On the " Woodhush Warbler^ 15 



Remarks. — As this bird is not sexecl, and no soxes are 

 given to any o£ the specimens of austraUs mentioned in lists 

 subsequent to Shelley's original description, T cannot say 

 whether this may not turn out a specimen of //. austraUs 

 after all. 



This, however, is very unlikely, as a seasonal, juvenile, or 

 sexual difference would hardly occur in the coloration of the 

 tail-feathers. 



IV. — Field-Notes on tJie " Woodhish Warhler" (Hemipteryx 

 minuta, Gnnn.). By F. Vaughan-Kirby, F.Z.S. 



The following brief notes upon the haunts and habits of the 

 little Woodbush Warbler may bo of interest to readers of 

 the Journal. 



This bird, it will be remembered, was described by Dr. 

 Gunning in the April number of the Journal (1909, vol. v. 

 no. 1) from specimens brought by me from the Woodbush 

 early in the previous year. 



1 again met with it during August 1909, when collecting 

 in the Groote Spolonken, and was enabled to make the 

 observations which form the subject of this article. My first 

 acquaintance with this Warbler in the Woodbush led me to 

 think that it was of comparatively rare occurrence, but from 

 my experiences in the S})elouken — where I had exceptionally 

 favourable opportunities of closely watching it — I am of 

 opinion that the rank growth of grass which everywhere 

 covered the Woodbush Hill sufficiently accounts for its 

 a[)parent scarcity. In the Spelonkcn I tramped through 

 many nides of similar grass and only saw one specimen, but 

 fortunately there were also large areas of "old burns/^ and 

 there I frequently met with the little creature. I never saw 

 them, however, on fresldy burnt ground. 



When found in long grass it invariably adopts a definite 

 line of action : a sudden rise at oue's feet^ a short, quick, 

 low flight to some swaying grass-stem, a momentary pause 

 as it clings thereto, then a dive — as sudden as its rise — into 



