238 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



and up to 3,500 feet. It appears to resemble the Yellow-nimped Tit 

 in habit — nearly always in open forest, upon the ground, in small flocks 

 of about half-a-dozen in number. 



192. — AcANTHizA CHRYSORRHOA. Quoy and Gaimarrl. — (2i!9) 

 YELLOW-RUMPED TIT. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi 63. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii., p. 298 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs.— Gou\d: Birds of Australia (1848 , also 



Handbook, vol. i., p 375 (1S65) ; Ramsay: P. Z. S, p 575 



(iS6fi). 



GeiKjraphicol Distrihutinn. — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, 

 South and West Australia, and Tasmania. 



Nest. — Bulky, lengthened in shape and divided. The nest proper is 

 closely covered, with a spouted side entrance ; above and adjoining is a 

 semi-open stnictiu-e or second nest, the whole being composed chiefly of 

 a mass of dry grasses, leaves, wool, &c. The nest proper is lined inside 

 abundantly with fur, feathers, or other warm materials. Situation usually 

 among the tliick branchlets of any tree of comfortable appearance, or built 

 into the sheltered pai-t of a hedge or bush. Occasionally placed under- 

 neath adjoining the nest of a larger bird, such as a Raven, Magpie 

 ((Ti/miinrlii»aJ, or Eagle. Dimensions over all : breadth, 4\ inches; length, 

 7 to 8 inches, the nest proper being about ih inches in length ; entrance, 

 1 inch across ; semi-open top nest 2 inches wide (internally). 



Egga. — Clutch, three to four usually; elongated in form; texture of 

 shell very fine ; surface glossy ; colour, usually piue white, but occasionallv 

 faintly speckled, especially on the apex, with dull-red. Dimensions in 

 inches of a full clutch : (1) -75 x -51, (2) -74 x -5, (3) -72 x -51, (4) -71 x -5. 



Observations. — Tlie Yellow-rumped, or common " Tom " Tit is one of 

 the most familiarly known of small Australian birds, and, except in the 

 extreme north, is foimd tlirougliout AustraUa, including Tasmania, in which 

 place it is commonly called the " Yellow-tail." The large massive nest 

 is also a familiar object in the coimtry. Who has not robbed a Tom Tit's 

 nest of its eggs of pearly wliiteness? or who has never speculated about 

 the utiUty of the attached second nest, or "upper story," so to speak? 

 As boys, we naturally thought it was the roosting-place for the male bird, 

 or wherein, as Gould states, " he may sit, in order to be in company with 

 the female during the task of incubation. ' But Gould entertained doubts 

 as to his own solution for the use of the second nest. 



I have heard it suggested that the upper nest is built to deceive 

 natural enemies who, when they discover a nest and see the vacant space, 

 pass on, supposing the home to be empty. Other persons say it is an 

 intermediate shelter for the fledgeUngs when they have grown too big for 

 the lower story, but not strong enough to fly. 



