WEDGE-BILL. 
range (coastal) is probably about Lat. 29° S. or 250 miles north of the Swan 
River, and it is fairly common in the scrub in hollows of the coastal hills at 
Point Cloates. About Carnarvon (port of Gascoyne River) it is one of the 
commonest birds, occurring close to the beach in suitable scrub, and in the 
dense thicket and tall wattle bushes growing on the islands and banks of the 
river. The variety of bush that it seems to prefer to any other is known as 
Ming-ar by the aborigines. It grows to a considerable size, and has rather 
broad, dark green leaves, somewhat like those of the Sandalwood tree. These 
bushes, owing to their luxuriant foliage, are very dark inside, and the Wedge- 
bills constantly seek their shelter. The song of this bird is one of the most 
remarkable of any heard in West Australia, and at once attracts attention. 
It consists of five loud, ringing, metallic notes, somewhat resembling the ringing 
of an anvil when struck, and when heard, with the bird within a few yards, 
hidden ha the dark shade of a big bush, it seems to cause vibration in one’s 
ears. The local Carnarvon name, * Sweet-Kitty-Lintot,’ with strong emphasis 
on the second and last syllables, very fairly indicates the rhythm of this song, 
which is sometimes followed immediately after its conclusion, by a sharp, 
double metallic note. The song is uttered very rapidly, and kept up, without 
any pause, for a surprising length of time. According to my observations, 
both sexes sing. The nests are usually within three or four feet of the ground, 
and resemble those of Oreoica cristala, made of small twigs and lined with grass. 
Clutch of eggs two or three. The species is very shy and wary as compared 
with the Bell Bird, which is of a tame disposition. The Wedge-bill’s song 
has been described as ventriloquial, but it seems to me more that it is uttered 
crescendo and diminuendo, which effect may be caused perhaps, to some 
extent, by the bird moving about in the shelter of the dense ‘ Ming-ar ’ 
bushes ; but the song certainly rises and falls to a great extent, and I have 
listened, scores of times, to a bird singing within a few feet of me. It is 
surprising how a bird will keep itself concealed in a bush by continuing to 
have a branch, or bunch of leaves between itself and you, then suddenly it 
will fly, close to the ground, from the far side of the bush to another one, with 
its tail outspread, and the white tips of the tail-feathers showing conspicuously.” 
Milligan has written from the Yandanooka District, West Australia: 
“ These singular birds were also very numerous in the * prickly reminder ’ 
scrubs, probably owing to the security afforded by them. Many writers 
have spoken of the species as being extremely shy and difficult of approach, 
but that was not my experience. Their marvellously developed ventriloquial 
powers certainly make the birds difficult to locate, but, when once located, 
they are easy to approach. I could have shot a score without any trouble. 
They are able to throw their voices at least three hundred yards in any 
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