Vol. III. 

 1903 



Milligan, Nests and Nestlings of Certain Acanthizce. 103 



appears to be a small white cup-lichen, much resembling the 

 excreta of small birds. The entrance to the nest is circular, 

 and well and neatly constructed, the inside being lined with a 

 casing of hair-like material. The nest was taken from a shrub 

 about 6 feet from the ground. 



Nestling. — In securing the nest Mr. Lawson was also fortunate 

 in obtaining with it three nestlings, although perhaps the eggs 

 would have been a greater prize. They, however, are distinctly 

 helpful in the respect that they confirm the points of separation 

 from the nearest ally of this species, Acanthiza uropygialis, and 

 other members of the genus. The most notable feature in the 

 nestlings of the new species is the absence of the " shell " or " scale " 

 markings on the forehead, which are present in the nestlings of 

 A. uropygialis and A. tenuirostris. On the other hand, the 

 " ripple " markings present on the cheeks of the adult of the new 

 species are also present on the nestlings. Another point of dis- 

 tinction between the latter nestlings and those of A. uropygialis 

 is the colouring of the tail feathers. In the nestlings of A. uro- 

 pygialis these feathers, which protrude out of their enveloping 

 sheaths fully a quarter of an inch, are wholly black, except at 

 the ends, which are burnished with chestnut, while in A. robusti- 

 rostris the same feathers are, excepting a very narrow black 

 transverse band, wholly of a very pale snuff colour. Further, 

 there are present in the nestlings of the species under notice the 

 buff sides of the body, which are a characteristic of the adult 

 female, but which are not present in either the adult or young of 

 A. uropygialis. The bills of the nestlings of A. robustirostris 

 are also very much smaller than in the latter species. The 

 nestlings of both species have the feathers of the lower breast 

 and abdomen well developed and silky white. The description of 

 the nestling is as follows : — General colour of upper surface, brown; 

 rump and upper tail coverts and tail feathers very pale snuff 

 with black transverse band across the middle of the latter ; wings 

 blackish-brown, secondaries with pale buff margins ; throat 

 white ; chest ashy grey ; abdomen pure silky white, with sides 

 of body clear buff ; under surface of tail feathers slightly paler 

 than upper surface ; iris dark brown ; beak, legs, and feet dark 

 leaden-grey. 



Since the publication of my description of the above species 

 Mr. Lawson has forwarded me a second parcel of skins. The 

 features which caused me to separate the species from the other 

 members of the genus are constant in these skins, and I have 

 not anything to add to the description already given. 



Acanthiza tenuirostris (Zietz), (Small-billed Tit). 



Nest. — The nest of this species is neatly woven and compact, 

 and about the size and shape of a large Lisbon lemon. It is 

 domed, and has a neat circular entrance, which is nearer the top 

 than the bottom, and making the lower section a spacious pocket. 

 It is composed of narrow strings of the bark of, apparently, large 



