RUFOUS BRISTLE BIRD. 
lighter than in the latter, and that the yellow gape and triangular loral 
spot present in Sphenura broadbenti is absent in the latter. The bird has 
two distinct calls — alarm notes and song notes. The former it utters when 
closely pursued and pressed, and resembles the words 4 pink, pink, pink.’ 
The latter is a series of clear, liquid, thrush-like notes. The bird was most 
difficult to flush or even see, and it was only in the afternoon of the second 
day’s pursuit that I obtained a momentary glimpse of it as it rushed across 
a kwagga (species of Wallaby) track in the scrub, with tail elevated. My 
next sight of it was on the fourth day of pursuit. . . . Its motion on this 
occasion (perhaps due to its being severely pressed) was distinctly different 
from that observed on the former. Appearing, as it did, running at top 
speed across one of those beautifully rounded sandhills (which abound on 
the coasts), with its tail depressed below the plane of the body, and its dwarf, 
rounded wings used as an aid to its running, its toes just touching the 
ground, and its neck stretched to the utmost, the bird reminded me very 
much of the action of the Lyre Bird in similar circumstances. The food of 
the bird, as revealed by dissection, consisted wholly of land snails — those 
marine-like looking forms which are found in abundance on the coastal 
limestone hills, apparently lifeless in hot weather, but full of vitality after 
a shower of rain. One snail, with the shell perfect, w r as found in the stomach. 
The bird was an adult female, but there was nothing to indicate that in- 
cubation was near (it was procured on 12th October).” 
Mr. Tom Carter has written me : “ The Lesser Rufous Bristle Bird 
appears to be confined to certain parts of the extreme south-west coast, 
very local in its distribution and by no means common in areas where it 
does occur. Like other species of similar habits, it is probably rapidly 
diminishing in numbers, from the ravages of domesticated cats in a wild 
state, increased settlement and stocking of country (mostly by cattle ),A and 
the concomitant evil of bush fires, made to reduce the scrub and produce 
more grass and feed generally. The only locality where this species came 
under my notice was near Cape Mentelle. The birds were exceedingly 
wary and seclusive, and although their rather pleasant song was frequently 
heard, a bird was only sighted on two occasions, after many days spent wholly 
on trying to secure a specimen. The coastal scrub was so dense and stiff, 
and mostly growing at an acute angle from the prevailing strong winds off 
the ocean, that in many places it was impossible to force a way through it, 
although very frequently it was possible to walk on the top of it, but the latter 
was no help in either seeing or obtaining a bird. The better way was to crawl 
in, underneath the scrub, near where a bird was heard, and wait patiently 
in the hope of one coming near. On one occasion, while doing this, one of 
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