THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
are not great ; but this is fully compensated for by the extraordinary manner 
in which it threads the bushes, and passes over the surface of the ground in a 
series of hopping bounds, whereby it readily eludes pursuit. The most 
successful mode of obtaining it is to ascertain the precise spot in which it is 
located, to approach it cautiously, and to remain silent for a short time, when 
the male will soon show himself by hopping out from the bush — the restless 
nature of his disposition not admitting of his remaining long concealed.” 
Captain S. A. White has written me: “ Hallornis cyanotus . — This 
charming little bird has a wonderful range. I have obtained it a few miles 
north of Adelaide and then traced it in a northerly direction to Central Mt. 
Stuart, to the West Australian border, and to the New South Wales border 
in the east. It is a lover of the open salt-bush country, where it nests and brings 
up its young. I have seen it in thick scrub, but not often ; they move about 
in small family parties, and the male bird, when adorned in nuptial plumage 
like other members of the family is very conscious of his conspicuous 
coloration, and keeps very close to cover when danger is near, although females 
and immature males in their brown plumage are hopping close by in the open, 
quite unconcerned with the exception of now and then giving a little alarm 
note which is evidently meant to keep their brilliantly colored males acquainted 
of the fact that the danger had not yet passed. At nesting time they pair 
off, although I have seen three and sometimes four birds helping to build the 
nest, very often two males in full breeding plumage. This is the case with the 
feeding of the young birds, for two or three male birds will take part in 
looking for food for one nest of young ones, but I have never known more 
than one female to lay in any one nest. The number of eggs varies much 
according to the season : in dry seasons they very often only lay two eggs 
and sometimes only one, the general clutch is three or four ; the nest is placed 
in a low bush and the composition varies according to the material most 
easily procurable. The bird has a charming little plaintive song at nesting 
time. H. leuconotus . — It is very strange that all through my trips and 
expeditions into the interior I have never seen this bird ; if it were not that 
I have doubted other species I have rediscovered later on, I would wonder if 
this is really a good species.” Later, writing about his trip to the Gawler 
Ranges, he observed : “Was met with out on the salt-bush plains but is seldom 
if ever found on the ranges. For thirty miles round Port Augusta these little 
birds were very numerous, but as we worked south, parallel with Spencer’s 
Gulf, we lost them and M. callainus took their place. Heading north again we 
picked them up at the northern end of Lake Giles but not in any numbers ; 
an odd bird or so was met with on the north side of the Ranges on the return 
journey out on the salt-bush plains ; although Dr. A. M. Morgan found these 
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