OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 121 



WHITE FACED TITMOUSE 



(Whiteface), 



Zerophila leucopsis, did. 



Ze-rofil-d lu-kop'sis. 

 Xeros, dry ; philein, to love ; leuhos, white ; ops, face. 



Xerophila leucopsis, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. iii., 



pi. 67. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 6, 7, 9, occasionally 2 and 4. 



Key to the Species. — Under surface white ; upper surface brown ; 

 forehead white; tail square; first primary larger than half second ; 

 bill higher than broad ; nostrils in a semi-operculated groove, 

 round, and partly hidden by feathers. 



There are three species of " Whitefaces." One has its 

 habitat in Central Austraha, a second is rare in the north- 

 west of Victoria and South and Western Austraha, while the 

 third is found in the dry parts of Victoria, New South Wales, 

 and further inland. 



It is a cheerful Kttle bird, dehghted if permitted to build 

 under the verandah of the house, and to act as a scavenger 

 about the property. Although omnivorous to a degree, it is 

 specially insectivorous. The presence of such a bird about a 

 farm is worth cultivating, for it allows nothing eatable to 

 waste,^and thus indirectly helps to prevent germ growth. 



It ^is unfortunate that the introduced Sparrow {Passer 

 domesticus) does not confine itself to this exact occupation in 

 the country, which it well performs in a town. 



In most respects the Whiteface is a Tit. The bill, how- 

 ever, is more hke that of a grain-eater than that of a Tit, and 

 separates the two species. It associates in small flocks of a 

 dozen, more or less, and upon the ground pries into whatever 

 is hkely to afford a meal. As the name imphes, it is a lover 

 of dry districts. 



