24 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
about with crest erect. It is a wonderful ventriloquist, and its call of 
“Reep-reep-reephok”, with the final bell-like notes, is difficult at times 
to locate. Food: insects and seeds. 
nest. A deep, cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of bark, 
twigs, and leaves; lined with dried grasses and rootlets. Frequently 
caterpillars are found in the nest. Usually placed among a mass of 
upright suckers near the ground, in a thick fork of a tree, or in a 
hollow stump. 
eggs. Two to four, pale bluish-white, spotted and blotched, chiefly 
at the larger end, with sepia and black. Breeding-season: July to 
January, and in the northern part of its range as late as March. 
4. Wedgebill Sphenostoma cristatum Gould 
Splieri-o-stom'-a—GY , sphen, wedge; Gk, stoma, mouth: cris-ta-tum— 
L., cristatus, crested. 
distribution. The interior of Australia generally. 
notes. Usually in pairs or family parties, frequenting low scrubs 
growing in gullies and watercourses. It is a shy and wary species and 
has a very pleasing song. Some of its notes are said to be ventriloquial. 
Food: insects and seeds. 
nest. An open, shallow, cup-shaped structure, composed of twigs 
and grass; lined with grass, fur, bark-fibre, or fine rootlets. Usually 
placed in a low bush within a few feet of the ground. 
eggs. Two or three, bluish-green, marked with blackish spots here 
and there. Breeding-season: August or September to January. 
5. Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis Vigors and Hors- 
field 
Po'-mat-o-stom'-ns— Gk, poma (pomatos ), lid; Gk, stoma, mouth: tem - 
por-d'-lis—L. t temporalis, belonging to the temple. 
distribution. Eastern and south-eastern Australia. 
notes. Also called Apostle-bird, Chatterer, Cackler, Barker, Pine- 
bird, Cat-bird, Dog-bird, Codlin-moth-eater, Hopper, Jumper, Yahoo, 
Happy Family, Happy Jack, Twelve Apostles, and Parson-bird. Usually 
in small flocks of from eight to twelve birds, frequenting the sctud 
and open forest country. It is exceedingly noisy and active, and spends 
a considerable part of its time on the ground, hopping about in search 
of insects. Owing to its quaint chattering or cackling notes and playful 
habits, it is a general favourite wherever it is found. Many of its 
calls are difficult to describe, but the loud “Ya-hoo, Ya hoo” is a very 
familiar call. Food: insects of various kinds. 
nest. A large, dome-shaped structure, with a narrow spout-like 
entrance, outwardly formed of sticks and twigs loosely interwoven; 
lined with bark-fibre, grasses, cow-dung, or wool. Usually built near 
the extremity of a forked horizontal branch of a tree at heights up 
to 20 feet or more from the ground. 
