THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
character like that of a Skylark, is a sort of parody thereon, the tones being 
intermixed with peculiar rasping notes.” 
Mr. Sandland notes : 44 Common at Balah, South Australia, from July 
to January.” 
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Mr. E. J. Christian also writes : 44 This is the more common of the two 
species of Cinclorhamphus which visit us in this district (Avoca River, 
N. Victoria). Both are found practically in all the States except Tasmania. 
Generally these birds arrive here in September and depart north in February, 
sometimes March. C. cruralis is generally the first to arrive and this year 
(1908) I saw the first on 10th August, while I did not see C. rufe-scens till the 
26th August. Last year the dates Avere later, the former on September 1st, 
the latter about September 30th. The present species is generally found here 
in the coarse grasses of the swampy country and it is in these places where I 
have generally found the nests, but have never found the eggs, always tAvo or 
three young ones in their early stages. One day last year when riding through 
this sort of country, I nearly went into a nest ; I pulled off it as I thought 
I could see some big hairy caterpillars, but upon dismounting found that they 
were three newly-hatched young and as the feathers were whitish and hairlike, 
they looked very peculiar. When disturbed the male flies up, not very high, 
singing incessantly ; it is not a pretty song, and is rather harsh ; it does not 
stay up very long and soon settles in the thick groAvfch. In 1908-1909 this 
species stayed with us all the winter on account of mildness, and on Nov. 29, 
1909, I found a nest with three eggs.” 
Mr. F. E. Howe adds : 44 At Picola on the Murray River, in the Christmas 
Holidays, 1909, with a shooting party in some 4 Lignum ’ in a dried up swamp 
at every feAV strides we started up this bird. The flight is stronger and quicker 
than that of its congener. At Ferntree Gully I noticed one carrying a few stems; 
it perched on a stump and, although I watched it for half an hour, it never 
stirred from the post.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor’s notes read : 44 Commonly knoAvn as the Brown Skylark, 
4 want to go to Egypt,’ the latter being the words repeated by the cock bird in 
a loud vibrating Avay, as it sits upon some post or prominent dead piece of wood 
within a feAV feet of the ground preparatory to taking its long and high flight 
into the air, and in this position it puts its tail erect and Avith head throAvn 
back and throat extended the bird carols forth in quick succession a repetition 
of these words, and then mounts up still singing the same ; the Avurds also 
resemble the sound 4 cock-shet-a-wee-loo ’ ; it makes this call in the spring 
and summer and is apparently a mating song while breeding.” 
Mr. Tom Carter forwards me a note : 44 The Brown Song-Lark is plentiful 
through the mid-west of West Australia. They are common about the 
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