INSESSORES. 379 



parent birds to feed generally on the salt marshy grounds 

 near the water's edge. About Botany and the Paramatta 

 River, upon the borders of the Hexham swamps, &c., they 

 are plentiful. They evince a decided preference for open half- 

 cleared patches of land. I never found more than four or six 

 together, doubtless the offspring of one pair ; still it is not 

 unusual to find them in pairs only. As far as I am aware, 

 they have but one very plaintive note, which is emitted chiefly 

 while flying or when the nest is approached." 



Mr. White, of the Reed-beds near Adelaide, informs me 

 that a nest taken by him on the 10th of July was placed in 

 a tuft of rushes near the ground, but he has met with it in 

 a small bush at a height of two or three feet ; the ground- 

 colour of the eggs, like many others with thin shells, are of a 

 pinkish tint before being blown. 



The male has the forehead, face, throat, and all the under 

 surface pure white ; occiput black ; chest crossed by a broad 

 crescent of deep black, the points of which run up the sides 

 of the neck and join the black of the occiput ; upper surface 

 dark grey, with a patch of dark brown in the centre of each 

 feather ; wings dark brown ; upper tail-coverts black ; two 

 centre tail-feathers dark brown ; the remainder dark brown, 

 with a large oblong patch of white on the inner web at the 

 tip ; irides, in some, beautiful reddish buff, in others yellow 

 with a slight tinge of red on the outer edge of the pupil ; bill 

 and feet black. 



The female has the crown of the head, all the upper surface, 

 wings, and tail greyish brown, with a slight indication of the 

 oblong white spot on the inner webs of the latter ; throat and 

 under surface buffy white ; and a slight crescent of black on 

 the chest. 



