344 



TIMELIID.E. 



white; a broad collar across the chest black, narrower in the centre, and extending at the sides 

 upwards across the 7ieck and joining the black feathers on the nape; remainder of the under surface 

 white; sides of the body tinged ivith grey ; thighs dark brown; under tail-coverts tohile ; bill black; 

 legs and feet black; iris pale yelloivish-bujt'. Total length in tlie flesh 4'6 inches, wing 2-8, tail 

 1-6 bill 0-4, tarsus 1-7 J. 



Adult female — Duller in colour than thf male. General colour above ashy-brotvn ,■ the head 

 and hind-neck distinctly shaded ivith grey ; ivings hroini, darker on the innermost secondaries, the 

 quills eo:ternally edged rvith pale broion ; tail feathers brown, all but the central pair ?vith a spot of 

 ivhite at tlie tip of their inner iveb ; lores whitish ; ear-coverts light ashy-broivn; cheeks, throat, and 

 all the binder surface dull white, crossed by a narrotv smoky-black band on tite fore-neck ; under tail- 

 coverts white. 



Distribution. — Southern Queensland, New South Wales, \'ictoria, South Australia, Western 



Australia, North-western Australia, Tasmania, and some of the islands of Bass Strait. 



/~¥;%HE range of the present species extends in favourable situations over the greater portion 



JL of Southern Australia; it likewise inhabits some of the larger islands of Bass Strait, 



and Tasmania. Near the coast, it chiefly frequents estuarine areas and marshy grounds dotted 



here and there with tufts of rushes, and sand wastes 

 covered with low bracken fern or stunted vegetation; 

 also partially-cleared lands and cultivation paddocks. 

 Inland it may be met with on open grassy plains, but 

 more often on the margins of rivers and lightly timbered 

 lands. In New Soutli Wales and Victoria it is found 

 throughout the year, but it is more abundant in some 

 seasons than others, when it congregates in large flocks 

 of one hundred or more in number. Generally this is 

 in autumn, after the normal breeding season is over, or 

 again in the winter months. Most of its time is passed 

 on the ground, searching for insects which constitute 

 its food. \\'hen perched on the summit of some low 

 bush, also during flight, it frequently utters a peevish 

 kind of note. In the vicinity of Adelaide this species 

 is known as "Tin-Tac." Near Sydney it is known as 

 the "Ring-neck," and " Nun," from its plumage. 



Dr. A. M. Morgan, in July and August, igoo, found this species very common between 

 Port Augusta and Mount Gunson, in South Australia, moving about in flocks up to forty or 

 fifty in number. It was only seen on flats and table-lands, and no new nests were found, the 

 residents informing him that this species, as well as Ephthianiira tricolor, had finished breeding. 

 Dr. W. Macgillivray informs me that in the Broken Hill District, in south-western 

 New South W'ales, this bird is present throughout the year, but is especially numerous in 

 autumn and winter, few, however, seem to remain to breed. 



From Point Cloates, North-western Australia, Mr. Tom C(7rter writes me: — " Ephihianura 

 albifrons is a casual visitor to the coast. Numbers were seen here on 14th February, i8qq, also 

 on loth May following, and a few stragglers between dates." 



Eight specimens were collected by Mr. K. Broadbent in Tasmania." Dr. Lonsdale 

 Holden has also frequently observed this species at Bellerive and Rokeby, near Hobart, and 

 found a nest, with three eggs, in a brush fence on the road to Ralph's Bay, on nth November, 

 1895, and another in a small bush at Rokeby on the 23rd October, 1898. 



WlIlTE-FliONTED Nf.V. 



Ann. Rep Aust. Mus., 1S7S-80, p. 13. 



