BROWN SONG-LARK. 
Collected in New South Wales by Caley, this species was described by 
Vigors and Horsfield under the genus Megalurus when they reported upon 
the birds in the collection of the Linnean Society. The genus Megalurus had 
just previously been proposed by Horsfield for a Javan bird, but Gould concluded 
this was not congeneric and introduced for it the new genus Cincloramphus. 
Caley’ s notes read : “ These birds are birds of passage. They appear 
in no great numbers. They alight on the top of dead trees. The note is loud 
and harsh.” 
Gould wrote : “As there are two, if not three, species of this very singular 
genus inhabiting the southern portion of Australia, which bear a great 
resemblance to each other, it becomes necessary to state that this is the one 
commonly seen during the months of spring and summer in all the open 
districts of New South Wales, vdiere it arrives in August, and after performing 
the task of incubation, departs again in January or February. Open downs, 
grassy flats, and fields of corn are its favourite places of resort. It is certainly 
one of the most animated of the Australian birds. Had I not visited Australia 
and personally studied its habits, my credulity would have been severely taxed 
upon being informed that the two birds, differing so greatly in size, were the 
male and female of the same species, many genera having been instituted upon 
much slighter grounds of difference ; I had abundant proofs, however, that 
such is really the case, having seen many of the nests and eggs with the parent 
bird in the act of incubation during the two seasons I spent in the country. 
In most of its habits and in its economy this bird closely assimilates to the 
Skylark of Europe. During the early months of spring it trips over the 
ground in the most sprightly manner with its tail nearly erect ; mounts on 
the dead limbs of trees and the fences of enclosures, and runs along them with 
the greatest dexterity; at this season of the year also the male may be 
frequently seen running beside its diminutive partner, and so busily engaged in 
pouring forth his song for her amusement as to be apparently unconscious of 
the presence of any other object. After the female has chosen the place for 
her nest, which is always on the ground, the male, like the Skylark, frequently 
mounts in the air with a tremulous motion of the wings, and after cheering 
her with his animated song, descends again to the ground or skims off to a 
neighbouring tree, and incessantly pours forth his voluble and not unpleasing 
notes. I found it very abundant in all the Upper Hunter districts, as well as 
in all the surrounding country, both to the north and south ; I killed numerous 
examples of both sexes, but not one male with the throat and under-surface 
black, like specimens I have seen from Port Philip and South Australia, and 
which I consider to be specifically distinct.” 
Under the name G. cantillans, an emendation of C. cantaloris, the name 
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