NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 23^ 



187. — AcANTHiZA APiCALis, Gould. — -(223) 

 BROAD-TAILED TIT. 



/•V^'Hti'.- Guuld : Birds of Australia, fol., vul. iii,, pi. 57. 



R(/et(HU.—Ca.t. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii , p. 296. 



Previous Desmptiuns 0/ Eggs.— Gould : Birds of Australia (iS4S;, also 

 Handbook, vol. i., p 368 (1865). 



Gt'injraphical Ui.itrihutiiia. — South, West, and North-west Australia. 



Xest. — Rouiuhsh in form, with side entrance near the top ; composed 

 of gra«s, fine shreds of bai'k, and spiders' cocoons, whitish or gi-eciiish in 

 colour; warmly lined inside with feathers. Usually situated in a low 

 bush a foot or two fi'om the gi-ound, at other times just out of reach, 

 ill scrub. Dimensions; breadth, 3 inches ; length, 3| inches ; entrance 

 I to 1 inch across. 



£'(/i/s.^CUitch, three; inclined to oval in shape; texture of shell very 

 fine ; siuiiice slightly glossy ; colour, delicate pinkdsh-whitc, blotched and 

 spotted (some examples being more streaked longitudinally) with chestnut 

 or reddish-brown and purplish-brown, the markings being more numerous 

 about the apex. Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch : (1) -69 x "52, 

 (2) -eax-Sl, (3) -68 X -5. 



Obserradnns. — In forested localities of West Australia this Tit is as 

 numerous as its eastern prototype (A. jmsil/a) is in Victoria or New 

 South Wales, consequently, I found several nests diu-ing my pereginnations 

 in the gi-cat western territory. With respect to the nest and eggs, I can 

 vouch for all Gould has stated concerning them, save that the eggs reach 

 a maximum of five in number. I never found more than three in a clutch. 

 The only other instance I am aware of where a larger number than tliree 

 is laid by Tits is in the case of the Tasmanian species, which occasionally 

 lays a quartet. But I have ah-eady stated that it appears a distinct 

 feature in the habit of some of the Tasmanian birds to lay a clutch 

 consisting of more eggs than do the mainland species. 



Like its eastern representative, the western Tit has the task of rearing 

 the yoiuig of the Bronze Cuckoo (C. j}/agosu.iJ. 



The following are my data referring to western Tits : — 



" 21st October, 1SS9. — Found Acanthiza's nest with tkree eggs. Also 

 met a boy with eggs of same species. 



" 22nd October, 1889. — Took Acanthiza's nest with three eggs. 



" October, 1889. — Took two or three containing odd eggs, besides the 

 single egg of the Bronze Cuckoo. 



" 8th November, 1889. — Took Acantliiza's nest with three eggs in 

 melaleuca scrub. Tliis nest was constiiicted principally of melalcuca bark, 

 and wannly lined with soft yellowish grass seeds, hair, and feathers. " 



Breeding months August to December. The Calvert Expedition foimd 

 several nests containing eggs during the first-mentioned month (1896). 



