Vol. ^^l J^H SoiTRF AND Macpherson, Tlie Birds of Sydnev. 89 



an araucaria within a few feet of a pnblic footpath, and Iniildmg 

 the nest largely of stnng. In the spring of igifj they chose a 

 new site in an angophora tree 40 feet up, but this year (in June) 

 they are again busy in the old spot. 



The Striated Tit {Acanthiza lineata) is numerous in tlu; 

 eucalyptus and acacia areas, wandering about in small flocks and 

 workhig each tree quickly and thoroughly. Either this species 

 or the Little Tit {A. nana) is common about Doubl(> Bay in pepper, 

 robinia, and jacaranda trees. 



The Brown Tit-Warbler {Acanthiza pusilla) inhabits the mela- 

 leucas, and is very local. A pair live in a small patcli, of tea-tree 

 outside the office at Taronga Park all the year, and one can always 

 hear their pleasing httle warble. 



The White-browed Scrub-Wren {Sericornis frontalis) is found 

 in many little gullies and secluded pockets of thick vegetation in 

 the parks around the harbour. When nesting it always gives 

 away the situation by noisy protests when anyone comes near, 

 but at other times it is full of curiosity, and will come to within 

 a few feet of the intruder. 



The gay little Blue Wren-Warbler {Malurus cyaneus) sometimes 

 maintains a foothold in situations that only Sparrows can live in. 

 It is numerous throughout the suburbs even in comparatively 

 small gardens. One family party sometimes visits the Darlinghurst 

 gaol gardens, where there is only a small patch of greenery, 

 surrounded by the city, with its noise and dust and numerous cats. 

 A pair nested in Double Bay and reared their young, the nest 

 being 5 feet from the ground, within a few feet of a front door, 

 and close to the street. 



There are a few pairs of Lambert's Wren-Warbler [Maltinis 

 lamherti) in the parks around the harbour ; but, as they keep to 

 the undergrowth, they are not so often seen. However, they 

 come more often in the open in the autumn, and even overlap the 

 domain of the Blue Wren. In March last a party of Lambert 

 Wrens were heard uttering their little trills in rather an excited 

 way, and investigation showed that they were in a small bush 

 scolding something in the grass below\ A male " Blue " also 

 came to see what the fuss was about, and flew into the same bush, 

 only to be promptly chased out again by the female Lamberts, 

 but the male Lambert ignored him. The cause of the trouble 

 was a rat, which ran away through the bushes and was closely 

 followed by the birds. 



The White-eyes [Zosterops dorsalis) arc perhaps the most 

 numerous of our local native birds. They will be seen in any 

 patch of greenery eagerly searching for insects, but they certainly 

 come in for a good deal of condemnation from the fruit-growers 

 (hiring summer. In tl;e autumn they flock, and presumal)ly a 

 good many leave, but their place is probably taken by others 

 from further south, for there are numbers with us all the winter. 

 Flocks are not infrequently heard going over at night. A few 

 years ago a flock of about 100 were making a great to-do one 



