THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
disappears from view. Often when flushed it flies through the reeds and 
grass so as to be out of sight all the while, instead of rising over the reeds for a 
short distance and then suddenly dropping. Its food consists of insects and 
various seeds found in the mud. Its song is poor, being a few long drawn 
whistling notes.” 
Mr. A. G. Campbell’s notes state : “ Stays the winter through on many 
of the swamps in Victoria. It lives among the water sedges usually but in 
Geelong district the species is more often found in the tall grass along 
depressions.” 
Mr. F. E. Howe wrote : “ During a trip to Mud Island in Port Phillip 
Bay we often heard and flushed this agile little creature. They appear to be 
fairly common on the Island but we hunted for the nests without success.” 
A. G. Campbell has recorded in 1902 : “ During this winter, on three 
separate occasions, I have had the opportunity of noting the Grassbird 
(Megalurus graminms ) near Melbourne. As some doubt seems to exist that 
this species does remain in this vicinity during the winter months, these facts 
will be of interest. At a swamp near Cheltenham, on 26th April, 1902, and 
again on 5th July following, several specimens were shot after patient waiting. 
At first the birds were nowhere to be seen, but after a while they ventured to 
the outskirts of the bullrushes to feed. They seldom whistled. On the other 
side of Melbourne, on the Werribee Plains, the species was again noted on 
9th June, being identified by its whistle in a ‘ lignum ’ swamp.” 
Dove wrote from Essendon, Victoria : “ During the first week in July. . . 
I was much interested in hearing a familiar note proceeding from a reedy 
island in the pond ; it was a note I had not heard since leaving the banks 
of the Tamar (Tasmania) about eight months ago, and I knew it to be that 
of the Grass-Bird, usually frequenting clumps of reeds and rushes by a river- 
side or in wet pastures and swamps, but very unusual in a park close to the 
main road and frequented daily by numbers of people. This just bears out 
good old White of Selborne’s dictum of over a century ago, that that district 
always turns out to be the richest in natural productions which is the most 
searched, and we have only bo keep eyes and ears open to come upon interest- 
ing things in most unlikely places. So it was in this case. By concealing 
myself as much as possible and continually imitating the weird, penetrating 
call which arose from the thicket of reeds, I was presently able to draw the 
shy little fellow up fairly close to me and obtain a good view of him. Not 
very striking in appearance ; the back marked much like that of a sparrow, 
under side grey with dark streaks upon the breast, tail rather long and some- 
what elevated ; no brilliant hues to attract the eye, but still most interesting 
to the naturalist from its shy nature and recluse mode of life. Scores of folk 
378 
