WHITE-FRONTED CHAT. 
fly they issue a very weak note, one of the weakest amongst our birds I think, 
namely, a note sounding like 4 Toney,’ which is their popular name here. I 
have heard them called 4 Bumps ’ and this very aptly describes their flight. 
Some call them 4 Moon Birds ’ on account of the distinct crescent on their 
breasts. Their nests are often found at the base of a milk thistle or in a 
lignum bush ; in these positions I have never found them higher than eight 
inches from the ground. As a rule, they are early breeders, but in 1908 they 
were late, the 17th August being the first find. I have often found their nests 
in July. On September lst-6th, 1906, on the Little River I found a hedge 
containing nests every three or four yards, some of them three feet from the 
ground ; some of them contained young ones and some eggs. About half 
a mile away I found a nest on the ground ready for eggs. The nest is very 
neat, cup-shaped, deep, and constructed of dried grass.” 
Mr. F. E. Howe has also added : 44 Have also noticed them at Parwon, 
Whittlesea and other places near Melbourne, at Tailem Bend in South Australia 
and in the Victorian Mallee both at Pine Plains and Kow Plains. At the last men- 
tioned locality they were seen in hundreds in the Salt and Blue Bush country.” 
Captain S. A. White has written me : 44 E. albifrons has an extensive 
range but does not extend into the interior, the other two species, P. tricolor 
and A. aurifrons, taking its place there. They prefer open plains and swampy 
country to any other, although at times they are seen in timbered country 
and in the ranges. They seldom perch upon a tree, but are often seen on 
bushes, posts and wires of fences ; they move over the ground rapidly in search 
of insects and resemble the Pipits much in their actions. They pair off in 
the breeding-season, but as soon as this is over they congregate in large flocks 
and shift according to food supply, but there are some always to be found 
throughout the year on the Adelaide Plains. They are purely insectivorous ; 
the call is two notes mostly uttered upon the wing and resembling the word 
4 tin-tac,’ and by this name the bird is often known. These birds breed early 
and late from June to January, and they often bring up three broods in the 
season ; both sexes help to incubate, and when flushed from the nest act as 
if wounded to draw* you away from the nest ; the nest is nearly always built 
low down near the ground in some low r bush or thistle and composed of grass, 
twigs, rootlets, etc., lined with horsehair; the eggs, three or four, sometimes 
five in number.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby’s notes read : 44 Everywhere I have visited in the State 
of South Australia where there are salt bush (samphire) flats or other open 
country this cheerful little Chat has been numerous. I think I may say that 
I have found it nesting in every month of the year. While the situations 
preferred is practically on the ground, under some herbaceous plant or grass 
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