THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
latter kinds. As a field naturalist, therefore, I should be inclined to place 
the three genera very near together rather than admit other intrusive genera 
in the present classification obviously less nearly related.” 
F. E. Wilson, writing about Oologists in the Mallee, stated : “ H. cauta. 
These shy little aviformes are very common right through the mallee, and we 
spent a considerable amount of time searching for their nests, which are some- 
times beautifully hidden. In places where surveying operations had been 
carried on, straight lines cut through the scrub were often met with, and it 
was amongst the debris on these lines that the Hylacola loved to build. More 
often, however, the nest was placed in the fallen bark at the foot of the mallee 
saplings, and in these cases it harmonized with its surroundings so well as to 
make it an object extremely difficult to detect. They leave the nest at the 
slightest sign of danger, and run off quickly to a distance, when they usually 
utter two or three low notes. Nearly every patch of turpentine scrub had a 
few families of Hylacolas amongst it.” 
Captain S. A. White has recorded : “ On Kangaroo Island we came out 
on a patch of country which had been lately cleared by fire. It was here that 
we came upon the Ground Wren. These shy little birds were fairly plentiful, 
and specimens were often seen darting over the open ground between the 
bushes, uttering a chattering call. Few other birds were seen.” 
Purnell has written : “ There is no doubt that Mr. G. M. Mathews is 
justified in separating this bird from the New South Wales form. We found it 
on the heathy hills behind Anglesea, in the dry and scrubby creeks, and 
also in the burnt country near Point Road Knight. Its actions are very rapid, 
and when travelling across the open and burnt scrub its motion is a combination 
of running and flying, the tail being held perpendicularly. The song is not 
unlike that of a Calamanthus, but in a higher key and not so sustained.” 
Elliott accepted Hylacola cauta, as the name for the West Australian form 
and wrote from Dumbleyung : “ These birds are somewhat scarce, shy, and 
difficult to approach. They seem to remain about the same patch of scrub 
for some time ; in fact, I am not sure but what they make it their permanent 
abode unless interfered with, when they quickly depart. Of course, I cannot 
be sure whether they are the same pair, but in the patch of scrub referred to 
above I have seen a couple for over two years. You may travel for two miles 
round, and will not find another bird. They favour thick scrub of the stunted 
variety, and, while uttering a peculiar little note or call, hop and flit from 
point to point in a most amusing fashion. So small do the birds appear and 
so quick are their movements, that they remind one of mice. They will 
suddenly cock up their tail, so that one obtains a glimpse of its red base. While 
flying they also exhibit it, but when annoyed or alarmed they spread the tail, 
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