumstance of its flesh being very delicate eating : to its excellence 
in this respect I can bear testimony. The pectoral muscles are very largely 
developed, and the body, when plucked, has much the contour of a Quail. The 
young, which at two or three days old are thickly clothed with long black downy 
feathers, soon acquire the power of running, and at an early age assume the 
plumage of the adult, after which they are subject to no periodical change in 
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