372 BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA. 



near the top, and is composed of fine grasses ; its site varies 

 according to circumstances, but is generally among the smaller 

 branches of the trees. The number and colour of its eggs are 

 unknown to me. 



As its name implies, the Acanthiza nana is one of the more 

 diminutive, although not the least of the Australian birds. 



There is no outward difference by which the sexes can be 

 distinguished, neither do they undergo any seasonal change, 

 nor is there any great variation in the colouring of the young 

 and the adult. 



All the upper surface bright olive ; tail greyish brown 

 tinged with olive, and crossed by a broad band of blackish 

 brown ; throat and under surface yellow ; irides brown with 

 a very narrow rim of yellowish white ; bill and feet blackish 

 brown. 



Sp. 227. ACANTHIZA LINEATA, Gould. 



Striated Acanthiza. 

 Acanthiza lineata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part v. p. 14G. 



Acanthiza lineata, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ill. pi. 61. 



This pretty httle species inhabits most of the wooded dis- 

 tricts of South Australia, particularly the gullies among the 

 mountain ranges ; it is also tolerably abundant among the 

 brushes and trees near the brooks and rivulets of the Liver- 

 pool range in New South Wales. It is very active and 

 animated in its actions, clinging and prying about among the 

 branches in search of insects in every variety of position. It 

 is a permanent resident in the countries above-mentioned, but 

 is not found in Tasmania or Western Australia. Unfortu- 

 nately I did not succeed in procuring its nest, but judging 

 from those of the other members of the genus, it is doubtless 

 of a domed form. 



Its food consists entirely of insects, which are procured 

 from the leaves and flowers of the various trees. 



