Note on the finding of the nest and eggs of the desert chat (Ashbyia lovensis, ashby)

Abstract

Much of the country traversed by the expedition is in the nature of what Sturt called the “ Stony Desert,” locally known as “ gibber country,” and further differentiated a* large gihber and small gibber. The latter, with which we are at present only concerned, consists of reddish-brown stones, nowhere larger than a walnut; they lie close together, and in places are so even that one might almost imagine they had been levelled by a road roller. The interstices are filled with fine sand, the constant movement of which under action of the wind has smoothed all asperities from the stones, and a mosaic appearance is produced. In other places walking is less comfortable, and in crossing the big gibber riding a camel is preferable to walking. Such a desert may extend for 20 miles or more, and it supports very little herbage indeed, low and scattered salt-bushes being the only indication of vegetation. © 1916, CSIRO. All rights reserved.