THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
A curious coiacidence has since been noted that Vieillot had previously 
named a specimen collected by the French travellers from New South Wales 
Anthus australis. Gould’s field-notes read “ The Antlms australis has all the 
habits and actions of its European prototypes ; its note is also very similar; 
when flushed from the gromid it rarely flies to any great distance before it descends 
agahi, rather abruptly^, to the earth, to the branch of a tree, or a small hush. 
The breeding-season commences in the early part of September and continues 
until January, durmg which season two or tlnee broods are reared. The stomach 
is very muscular, and the food consists of insects of various kinds and small 
seeds.” 
Mr. Thos. P. Austm has -written me from Cobbora, New South Wales: 
A very common species throughout the whole district m suitable situations, 
hi fact thev are so common I must admit I have never taken the trouble to 
make any particular study of their habits. No matter where I go in the open 
country and cultivated paddocks it is to be seen, usually attracting attention 
riummg rapidly over the ground, or by taldng flight for a short distance, then 
alighting upon the gromid agam, or a stump, fence, or a dead tree. During 
bright, clear days in the spring it often soars into the air in a series of short, 
midulatmg flights uttering its song; this it repeats until some hmidi’eds of 
feet ui the air, when suddenly it -will take a do-wnward flight to earth. l\Iagpies 
appear to have a great dishke to tins bhd, as they are frequently to be seen 
chasing them, often liigh in the air, but the Larks appear to have no difficulty 
in dodguig them. They breed here m great numbers, sometimes placmg their 
nests in old rusty jam this. They e-vidently rear several broods m a season, 
because I have seen nests contahiing eggs from August 25th till as late as 
November 12th. The clutch is usually three, but often four.” 
hlr. E. J. Christian has -written: “ These httle bhds are very common 
here and can be seen along any fence. They have at tunes a very pretty note, 
and early on a dark winter’s mornmg I have often heard them shovdiig they are 
by far the earliest risers here. "Wlieii disturbed it scarcely ever uses its wings, 
but r ims along in front of you ; if pursued it will then fly, but regains its feet 
four or five yards away. If still followed it vdll fly further, but never keeps m 
the air long. The nest is extremely hard to find, and is one of the neatest made 
by ground birds. It is generally placed hi a small depression or hole, cup-shaped 
and neatly woven of dried grasses. Sometimes it is placed midemeath the 
shelter of a tussock. I have found nests -with yomig winch look like white, 
hairy caterpillars, and unless the parent was present fully exposed to the hot 
rays of the smi. I often wonder how it is possible that these tender cliicks 
survive, as in such heat the old birds appear to feel it enough, let alone the 
young.” 
134 
