PYRRHOLJEMUS BRUNNEUS , Oouid.
Brown Red-Throat.
PyrrhoUemus brmneus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p. 173.
Ber-rit-bef-rit, Aborigines of the mountain districts of Western Australia.
I found this new bird tolerably abundant in the Belts o f the Murray, about forty miles to the northward of
Lake Alexandria, where it gave a decided preference to low stunted bushes and fallen trunks o f trees
overgrown with herbage, under which it secreted itself; it sometimes rose to the top o f a bush to sing,
pouring forth a melody ecjual to any of the smaller birds o f Australia, which must render it a general
favourite when that portion of the country becomes colonized. It passes much o f its time on the
ground, hopping about with great celerity, and with its tail elevated considerably above the level o f its
back.
Since I killed my specimens it has been obtained by Mr. Gilbert in Western Australia, from whose
notes I learn that it is there an inhabitant of the underwood and the thickest scrub ; and that “ it possesses
a very sweet and melodious song, which it generally utters while perched on the extreme topmost branch of
a small scrubby tree, and having repeated it two or three times, dives down into the impenetrable
bush. While feeding it utters a weak, piping, call-like note. I never saw it fairly on the wing, for it
seems averse to flying, but generally prefers creeping from bush to bush, and even.if closely hunted
merely flits a few yards. It makes its nest on the ground, precisely like the members o f the genus Cala-
manthus. I found a pair building in the month o f September; upon visiting the spot again after an interval
of:a week, the nest appeared finished, being lined with feathers, but there were no eggs; unfortunately
from this time the birds deserted the nest; but Mr. Drummond tells me that he once saw the eggs, that
they were three in number and o f a green colour.”
Lores greyish white; all the upper surface and wings brown ; tail brownish black, the three lateral
feathers on each side largely tipped with white; centre of the throat rufous ; the remainder o f the under
surface brownish grey, passing into sandy buff on the flanks and under tail-coverts; irides reddish brown,
with an outer ring of yellowish white; upper mandible reddish brown ; lower mandible greenish white;
legs and feet dark greenish grey.
The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.