96 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



in an active gambol among the trees, but very soon settle to 

 nest-building, and pair oi! to rear their family of two. 



Two other species of Caterpillar-eaters, the Pied and 

 Jardine's, are rarer than the above. 



Nest. — In all cases a very small and shallow structure — 

 often a llimsy one— made of grasses, and partly covered with 

 cobwebs ; placed upon a horizontal bough, or, more rarely, in 

 a fork. 



Eggs. — Two or three to a sitting ; light green, with chestnut- 

 brown or wood-brown spots and blotches. Length, 0.75 inch ; 

 breadth, 0.6 inch. 



RUFOUS SONG-LARK, 



Ciiiclorhaiuphiis riifesceiis, lig. and Hors. 



Sing-kld-ram'Jus r'6-fes'eas. 

 Kigklos, a bird; rhampJws, a curved beak; rufescere, to redden. 



CiNCLORHAMPHUS RUFESCENS, Gould, " Biids of Australia," fol., vol. iii., 



pi. 7G. 



Geographical Distribution.— Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. 



Key to the Species. — General appearance rufous-tinted; throat and 

 abdomen whitish; upper tail coverts rufous; inner secondaries 

 nearly equal the primaries in length. 



It will come as a surprise to many to know that we have 

 Song-Larks in Australia. Not only is this so, but we also 

 have, in many parts of the south, the British Singing Lark, a 

 highly popular introduction. 



Certainly, our two species do not equally compare with the 

 bird of the fatherland, because their song, though strong, is 

 not so rich or so prolonged. 



Although we generally call the Cinclorhamphi the Song- 



