222 A'ESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Occasionally at mating-tdmo they may be seen on a low bush, but seldom 

 more than two feet from the ground. Wounded, it is almost impossible 

 to secure them, as they run to shelter and hide like mice." 



176.— Amytis stri.\ta, Gould. — (199) 



STRIATED GRASS WREN 



Figure. — GomM: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii , pi. 2g. 



Reference.— Ca.t. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii., p. io7 



Previous Descriptions of E^gs. — Ramsay ; Proc. Linn See , N.S. Wales, 



vol. i., 2nd ser., p. 1143 ri886); North: Austn. Mus. Cat., 



pi. 9, fig. 10 (1889). 



Ge.ographicnl DiMrihution. — New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Australia. 



Nest. — Almost open (so much so that when viewed from above the 

 contents may be seen), with side entrance near the top ; composed of old 

 or dead grass, in some localities mixed with shreds of bark. Usually 

 placed on the top of spinifex grass. Dimensions, according to 

 Dr. E. P. Ramsay : diameter, 4| inches by 2i inches in depth ; inside 

 2J inches across by | inch deep. 



Egg.<:. — Clutch, two to three ; nearly true oval in shape ; texture very 

 fine ; surface glossy ; colour, whitish or warm-white, finely freckled, more 

 particularly in the form of a belt round the upper quarter, with lights 

 umber or reddish-brown and light-purple. Comparatively large compared 

 with the size of the bird. Dimensions in inches of a proper pair: 

 (1) -84 X -6, (2) -83 X -6. 



Observations. — Of the Amytes, or Grass Wrens, I never recollect seeing 

 any in a state of nature. They are all of terrestrial habits. Tlie Striated 

 Grass Wren is a frequenter of the scrub and undergrowth of the interior, 

 chiefly of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 



Gould hazarded the opinion that the bird built a dome-shaped nest and 

 laid foiu" spotted eggs. How far he was correct may be judged by the 

 desciiptions given above. 



Specimens of both nest and eggs in the Australian Museum, Sydney, 

 were collected by the late Mr. K. H. Bennett, from a tussock of porcupine 

 grass at Mossgiel, 1883, where this species was noticed breeding during 

 September and October. 



Mr. Keartland informs me that he was aware of eleven nests con- 

 taining eggs found in Central Australia. In every case they were situated 

 on the top of a tussock of porcupine or spinifex grass. 



During the progress of the Calvert Expedition, in August (1896), 

 Messrs. L. A. Wells and G. L. Jones found several nests containing eggs 

 belonging to this species, and subsequently a number of others were 

 obtained. The nests were always placed on top of a spinifex tussock, and 

 built of soft grass, with a large opening near the top. The eggs were 

 usually a pair. 



