NESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSIHAUAN BIRDS. 28 1 



North's C. isabeUiiius, wliich is described as having the dark streaks of 

 the upper siu-face almost lost; but in the species under consideration 

 these marks are fairly distinct. 



For the North-west bird 1 proposed the provisional name 

 C. rubiyinosun or the Rusty-red Field Wren.* Dimensions in inches: 

 length 4i, wing 1-95, tail 1-7, bill -42, Uirsus -9. 



Mr. Carter informs me that at Point Cloates the bird is numerous 

 and may be seen on the tops of bushes warbling almost at any time of 

 the year, but it is difficidt to shoot because as soon as one is approached 

 it dives into the undergrowth and drops out of sight. 



Later, Mr. Carter kindly sent mo a pair (T and ^) of those birds, 

 together witii an egg. I see no reason yet to alter my provisional name. 

 The egg — from a set of three — may be described as roundish in forai, 

 glossy, vinaccous or buff-coloured, clouded (thickest) on the apex, with 

 rich, reddish-chestnut. Dimensions, 7 x 59 inches. The nest, which 

 was carefully concealed in a bunch of grass in dense herbage, was found 

 21st July, 1899. 



229. CUTHONICOLA SAGITTATA, Latham. {'I'S'i) 



LITTLE FIELD WREN. 



FfgKCi'.— Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. 72. 



lie/ereiice. — Ca.i. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii.,p. 290. 



Previous Dcscriftiuiis of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1H4S) ; also 

 Handbook, vol. i.. p. 391 (1865); Ramsay; Proc. Linn. Sec, 

 P- 359i with pi (iS6g) ; North: Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 149 



GKignrphica/ Distrihut ion. ^Smith Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, and South Australia. 



Xest. — Dome-shaped, small side entrance; chiefly composed of dry 

 glass and moss ; lined inside with feathers, &c. Usually pla<.-ed amongst 

 herbage in a depression of the ground, so that the nest is flush with 

 the sm-face and assimilates in appearance the gi"assy gi-oimd. 

 Dimensions : 3 inches high, 4 inches broad, and entrance 1 inch across. 



Ei/i/!<. — Clutch, three to four ; round oval in form ; texture of shell 

 fine; surface glossy; colour, ligiit or dull cochincal-rcd, with a darker 

 zone of the same tint round the apex. The remarkable coloiu' of these 

 eggs at once distinguishes them from all other AustraUan species. 

 Dimensions in inches of odd examples: (1) -72 x -59, (2) -71 x '57, 

 (3) ■7x-57. (Plate 10.) 



Observations. — This remarkable little species, although generically 

 tiistinct from the Field Wrens ( C'd/dininit/ni.s}, on account of the simi- 

 larity of its teiTestrial habits and nidificatiou to these birds may be fitly 

 called by the vernacular title Little Field Wi'en. Govild's Chthonicola 

 is merely a teclmical teiin, and an awkward woi'd for young students to 



' Victorian Naturalist, vol .\vi , p 3 (1899). 



