390 BIRDS OV AUSTRALIA. 



The nest, which is placed on the ground, is a globular 

 structure, composed of grasses and feathers. The eggs are 

 three or four in number, of a light chestnut-colour, thickly 

 blotched with deep chestnut-brown, particularly at the larger 

 end. 



Forehead rufous, passing into the reddish brown of the 

 crown and upper surface, with a stripe of blackish brown 

 down the centre of each feather ; wings sandy brown ; in- 

 ternal webs of the primaries dark brown; two centre tail- 

 feathers reddish brown, the remainder reddish brown at the 

 base, crossed towards the extremity with a broad band of 

 brownish black and broadly tipped with white ; over the eye 

 a line of white ; ear-coverts mingled rufous and white ; throat 

 white, gradually passing into the buff of the under surface ; 

 all the feathers of the under surface with a stripe of brownish 

 black down their centre ; bill blackish brown, lighter at the 

 base of the under mandible ; irides rufous brown ; feet 

 blackish brown. 



Total length 4-^ inches ; bill f ; wing 2 J ; tail 2 ; tarsi |. 



Genus CHTHONICOLA, Gould. 



The single species known of this genus combines in a re- 

 markable manner the outward appearance, habits, and manners 

 of the AcanthizcB and Anthi, but is, I beheve, more nearly allied 

 to the former than to the latter. 



Sp. 239. CHTHONICOLA SAGITTATA. 



Little CnTHONicoiiA. 



Sylvia sagittata, Lath. Ind. Orn., Supp. p. Hv. 



Anthus minimus, Vig. aud Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 230. 



Chthonicola minima, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iii. pi. 72. 



This pretty little bird is usually seen on the ground in 

 small companies of five or six in number, and is so very tame 



