346 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 205. HYLACOLA PYRRHOPYGIA. 



Red-rumped Hylacola. 

 Acanthiza pyrrhopygia, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 227. 



Hylacola pyrrhopygia, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol,, vol. iii. 

 pi. 39. 



The situations most favourable to the habits of this bird 

 are open sterile spots, here and there studded with clumps of 

 brushes or dense herbage, the beds and sides of creeks, and 

 the crowns of stony hills. I have generally observed it in 

 small companies, probably the brood of a single pair. 



Its agreeable song is poured forth while the bird is perched 

 upon some conspicuous part of a bush, or some little spray 

 among the branches of the large fallen trees, where it loves to 

 dwell, as on the approach of an intruder it can readily and 

 effectually secrete itself among the high grass and herbage 

 which have grown up amidst the branches. The facility with 

 which it creeps among or threads these little thickets is sur- 

 prising. It rarely flies, but depends for progression more 

 upon the rapidity with which it can pass over the ground, 

 than upon the feeble powers of its small rounded wing. 



I found it plentiful on the low hills to the north of the 

 Liverpool Plains, as well as in most parts of South Aus- 

 tralia, and believe it to be a stationary bird, for it appeared 

 to be equally numerous in summer and winter. 



Of its nidification I have nothing to communicate, its nest 

 not having been discovered either by myself or by any of my 

 party. 



Its food consists of insects of various kinds. 



The sexes present no visible difference in their plumage. 



Crown of the head, all the upper surface, wings, and tail 

 brown ; lower part of the rump and upper tail-coverts chest- 

 nut-red ; all but the two centre tail-feathers crossed near the 

 tip with a broad band of black, beyond which the tips are 



