OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 243 



entrance near top ; deep ; built of grasses, lined internally 

 with feathers. 



Eggs. — Four to a sitting ; ground colour flesh white, 

 minutely freckled with red, varying in intensity in different 

 sets. Length (much longer than broad), 0.75 inch ; breadth, 

 0.5 inch. 



REED WARBLER, 



Acroceplialiis australis, did. 



Ak-rb-Sdj 'a-lus ds-tra'lis. 



Akros, suininit (a reference to the bill of the bird), a pointer ; kcphale, 



a head ; australis, southern. 



AcKOCEPHALUS AUSTRALIS, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. iii., 



pi. 37. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 



Key to the Species. — General colour brown to olive-brown ; bill 

 large, depressed and broad at base, with moderately developed 

 rictal bristles ; thu'd primary longest, the second equal to or 

 longer than the sixth ; wing 3 inches in length ; culmen, 0.75 

 inch. 



The present bird is well dispersed over the sedgy lagoons and 

 rivers of the eastern portion of the continent. The law of 

 representation has placed a second species of the genus upon 

 the similar water-places of the western State. 



The Reed- Warbler and Grass-bird live peaceably together 

 in the same reeds, though they are of opposite natures in 

 many respects. The former whistles in the day, richly and 

 harmoniously, just as it does in the night, builds an open 

 nest, lays plain eggs, and lives in water reeds. The latter 

 calls weirdly at night, and is quieter in the day, builds a 

 side- entranced nest, lays brightly coloured eggs, and lives at 



