238 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



Nest. — In general aspect much like that of the Pipit, and 

 placed in a slight depression in a paddock. 



Eggs. — Three eggs to a sitting ; ground colour light ])ro\vn, 

 thickly sprinkled with fine spots of a darker blown. Length, 

 0.75 inch ; breadth, 0.5 inch. 



STRIPED GROUND-TIT 



(Little Field-Wren, Streaked Warbler), 



Chthoiiicola sagittata. Lath. 



Tlio-nik'o-ld mj-e-ta'ta. 

 Chthon, earth; colo, to inhabit; sagittn, an arrow. 

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

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 3, 4, 6. 



Key to the Species. — Plumage olive-brown; throat and under 

 surface very pale j^ellowish, with broad black arrow-like streaks, 

 broader on breast and sides ; under tail coverts uniform yellow ; 

 tail quite even, tarsus scutellated ; first primary long, half length 

 of whole wing. 



My experience of the one species of this singular genus, also 

 peculiar to Australia, has been in well-timbered- land just west 

 of the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria. 



Its voice leads nomenclators to class the Striped Ground-Tit 

 vrith the Warblers. While at one time its voice is made up of 

 two or three pleasant and gentle high-pitched notes, at others 

 it is quite contradictory, being a single harsh and grating 

 note, or a series of such notes when alarmed. 



In habits the Ground-Tits appear to be a combination of 

 Tits and Pipits. Like the Pipit, it builds a nest on the 

 ground, placing it in a somewhat similar position, but the 

 structure recalls in appearance that of the Tit. 



