178 Mr. E. P. Ramsay on the Birds of the 



out, they being almost upon a level with its edge. It is out- 

 wardly composed of grass and the young dry shoots of the reeds 

 which are so common in all the swamps near the Hunter River, 

 lined with fine grass, roots, and finally a very fine green moss. 

 It is very loosely put together, and requires to be moved very 

 gently to prevent it falling to pieces. 



The eggs were three in number, 6^ lines long by 4^ broad, 

 sprinkled all over with minute dots, of a light reddish brown 

 (brighter in tint than those of the Malurus crjaneus), but more 

 numerously at the larger end, where they are blotched with 

 the same colour. One of the three had no blotches, but was 

 only minutely freckled all over. The ground-colour is a delicate 

 white, with a blush of pink before the egg is blown. 



The only note of the birds, besides a slight chirp when flushed 

 and separated, is a slight twitter, not unlike a faint attempt to 

 imitate the Malurus cyaneus ; this I remarked several times 

 while watching them, I noticed several separate flocks while in 

 the swamp, which was at that time nearly dry. Some were hop- 

 ping along the ground, stopping to pick up something here 

 and there ; others, whose appetites seemed appeased, were creep- 

 ing along through the reeds about a foot from the ground, 

 but, as the reeds thickened, I soon lost sight of them. They 

 seldom take wing, except when disturbed, and not always then, 

 seeming very averse to show themselves. Once or twice, while 

 watching them, I observed one of them hop to the top of a tall 

 reed, as though to get a glimpse of the world above. When 

 coming suddenly upon a flock of Emeu Wrens, on following them 

 up, you find them keep to the reeds just in front of you. They 

 never take wing unless compelled to do so by being hard driven, 

 when they separate and do not get together again for some time. 



2. The White-fronted Ephthianure [Ephthianura albi- 

 frons, Gould, B. Austr. iii. pi. 64). 



These birds arrive here about the beginning of September and 

 October. In the latter month they commence to build ; for this 

 purpose they choose some open land, studded with low bushes. 

 The stunted Bassarice, the prickly twigs of which are often 

 used to form the framework of their nests, seem their favourite 



