282 NESTS AXV i.GVS 01- AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



grasp. The general plumage is olive-brown, striped or spotted with 

 black. Some of the feathers on the thi-oat and breast are washed with 

 yellow; eyes yellowish, bill and feet brown, abdomen white. Sexes are 

 nearly alike in colouring. 



The Little Field Wien is a stationary species, and enjoys a range from 

 South (Queensland round to South Australia. 



Gould has described the position of the nest and beautiful cochineal- 

 led coloiu-ed eggs acciu'ately. 



A prettily situated nest I once found was in an open spot, surrounded 

 with buttercups and other yellow flowers ; some of the flowering stalks 

 were standing up through tlie side of the nest. The nest contained 

 Hedged young birds. Date, 2nd November, 1886. 



The Little Field Wren has been recorded as a foster parent of the 

 Fantailed Cuckoo (C. flubi;rtif<iriniiij. How the Cuckoo can discover 

 a nest so artfully hidden in the ground is a puzzle. 



Mr. Hermann Lavi, who found a nest, October, 1865, of the " Speckled 

 Jack' (a local Soiitli Queensland name for Vhthonicola), writes;- — " Met 

 this striped-breasted little chap in several places, nearly always hopping 

 on the ground. In such situations his nest has to be looked for, and is 

 only discovered by seeing the bird fly hastily from it, because the snug 

 edifice is situated partly in a hole in the gi'ound, partly in the overhang- 

 ing grass ; besides, there is a short lid attached to it. Dry grass fiUed 

 out with feathei^s and hair is the composition of the nest. The beautiful 

 brownish-red eggs, three in number', are amongst the most handsome of 

 Australian birds' eggs. " 



Breeding months, September to December or January. The latest 

 date known to me was the end of January, when a fresh set was taken 

 by Mr. B. E. Bard well. 



230. — Ephthianura albifrons, Jardine and Selby. — (231) 

 WHITE-FRONTED BUSH CHAT. 



Figure— Gould : Birds of Australia, lol , vol. iii . pi, 64. 



Reference. — -Cat. Birds Brit. Mus , vol vii , p 666 



Previous Discyiptwns of Eggs. — Ramsay : Ibis, p. 178 (1863) id. , Gould; 



Birds of Australia, Handbook, vol. i , p 378 (1865) ; Campbell ; 



Southern Science Record (1882); North; Austn Mus. Cat., 



pi. 13, fig. II, (1889). 



Geugruphical Distribution. — South Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, South, West, and North-west Australia, and Tasmania. 



Ne:it. — Cup-shaped ; composed outwardly of dead stalks of plants, 

 grass and fine rootlets ; lined inside with hair — cow, horse, &c. ; usually 

 placed near the ground in the centre of a thick low bush, or in rush-like 

 grass in open or heath-like land. Dimensions over all : 4 inches by 3 

 inches in depth ; egg cavity, 2| inches across by li inches deep. 



