The following notes are from the pen of Mr. Gilbert, and are the result
of his observations of the bird in Western Australia:—
“This is a summer visitor to Western Australia, a remarkably shy and
wary species, and a most difficult bird to procure, from its generally
perching on a part of a tree whence it can command an uninterrupted view
all round, rarely admitting any one to approach it within gun-shot. On
being flushed from the ground it immediately takes to a tree, where,
with its tail erect, and its head stretched out to the full extent of
its neck, it presents a most grotesque appearance. It often ascends
perpendicularly to a considerable height in the air, and then floats
horizontally without any apparent motion of the wings to the distance of
three hundred yards. While flying it utters a most disagreeably harsh
and grating note, which is exchanged for an inward, rather plaintive
tone when perched among the branches. The nest, which is deposited in a
slight depression of the ground, is formed of dried grasses, and is so
loosely put together that it is extremely difficult to preserve it
entire; the eggs are four in number, and are similar to, but larger and
of a lighter colour than those of the _C. rufescens_.”
All the upper surface sandy brown, the centres of the feathers darker;
primaries and tail greyish brown, slightly margined with reddish brown;
immediately before the eye a triangular spot of brownish black; throat
and chest dull white, the latter with a stripe of brown down each
feather; under surface light brown; in the centre of the abdomen a patch
of dark brown, each feather margined with pale brown; bill and feet
fleshy brown.
The figures represent two males and a female of the natural size in
different states of plumage.
[Illustration: