THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
calls at daybreak, and, unless it is very windy, at intervals during the day, 
and again in the evening till after sunset. He is not timid, and will call from 
any point of vantage. If the female is there she frequently adds to his call 
of ‘ Je suis ’ three harsh grating notes like the syllables 4 Jut-jut-jut,’ the 
interval between the second and third notes being shorter than that between 
the first and second. The female is much more secretive than the male until 
the young are being fed. ... I am of opinion the female does all the nest- 
building, and that the male calls from any point of vantage near to the nest. 
So far I have no evidence that the species builds in anything but the harsh, 
prickly Spinifex ( Triodia ) ; but it occasionally happens that small bushes 
are surrounded by this grass, and a fork of such a bush might be used as a 
nesting-site, provided it was well hidden by the surrounding growth. In 
all, I have found but four nests, from three of which the young had flown. 
One was in a very large clump, two in rather smaller, and one in quite a small 
clump surrounding a slender bush. I must state that pairs are only found 
where the Spinifex is of luxuriant growth, and not where a wide area presents 
a view of innumerable small clumps. . . . The eggs show an affinity with 
those of Megalurus and also with those of the European Grasshopper- Warbler 
(■ Locustella ncevia). The nest, too, though it differs from that of Megalurus 
striatus, is not unlike that of the Grasshopper- War bier, being entirely com- 
posed of fine grasses, without any lining of fur or feather. The three species 
of birds, again, show a strong family likeness, and all seem to haunt dense 
cover, in which they hide their nests. There is, however, a wide difference 
in their call-notes. This is especially marked in the case of the Grasshopper- 
Warbler. In flight the Spinif ex-Bird seems much encumbered by its long, broad 
tail, which is not borne horizontally, but in a semi-drooping fashion. The flight 
is performed in a straight line, at a very low elevation, and in a feeble, fluttering 
manner, as though the bird was anxious at the first chance to drop into cover.” 
P. D. Montague, who described the form inhabiting the Monte Bello 
Islands, wrote : “ Differs from E. c. carteri in its smaller size, proportionately 
larger bill, and in the colour of the head, which is of a deeper and richer 
chestnut-brown. The mainland representative (E. c. carteri ) is a somewhat 
scarce bird inhabiting the Spinifex-country in the region of North-west Cape. 
The Monte Bello form is found principally upon the Spinifex-plains of Hermite, 
where it is rather common. It frequents the low scrub, slipping with ease 
and rapidity amongst the very thickest and most prickly bush, making good 
use of its long tail to guide and balance itself in so doing. Occasionally it 
will appear for an instant at the summit of a bush or tuft, utter a harsh click- 
ing note, and disappear almost immediately, or make a short and hurried 
flight to the next thicket.” 
394 
