THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
tuft we have found its nest often in our hay stacks. The parent is a good 
mimic of a wounded bird, trailing its wing behind it to attract the intruder 
away from the nest.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor also writes: “The White-fronted 4 Tin-tac 5 is the com- 
monest of the group, and at the reed beds I have studied its habits very closely; 
it loves the open swampy plains, especially the salty samphire country, where 
it hops about over the ground in little flocks of six or eight, picking up the 
small insects upon which it solely subsists ; it has a peculiar habit of bobbing its 
head up and down as it runs over the ground.” 
A fine series of close observations regarding the young have been sent 
me by Mr. H. Stuart Dove, from which I extract the following items : ‘‘Nest 
found on Oct. 9th ; broad lip on one side of nest, as always with this species, 
forming a perching base ; three eggs, all apparently quite fresh. On the 20th 
three young two days out, showing dark wing sprouts, ridge of tiny sprouts 
along back, head dark but bare, eyes closed ; three wide yellow mouths gaped 
at me. Next day eyes open, wings sprouting well, short sprouts on head 
and along spine between shoulders ; the queer metallic 4 tang-tang ’ call of 
the parents is heard in the locality while the nest is under observation. On 
the 23rd the young had dark plumage on head and wings, light brown on back. 
On the 29th I found that two young had become suffocated owing to the depth 
of the nest, the third who was on top had thriven amazingly ; the plumage 
was greyish-brown on upper surface like adult female, light grey breast with 
brownish mark across where the crescent is coming. This appears first as a 
brownish discoloration in the grey, gradually assuming the crescent form. 
On the 30th young had left nest ; young was twelve days hatching to flying. 
On Nov. 1st young flying with parents ; male took turns at sitting on eggs. 
I heard the male sing a pleasing little strain while sitting on a stump near the 
nest, also heard him utter what appeared to be the alarm-note, 4 teet-tee- 
tee-teet.” The usual call is 4 tang-tang.’ In another nest eggs were hatched 
on Oct. 24tli and on November 4th nest was empty, young being just twelve 
days in nest. Another nest was found on Nov. 1st with three fresh eggs and 
on the 13th two young were found hatched, one of the young being much 
darker than the other, which was reddish and probably the last out. On 
Nov. 14th one young had disappeared and on the 15th the egg also was missing, 
leaving only one young one, which was perfectly naked, no down and blind, 
just a scaly appearance along spine. On 17th young still blind but sprouts 
showing, bill dark grey, gape yellow ; on 19th eyes beginning to open ; on 26th 
flew, with crescent more pronounced on breast so that probably it is a male ; 
tail barely half an inch long, outside feathers brown, white in centre.” 
Mr. Tom Carter’s notes read : 44 The White-fronted Chat is given by 
328 
