AESrS A.VD EGGS OF AiSTHAUAN blKDS. 



341 



Next. — Similar to that of Sittella rhri/sitptfni ; beautifully wrought, 

 almost entirely of webs and spiders' cocoons, coated outw;irdly with 

 small sliields of greyish outer bark which assimilate the particular 

 coloui' of the branch supporting the nest ; frequently the rim is deco- 

 rated with tine pieces of Ucheu ; inside hned with cocoons, white or 

 greenish in coloui-. Usual situation in a fork of a dead branch of a 

 oucalypt, melaleuca or other tree. Dimensions over all, 2^ mchcs by 

 2J inches in depth (i.e. from the top to the prong of the branch) ; 

 egg cavity, If inches across by IJ inches deep. 



Eygs. — Clutch, thi'ce usually, four occasionally, one rare instance of 

 seven (probably a combination clutch) ; roundish in form, or sharply 

 compressed at one end ; texture of shell fine ; surface glossy ; colour, 

 greyish-white, boldly blotched and spotted with dark olive or sepia and 

 slate. Dimensions in inches of a pair: (1) 7 x '57, (2) •Tx'bb. 



Ob.iervatioiis. — This splendid little Tree Runner inliabits Southeni 

 Australia, from the Mallee and diner tracts of Victoria, in the cast, 

 where I have seen the bird, to Western Australia. 



Although this active creature is well named Black-capped, it may 

 be remembered that the male alone pos.sesscs the black cap, while the 

 whole of the head of the female is black. 



Respecting this species, Gould gives a very truthful field note from 

 his journal:- — -"I met with a flock of these birds on the lulls near the 

 source of the River Toncns, about forty miles northward of Adelaide ; 

 they were about tliirty in number, and were extremely shy, keeping 

 the topmost branches of the trees, and the whole company flying tmm 

 tree to tree so quickly that I and my companion were kept at a full 

 run to get shots at them.' 



Gilbert, through Gould on the authority of Mr. Johnson 

 Drummond, gives a very good description of the nest in Western 

 Australia, where the tiny structui'e is usually placed in the highest 

 and mos£ slender fork of an acacia, and, as is usually the case, is most 

 difficult to detect from its diminutive size and from its resemblance to 

 an excrescence of wood. 



Examples of the nests and eggs of the Black-capped Tree Runner 

 in my collection were kindly forwarded by Mr. James G. Macdougall, 

 South Australia. He also sent me a note, part of which is most 

 extraordinary, regarding the nidification of the bird. 



Writing from Yorke Peninsula, Mr. Macdougall says: — " Sittelhi 

 piledtd builds a most e.xquisite nest of wool, hair, and lichens, against 

 tlie side of a branch or in a fork. The eggs are usually three in number. 

 I took four eggs 28th August; seven eggs 13th November. In the latter 

 case the nest was of the usual size, but two hens sat side by side on it 

 covering the seven eggs, some of which lay on the top of the others. 

 Before I had descended the tree the birds were sitting together again 

 on the empty nest. " 



The " family affair," mentioned in connection with the Orange- 

 winged Sittella, seems to be extended to the Black-capped species, and 

 aa observations go on mav be found to extend to all the other members 



