354 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



the forests, damp and secluded places, and scrubby gullies 

 where the herbage is thick and dense ; but some species are 

 found on the flat islands near the coast, covered with SalsolcB 

 and other shrub-like trees ; they usually frequent the ground, 

 over which they pass with celerity, and when their haunts 

 are intruded upon conceal themselves under the fallen or 

 dried herbage. They all build domed nests like that of the 

 common Wren {Troglodytes EuropcBus) ; and their plumage is 

 of a soft and silky character, impervious to wet. 



The members of this genus, like the CisticolcBy require to 

 be more closely investigated than I had opportunities of 

 doing during my brief sojourn in the localities they frequent. 

 It is just possible that one or two of them must be united ; 

 but, after having had numerous examples before me for nearly 

 thirty years, I can come to no other conclusion than that the 

 species hereafter described are really distinct. 



Sp. 213. SERICORNIS CITREOGULARIS, Gould. 

 Yellow-throated Sericornis. 



Sericornis citreogularis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part v. p. 133. 

 Muscicapa harbata, Lath. Ind. Orn., Supp. p. 11? 



Sericornis citreogiQaris, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii. 

 pi. 46. 



This is the largest and most attractive species of the genus 

 yet discovered, and, so far as I am aware, its habitat is 

 restricted to the south-eastern portions of Australia, where it 

 dwells exclusively in the districts known by the name of 

 " brushes." I personally observed it in those of lUawarra 

 and the Hunter, and in the cedar-brushes of the Liverpool 

 range. It frequents the most retired parts of the forest, 

 living in gullies and under the canopy of lofty trees, hopping 

 about among the stems of the tree fern, fallen trunks of 

 patriarchal gums, and moss-covered stones. It rarely flies, 

 and, when disturbed, seeks seclusion and safety by hopping 



