2i8 .VESTS AND EGGS 01' AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Wrens he had previously seen. I quote from Mr. Keartland's field 

 notes: — * "When approaching Separation Well we were surprised to find 

 a species of small bird hiding in the spinifex. Numbers were seen, but, 

 owing to their iigility in concealing themselves, and their disinclination 

 to fly, it was difficult work to secure them. The first one obtained was 

 caught by Messrs. L. A. Wells and G. L. Jones, by simply throwing a 

 waterproof sheet over the tussock in which it secreted itself, and then 

 removing the grass by degi-ees until the bird was c;iught. It proved to 

 be an immature female. At the Well I succeeded in obtaining three 

 more (two males and one female). The males were exceedingly brilhant 

 in colour-, the throat being of a very bright lavender-blue. These were all 

 shot in a low acacia bush on a sand-hill. Three of their nests were found 

 in the spinifex, but the young ones had all taken flight. These nests 

 closely resembled those of the Maluri, but had rather large side openings." 



172. — Sphbnura brachyptera, Latham. — (202) 



BRISTLE BIED. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol , vol iii., pi 32. 



ReJennce.^Ca.\. Birds Brit. Mus,, vol. vii., p. 104. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay : Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. Wales, 



vol. vii., p. 50, pi. 3, fig. 13 (1882); North: Austn. Mus. Cat., 



pi. 8, fig. 16 (1889). 



Geographical Distribution. — South Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria and South AustraUa (?). 



Nest. — Oval, dome-shaped structure ; composed of grasses and debris ; 

 situated in thick grass, ferns, &c., near a creek. 



Eggs. — Clutch, two to three ; oval in fonii, with somewhat broad apex ; 

 texture of shell fine ; siu-face glossy ; colonr, wann, or pinkish-white, 

 richly spotted vpith reddish and puipUsh-brown, so thickly on the apex as 

 to form a dark patch. In one example of a pair the dark patch is brownish, 

 the other being more purplish. Dimensions in inches : (1) I'l x -8, 

 (2) 1-08 X -78. 



Observations. — The scarce and curious Bristle Bird inhabits reed beds 

 and such Uke locaUties suitable to its habits in Eastern Australia. Little 

 is known of its breeding habits, by reason of the bird's secure retreat — 

 dense herbage bordering creeks, &c. The first discovered nest and eggs 

 were described by Dr. Eamsay from Mr. Ralph Hargreave's collection. 

 Those I have described were collected by Mr. S. W. Jackson in the Clarence 

 River district, during February. 



Breeding months September to February. 



• Proc. Roy. Soc, S.A., vol. xxii , p. 176 (1898). 



