THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
towards the coast.” When Gould quoted this in his Handbook he added : 
“ Since that period the bird has been discovered in other parts of Australia, 
and I am indebted to Professor M’Coy for fine examples procured in the interior 
of Victoria.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby has written : “We found this noisy and interesting 
bird in great numbers in the Pine country ( Calytris ) between Pungonda and the 
Victorian border in September 1917. As far as my observation went this 
species only occurs in the pines I saw both sides of the border. The nests 
are remarkable structures made of twigs so intertwined that nests thrown 
down from the top of a tree did not suffer by the fall ; they are two feet long 
and funnel-shaped. Quite a number of adult birds joined in the feeding of 
the young in a nest just above our tent.” 
Mr. Thos. P. Austin has sent me a note : “ During November 1910, I 
found the present species fairly plentiful in the Bourke district of New South 
Wales, but I have never met with it here (Cobbora, New South Wales). They 
appear to very much resemble the common Babbler in habits, but are more 
active while feeding upon the ground, and hopping about in trees, and are 
also more shy. Their nests are very similarly constructed, but smaller, and 
their notes are quite different.” 
The first published note of its nesting habits and economy was given by 
Krefft, and 1 give some of his account herewith : “ Their favourite haunts 
are clusters of dead box timbers and scrubby flats studded with salt bush, 
etc. This bird is remarkably shy, and so cunning that in almost all cases it 
will evade pursuit by running into some scrubby bush, and hide there till the 
danger is over. Its power of flight is exceedingly moderate, and closely 
resembles that of the brown Tree-creeper. These birds are always found in 
flocks of from four or five to twenty and more. They keep a good look-out ; 
and as soon as they suspect danger, they will rise with a sharp whirring noise, 
and seek shelter among the foliage of another tree, or run at a quick pace along 
the ground. They are very restless and keep constantly moving up and down 
the branches and in the shade of foliage, so that it is very difficult to obtain a 
shot at them. Different kinds of insects appear to be their principal food, 
as I have found the remains of grasshoppers, etc., in their stomach.” 
The restricted range of this species has shortened the technical details. 
Until quite recently no subspecies were named. I proposed : 
Pomatostomus ruficeps bebba Mathews. 
“ Differs from P. r. ruficeps Hartlaub in having the chestnut on the head 
much deeper in colour. South Queensland.” 
And later : 
Pomatostomus ruficeps parsonsi Mathews 
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