4® THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
20. Rufous Scrub-bird Atrichornis rufescens Ramsay 
ru-fes'-cens—L., rufescens, reddish. 
distribution. South-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New 
South Wales, from the Macpherson Range to the Chichester River. 
notes. Usually in isolated pairs, inhabiting the dense tangled under¬ 
growth of the big scrubs and brushes. An extremely shy bird, rarely 
exposing itself, creeping mouse-like among the debris and rotting 
leaves. It is a wonderful mimic and ventriloquist, and for its size 
possesses the loudest call-notes of all the birds of the scrubs. Its “Chip- 
chip-chip” call, rapidly repeated with crescendo, is deafening, and is 
the one call in which its ventriloquial powers are not used. Its food 
consists of insects of various kinds and small land crustaceans. The 
female differs from the male in not having the black feathers on the 
breast. 
nest. Like a coconut with an entrance at the side; instead of fibre, 
the outside covering is composed of dead leaves, ferns, twigs, and 
broad grass-stems; lined with a curious material like papier machd or 
wood-pulp, and perfectly smooth inside. Usually built in a clump of 
grass or mass of ferns at about 6 inches from the ground. 
eggs. Two, pinkish-white or pinkish-buff, spotted and blotched with 
pinkish-red or reddish-brown and purplish-brown markings, chiefly 
near the larger end. Breeding-season: October is the only month 
recorded. 
21. White-throated Nightjar Eurostopodus mystacalis Temminck 
Eu-ro'-sto-pod'-us-G k, eurostos, strong; Gk, pous, podos t foot: mys-ta- 
ca'-lis—L., mystacalis , moustache. 
distribution. Eastern and southern Australia and New Guinea. 
notes. Also called Night Hawk, Moth Hawk, and Fern Owl. Usually 
met with singly during the day, resting on the ground; at night 
numbers may be seen “hawking” for insects. It has an extraordinary 
call, difficult to describe. Prefers open forest country, keeping to the 
ridges separated by thickly timbered gullies. Its food consists of insects, 
principally large moths. 
nest. None, the single egg being deposited on the ground. 
f.gg. Buff, stone, or cream-coloured, sparingly spotted and blotched 
with black and underlying markings of bluish-grey. Breeding-season: 
October to December or January. 
22. Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus guttatus Vigors and Horsfield 
gut-td f -tus— L., guttatus, spotted. 
distribution. Australia generally; also occurs in the Aru Islands 
and New Ireland. 
notes. Usually singly, at rest on the ground during the day; when 
flushed, it rises and flies off to settle again on the ground. At twilight 
numbers may be seen “hawking” insects above the tree-tops or over 
the grasslands. It has a peculiar call like “Caw, caw, caw, gobble. 
