3° THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
22. Eastern Whip-bird Psophodes olivaceus Latham 
Psoph-d'-dcs—Gk, psophodes , noisy: ol-iv-d'-ce-us— L., olivaceus , olive- 
coloured. 
distribution. Eastern Australia, from northern Queensland to 
Victoria. 
notes. Also called Coachwhip-bird. Usually in pairs, inhabiting the 
brushes and scrubs, and also the coastal thickets; a shy bird, seeking 
the seclusion of the undergrowth, spending a considerable time on the 
ground, turning over fallen leaves and debris for insects. Its name is 
derived from its extraordinary call-notes—two soft drawn-out whistles 
ending on a loud “whipcrack” note, followed instantly by two notes— 
“Chew, chew”, which are generally uttered by the female, or 
occasionally by the male. Food: insects of various kinds. 
nest. A loosely built, cup-shaped structure, composed of rootlets, 
and lined with finer materials. Usually built in a low bush or among 
the undergrowth. 
eggs. Two, pale blue or bluish-white, spotted with irregular mark¬ 
ings of black and lavender. Breeding-season: August to January. 
23. Western Whip-bird Psophodes nigrogularis Gould 
ni-gro-gu-ld'-ris— L., niger, black; L., gularis, throated. 
distribution. South-western Australia and Mallee of Victoria. 
notes. Also called Black-throated Coachwhip-bird and Rain-bird, it 
once inhabited the tea-tree scrubs adjacent to the coast, but has not 
been observed for many years. 
nest. A small, saucer-shaped structure, composed of twigs, and 
placed in low scrubby undergrowth. 
eggs. Similar to those of the Eastern Whip-bird, but smaller. 
Note. Mallee Whip-bird Psophodes nigrogularis leucogasler Howe 
and Ross. 
nest. A fairly large bowl-shaped structure of bark, lined with fine 
wiry grass, some dead, some green; outside the nest proper is a thick 
layer of broom twigs, interwoven with sprigs of green broom tips 
and tea-tree, more particularly about the rim. Average measurement 
externally is five inches in diameter by four inches in depth; egg- 
cavity three inches across by two and one half inches deep. Placed 
about a foot from the ground in a dense bush. 
eggs. Two, delicate shade of blue, one egg being slightly paler in 
colour than the other, marked with fine black and umber spots, the 
latter colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. Some 
markings about the larger end assume a scrawling character, and 
others are hieroglyphic in nature. Type-clutch taken at Manya, 
north-eastern Victoria, in September 1920. 
