The Haunt of the Rufous Scrub-Bird (Atrichornis rufescens, Ramsay).
By Sidney Wm. Jackson, R.A.O.U., Chatswood, N.S.W.
I left Sydney on the 19th September, 1910, for the elevated Dorrigo scrubs at the head of the Bellinger River, New South Wales, where I arrived on the 24th of the same month, and pitched my camp in the forest, near the Little Murray River, on the same spot where my brother and I had camped during October of 1898, when we found the type nest and eggs of the Rufous Scrub-Bird (Atrichornis rufescens). My mission this time was on behalf of Mr. Henry L. White, of Belltrees, Scone, New South Wales, and was undertaken for the purpose of procuring the female of this interesting species, hitherto undescribed, and securing another nest and clutch of eggs, as the types of these still remained the only specimens extant. I walked through and carefully examined the scrubs day after day without getting the slightest indication as to the existence of the Atrichornis therein. It was not until the 7th October that I met with any success, and heard an Atrichornis calling out. On this date I had just left a tree wherein I found a new nest of the Rifle-Bird (Ptilorhis paradisea) situated in a dense clump of vines at the unusual height of 74 feet from the ground, and was walking slowly through the scrub in a northerly direction, and when I arrived at a sloping part I heard a note which immediately brought me to a halt, for I felt convinced that it emanated from an Atrichornis; only one single note was rendered. I went quietly in the direction of the sound and towards an immense mass (No. 1 mass in plan) of fallen trees and other scrub débris, and hid behind a rosewood (Dysoxylon fraseranum) log. Very soon the shrill note issued from the confused mass of débris and only about 10 feet away. The bird was moving about, mouse-like, amongst this heap of rubbish in the heart of the scrub (see photo.) It went through the same antics as I had frequently noticed in 1898 and 1899, walking stealthily under the heaps of débris and along under the sides of large logs as it called out, and moving cautiously from place to place. I have always noticed that this noisy little bird inhabits the most impenetrable parts of the scrub, and where the undergrowth is thick and the ground is strewn in many places with great masses of débris, consisting of an accumulated entanglement of trees, branches, vines, and other rubbish (see photos.)
After I had waited for some time the Atrichornis suddenly showed itself out of the débris for a second or two, and stood on a dead stick about 20 feet away, with its tail erect and wings rather drooped. Then in a flash it disappeared again in the rubbish, and continued at intervals to call out as it travelled about completely hidden from view under the heap. From what I saw of the bird, it was typical of the male birds that I collected previously. While still under the débris, it accurately imitated the
