NESTS AXD LOGS UF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. i8l 



Observations. — This brilliautl3'-coloured Wren, witli its orange-scarlet 

 back, is a very conspicuous species, especially when the bii-d is seen on 

 the wing or even at rest on a bowing stalk of grass. 



It is foiuid chiefly iu the southern half of Queeuslaud ; also in the 

 northern portion of New South Wales. 



In October, 1885, I found a nest in a tussock of grass at Coomooboo- 

 laroo, containing yoiuig. Previously, however, I had fortunately received 

 eggs, which I duly described, from the owner of tjiat station. A nest was 

 taken at Coomooboolaroo on the 26th of March, 1896. 



Gould obtained sevex'al pairs of the Orange-backed Wren in the 

 valleys under the Liverpool Range, but, although it was the breecUng 

 season, he did not succeed in finding a nest. Dr. Ramsay seemed the 

 first authenticated nest and eggs of tliis species, at Lismore, Richmond 

 River, on the 12th November, 1866. The discovery, however, was not 

 recorded till twenty-three years afterwards. 



BreecUng months, end of July or August to February. 



FAMILY— TURDID^ : TRUE THRUSHES. 



SUB-F.\MILY SyLVUN^E : WaRBLERS. 



153.— AcRocEPH.\Lus AusTRALis, Gould. (246) 



REED WARBLER. 



Figure. — GouM : Bircis of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. 37. 

 Refeyence. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. v., p. 100. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1848), also 

 Handbook, vol. i. p. 402 (1865) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., 

 p. 169 (1889). 



Geographical Distribution. — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, 

 South Australia, and Tasmania ; also Lombock (A. R. Wallace). 



ye.st. — Cup-shaped, deep; outwardly composed of long, soft, pliable 

 stems of aquatic plants, woven and intemiixed Avith swamp debris, 

 roots, &c. ; usually firmly secured on four or five reeds standing in water. 

 Other examples are composed of a mass of dark-coloured roots ; hned inside 

 in cither case with a goodly supply of clean yellowish grass, chiefly the 

 soft tops of flowering portions. Dimensions over all, 3 to 3h inches by 3^ 

 to 4 inches in depth; egg ca\'ity, If to If inches across by 2 inches deep. 



Eqi/i. — Clutch, three to four; swollen oval in shape: texture of shell 

 close and fine ; surface glossy ; colour, greyish or greenish- white, faintly 

 spotted, in other instances boldly blotched, with rounchsh markings of 

 umber or olive of different shades, and grey. Dimensions in inches of a 

 proper chitch : (1) -83 x -61, (2) -82 x -6, (3) -79 x -6; of a smaller-sized 

 set : (1) -7 X -54, (2) -7 x -54, (3) "69 x -53. (Plate 9). 



