BRUSH WATTLE-BIRD. 
of Banksias tliat stretch along the northern shores of that island. Among the 
places in wliich it is most numerous on the continent are near the Port of 
Adelaide in South Australia ; and Illawarra, Newcastle and Sydney in New 
South Wales. The Botanic Garden at the latter place, although in the midst 
of a populous city, is visited by great numbers of this bird, and I may mention 
that two of their nests udth eggs, forming part of my collection, were taken 
fi'om the shrubs growing on the borders of tliis place of public resort. It is 
but sparingly dispersed in the interior of New South Wales and South Austraha, 
liow far its rarrge may extend to the westward of Spencer’s Gulf I have no 
means of ascertaining ; I have never yet r-eceived it from Swan River or any 
pari; of the western coast, its place being there suppUed by an aUied species, 
A. lunulata. The Brush Wattle-Bir*d is a bold and spirited species, evincing 
a considerable degree of pugnacity, fearlessly attackirrg and driving away all 
other birds from the pati< of the tree on which it is feeding. During the morrths 
of spring and summer the male perches on some elevated branch and screams 
forth its harsh and pecuhar notes, which have not rmaptly beerr said to resemble 
a person in the act of vomiting, whence the native name Goo-gwar-ruck. 
While thus employed it frequently jerks up its tail, throws back its head, and 
distends its throat, as if great exertion was required to force out these harsh 
arrd guttural sounds. The breeding-seasorr commences in September and 
contuiues during the tlrree following morrths.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor’s notes read: “Is very widely distributed over 
Austraha, from South Austraha ah through the eastern states. At the Reed- 
beds, where I hve, the bird stays ah the year romid arrd nests nr the garden, 
being qrrite tame and confiding in its habits ; they seem to hke to build their 
nests in the tliick foliage of the orange trees. The nesting-season starts early 
in August and ends in January, and during tlris time they have two broods ; 
this is perhaps owing to there being plenty of food, and the birds stay about 
thr’oughout the year. They feed orr horrey from the eucalyptus and other 
flowers, but when these ar-e scarce they hve largely on insect life which they 
capture on the wing, the young beirrg fed on an insectivorous diet to a large 
extent. The young utter a low plauitive note as they sit waiting for the 
tit-bits that their parents keep supplying them with; the old birds utter a 
somewhat loud cah for their size, harsh and grating, not at ah musical.” 
Captain S. A. White has written : “ This bird has a wide range and is 
common in many parts, but does not go into the dry interior. They are 
plentiful in the Mt. Lofty Ranges, and a few pairs nest each year on the 
Adelaide plains. They generaUy choose a thick lemon or orange tree to nest 
in here in the garden, but out in the bush a banksia tree is a favourite place 
or a bunch of loranthus. They are very noisy birds and pugnacious at nesting 
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