THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
last to the head of Spencer’s Gulf and Mount Brown, I first observed it in a 
flock of ten or twelve males, females, and young birds, and at once saw that 
it was a species I had not previously noticed ; and on inquiring in various 
northern localities found that it had not been seen by the residents until this 
spring. Those I saw" were in the scrubby country on the western slopes of 
Flinder’s Ranges, close to the head of Spencer’s Gulf ; they were hopping 
about on the low bushes and on the ground.’ In another note by this gentle- 
man he states that he saw' this species and E. aurifrons in considerable numbers 
about latitude 27° and 28°.” 
It is appropriate that the next note should be by Captain S. A. White, 
the son of the Mr. White just mentioned, who has written to me that “ this 
lovely little bird has its real home amidst the blue-grey salt and mulga bush 
of the interior ; they have been known at rare times to visit the samphire 
flats as far south as Adelaide, but this is a rare occurrence. I have met with 
them in great numbers in the interior and they nest as soon as the green herbage 
springs up after the rain ; their nesting habits are like those of other members 
of the family and the eggs show little or no variation. These birds, unlike 
the preceding, like open scrub lands with salt or blue bush, and are often to 
be seen perched in a mulga or myall tree ; the call is more of a ‘ ting-ting.’ ” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby notes : “I have seen this Chat at Nackara, on the 
Broken Hill line, and I believe it visits that locality in the nesting-season most 
years. Nearer Adelaide it is a somewhat rare visitor ; probably it is on those 
occasions driven out of the more northern districts by drought. I have seen 
it in the mallee to the east of the River Murray, but in October 1909 it was 
nesting on the west side of the Murray near Mannum in considerable numbers. 
The nests were placed at the base of grass tufts or small herbs, both parents 
joining in their efforts to draw the intruder away from their nest by pretending 
to have a broken wing.” 
Mr. Sandland records : “ Found sparingly at Balah, South Australia, in 
1902, in great numbers 1903, absent 1904, 1905, sparingly in 1906, absent in 
1907 and sparingly in 1908.” 
Mr. T. P. Austin states : “ Strictly a migratory species at Cobbora, 
N.S.W., a few small flocks appearing in favourable springs, then it will probably 
be absent for years. Mostly met with feeding upon the ground, when disturbed 
they usually settle on thistles, fallen limbs, or low branches of dead trees. 
Their habits are very similar to those of the White-fronted species. In this 
district their nests are generally placed in thistles and are indistinguishable 
from the former. I have never seen a nest containing a clutch of more than 
three, and, with one exception, all the nests I have seen containing eggs have 
been in November, the other in October.” 
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