252 NESTS A.\D EGGS 01- AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



203. SeRICORNIS GUTTURALIS, De VlS. 



WHITE-THEOATED SCRUB WREN. 



Rejennce. — Proc. Roy. Soc, (j., vol vi., p 244. 



Geographical Distribution. — North Queensland. 



J\V.s^ and Ei/ijx. — Undescribed. 



Observations. — Tliis veiy distinctive Scrub Wren has been found by 

 Mr. Broadbent on the Herberton high ranges and on Bellenden-Ker, 

 at an altitude of 5,000 feet, where it was usually in the sci-ub seen 

 upon the ground in company with the Black-headed Log Runner 

 (Orthonyx spaldingi). 



204. — Orthonyx spinicauda, Temmiuck. — (372) 

 SPINE-TAILED LOG RUNNER. 



Figure— GoaXA : Birds of .\ustraUa, fol., vol iv., pi. gg. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii., p. 329. 



Previous Descriptions oj Eggs. — Verreaux : Revue Zoologique (1847) 

 Gould: Handbook, vol. i., p. 608 (1865); Diggles : Companion 

 Gould's Handbook, p. 45 (1877): Ramsay: Proc. Linn. Soc, 

 N.S. Wales, vol. i,, 2nd ser., p. 1148 (1886); North: Rec. 

 Austn. Mus., vol. ii., p. 15 (1892J. 



Geographical Distrihution. — South Queensland and New South 

 Wales. 



Nest. — Somewhat large and round, with side entrance ; constructed 

 of dead sticks, leaves, and moss ; situated vipou the ground or on rocks 

 in the vicinity of fallen decayed timber, sometimes near the base of a 

 tree in dense scrub. External diameter 8| inches. 



Eggs. — Clutch, two ; sUghtly elliptical in shape ; texture of shell 

 fine ; surface glossy ; colour, pure white. Dimensions in inches of two 

 clutches: A(l) 1-14 X -85, (2) M2x-85; B (I) Ml x 95, (2) 1-06 x -84. 



Observations.- — This unique and strictly Austrahan form is pecuUar 

 to the dense undergi-owths of South Queensland and the northern river 

 districts of New South Wales; but it has been observed as far south 

 as Wollongong, about fifty miles south of Sydney. It is of terrestrial 

 habits, living entirely on the floors of the forest or scnib. 



A nest I found in the Big Sci'ub, Richmond River, which I believe 

 belonged to the Orthonyx, or Log Rimner, was in a damp situation 

 between the spurs of a tree in thick scrub. It was evidently in the 

 course of constraction, and was composed entirely of fresh moss, and, 

 as originally described by VeiTeaux, the entrance was on a level witli 

 the sm-face of the ground. 



