_Turdus badius_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xli?—Bonn, et Vieill. Ency.
Méth. Orn., part ii. p. 670?
_Port Jackson Thrush_, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 183.—White’s Voy.,
pl. in p. 157.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 198.—Lath. Gen.
Hist., vol. v. p. 121.
_Austral Thrush_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. v. p. 124?
As the members of this genus, originally formed on a single species, are
now found to be numerous, but all very nearly allied, it becomes
necessary to describe this, the typical bird, with particular accuracy.
Nearly every colony appears to be inhabited by its own peculiar species;
and accordingly we find that the present bird is an inhabitant of New
South Wales, but extends its range westward as far as South Australia
and eastward to Moreton Bay, and perhaps farther.
The _Colluricincla harmonica_ is one of the oldest known of the
Australian birds, having been described in Latham’s “Index
Ornithologicus,” figured in White’s “Voyage,” and included in the works
of all subsequent writers.
So generally is it dispersed over the countries of which it is a native,
that there are few localities in which it is not to be found; the
brushes near the coast as well as the plains of the interior being
equally frequented by it; it is a very active bird, living much among
the branches, and feeding upon insects of various kinds, caterpillars
and their larvæ.
The term _harmonica_ applied to this species is very appropriate; for
although it does not give utterance to any continued song, it frequently
pours forth a number of powerful swelling notes, louder but less varied
than those of the Song Thrush of Europe; and it is somewhat singular
that these notes are emitted while in the act of feeding, and while
engaged in the search of its insect food.
The site of the nest is very varied; sometimes a hollow in the upright
bole of a small tree is chosen; at others the ledge of a decayed branch,
or a rock, or any similar situation. The nest is a cup-shaped, and
somewhat slight structure, externally composed of the outer and inner
bark of trees and leaves, and lined with fibrous roots; I have
occasionally seen wool intermingled with the outer materials. The eggs,
which are three in number, and one inch and two lines long by ten lines
broad, are of a beautiful pearly white, thinly sprinkled with large
blotches of light chestnut-brown and dull bluish grey, the latter colour
appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. In one instance I
found a nest of eggs which were brownish white instead of pearly white.
The sexes are very nearly alike, the only difference being that the
female has the bill browner and an indication of a white stripe over the
eye.
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