THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
has greatly developed its legs at the expense of the wings. Its food is almost 
entirely obtained on the ground, and it covers much country in search of it. 
Moreover the bird will fly only when forced to, as, for instance, when crossing 
a track or open part in the scrub, or if alarmed, and even then it flies only a 
short distance, trusting rather to its legs for safety. Its dexterity in gettings 
through the scrub is marvellous, and it often goes at such a pace that it 
resembles a small-sized rat more than a bird. In its nidification, habits, and 
plumage the Pilot Bird perhaps resembles Hylacola pyrrhopygia more than 
any other form, and is closely allied to the Scrub Wren, Sericornis frontalis, 
but is considerably larger. The Pilot Bird is insectivorous, but occasionally 
varies its food. The contents of the stomachs of a few birds were examined 
by Mr. T. H. Tregellas. He tells me that in the majority of cases they were 
crammed with minute mussels, taken from banks of watercourses, and the 
bodies of small green beetles. The birds are also fond of the fruit of Bursaria 
spinosa. Often I have seen them devour worms, and a pretty sight it was 
to see a bird perch on my companion’s foot and take mosquitoes. Often 
when eating lunch we have fed Pilot Birds with breadcrumbs, and on 
one occasion a bird allowed a serviette to be shaken over it without 
showing any sign of fear. When in quest of food these birds have a 
strange habit of 4 flicking ’ the tail with a smart up-and-down motion, and 
often use their feet to turn over bark and leaves. Their actions generally 
are very dainty. The song is sweet and varied. There are at least half 
a dozen different calls, the female generally joining in at the latter end 
of the song with notes entirely different from those of the male, just as 
the female of the Coachwhip Bird, Psophodes crepitans, does. One note, 
sounding like 4 Tui-wit ’ softly uttered, is often heard when the nest is 
building, and is used by both birds. The description of a call given 
by A. J. Campbell as 4 Guinea-a-week,’ is easily recognised, and is generally 
given by the female in answer to a longer and more beautiful song, and appears 
to be used when the birds are moving rapidly through the scrub. When the 
female is sitting the male uses the 4 Guinea-a-week ’ call, and she answers 
from the nest, 4 Whit-a-whit-ee.’ Should the female come off the nest without 
being called, the song then is either 4 Guinea-a-week-tui,’ 4 Guinea-a-week-tui,’ 
or 4 Whit-a-whit-ee-tou,’ 4 Whit-a-whit-ee-tou,’ the last syllable being uttered 
by the male in both cases. Often the male will fly on to a fallen dead tree 
and give voice ; then the head is thrown rearward, so much so that it appears 
to be resting on the back, and the little throat can be seen working even when 
the observer is at a fair distance.” 
Mr. Tom Tregellas’ s notes read : 44 Both this and the Coachwhip Bird 
use a note or two that has a striking resemblance. When the male of both 
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