294 Gilbert, Notes on Chestnut-rump ed Ground-Wren. [isf A"rii 



markings, the pigment being concentrated in a cap of intense 

 sepia, the centre of whicli is of the deepest hue, and graduating in 

 tone till it becomes lost in the general ground colour of the shell. 

 Again, some eggs have underlying markings of a faint purplish 

 colour, whilst others are entirely devoid of them. This species 

 is the foster-parent of the Fan-tailed Cuckoo {Cacomantis flabelli- 

 f or mis). 



The breeding season commences in July and continues till 

 November, or possibly later in favourable seasons, when one or 

 more broods are brought forth. Odd nests may probably be 

 found in the autumn. The following data will amply verify the 

 period mentioned. 



On 24/7/1910 I was with Mr. H. Kean, R.A.O.U., at Waterfall, 

 N.S.W., when he found a nest containing a set of three eggs. The 

 nest was placed 6 inches from the ground in a stunted Angophora 

 cordifolia, surrounded by a low thicket of other growth. The 

 outer part of the nest was composed of fragments of a coarse rush- 

 like material, the inside being chiefly of fine bark, and the bulk of 

 the lining was of feathers of the Rosella [Platycercus eximius). 



On 29/8/15 I was accompanied by Mr. Kean when I found a 

 nest tenanted by three young about 10 days old. This was out 

 from Pymble, N.S.W. The nest was placed in the centre of an 

 Isopogon aneathifolia, one foot from the ground. It was com- 

 posed outwardly of dry grass intermingled with lengths of a wiry 

 vine growth, the lining being of very fine shredded bark. 



On 21/9/1913 my brother, Mr. R. J. Gilbert, drew my attention 

 to a nest he had found. This one was at East Hills, N.S.W., and 

 was placed on the ground under a dead branch of a eucalypt, the 

 occupants being three young, four or five days old. The opening 

 of this nest was flush with the ground. After waiting a few 

 minutes I saw the female go in with a small green caterpillar. 

 An hour's observation gave me ample opportunity to identify the 

 insects served up to the young. Small green caterpillars and 

 white grubs were most frequently brought in, while every now 

 and then the menu was varied with small moths and flies. The 

 young displayed wonderful instinct at this tender age, for every 

 time the parent bird approached a chorus of squeaks was heard 

 when it was about 2 feet away. 



On 24/10/14, whilst walking along a ridge near Sutherland, 

 N.S.W. , a female flew up at about 5 yards in front of me. I con- 

 tinued to walk on, and before I had traversed another 15 yards 

 she flew up again, so I decided to make a search for a nest. After 

 zigzagging back across the path I had come I succeeded in finding 

 a nest containing three fresh eggs. From her actions I concluded 

 that she was bent on enticing me away from the vicinity of her 

 nest. The nest was on the ground under a tussock of grass in 

 the midst of other undergrowth ; the outward part of the structure 

 was mainly of grass, and from the copious lining of feathers I 

 could identify those of the Lyre-Bird {Menitra sitperha), Painted 

 Quail {Tiirnix varia), Tawny-crowned Honey-eater {Glyciphila 



