I saw nothing of the Chestnut-backed Ground-Bird (Cinclosoma castanotum) at Zanthus, though some parts of the country looked favourable to its requirements. At my old Boorara camp, I occasionally saw pairs. Mr. Gibson remarks, "None seen 70 miles east of Kalgoorlie." No doubt this is about the limit of the species' eastern range.
I met with the Black-throated Ground-Bird (C. alisteri) at Naretha, but I found it local and far from common. Its range probably does not extend much further west. This is the third species of Ground-Bird I am personally acquainted with, and of the three it is much the shyest and most difficult of observation. Like its congeners it lives in pairs, and the full-grown nestlings for a brief period keep with their parents. Only at feeding time does it venture far from the shelter of bushes, behind which it will hide, occasionally taking a short run to peep at an intruder. When disturbed, the male clears right out, often flying quite out of sight. The female is not quite so cautious, but unless there are young, she soon follows the male, either nimbly running or flying after him. Once or twice I watched her at a distance of a few feet, only to find subsequently that she had young "planted" near by. In one instance I came to the conclusion the young were down a rabbit hole, as she frequently went to the entrance as though to be assured of their safety. In the meantime there was great pretence of feeding, and every few seconds one of the feet was lifted to the tip of the bill, for what purpose I cannot say.
Full-grown nestlings were with their parents when I arrived at Naretha in early August. Nesting operations must have commenced after the heavy rains of May. I found three or four empty nests. These were all excavations under recumbent bushes, lined with dried grass.
On the plain proper the Black-throated Ground-Bird is in its true haunt, and scattered pairs were found all around Haig and Loongana. On my arrival at Haig the females were about to lay their second clutches. I found several nests with fresh eggs. With one exception, these nests were at the foot of dead and bleached blue bushes, and in one case very well concealed. The excavations were deep, and very neatly lined with dried grasses, the rim being finished off with a thick edging of coarser herbage. A full clutch of eggs seems to be three. One very pretty set showed a faint creamy ground-colour, being much less profusely marked than usual. The female sits closely, and then flies right off the nest, unless a heavy wind is blowing, when she escapes by running away.
At Naretha, in the early morning, I occasionally heard the male bird uttering his call, which consists of a very feeble "i-i-i-i-i-i," rapidly uttered, but not sustained. Altogether, this is the least intrusive of the three species of Ground-Birds with which I am acquainted.
