48 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



fork of a slight upward branch on the top of a high 

 eucalypt. 



Eggs. — Two or three to a sitting. Dull white, spotted 

 mostly all over with lilac-grey, portions of which appear 

 as if beneath the surface ; more numerous at broader end. 



SHORT-BILLED TREE-TIT, 



Smicrornis brevirostris, Gld. 



SmJ-croru'is brev i-rostris. 



Smlcros, a variety of micros, e.g., small ; ornis, a bird ; brevis 



short ; rostrum, a beak. 



Smicrornis brevirostris, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fob, vol. 

 ii., pi. 103. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 3, 6, 7. 



Key to the Species. — Under surface pale yellowish buff ; upper 

 surface dull olive yellow ; lores, eyebrows, and ear coverts light 

 reddish brown ; culnien :|-inch in length. 



Eastern Australia has one species of Smicrornis, and the 

 western and northern portions of our continent the other. 

 This is one of those little creatures that is only a fraction 

 longer than 3 inches, and for a distinguishing mark has a 

 stumpy bill. Like most of the other tits it associates in 

 shrubby trees, but unlike the majority it passes much time 

 in the high branches of tall timber, clinging in all sorts of 

 positions, and making a thorough overhaul in search of 

 insects, scales, and " hardwings," or other things. Unlike 

 the rarer bird of similar habits {Pseudogeri/gone culicivora) 

 its voice is not a strong one, resembling more that of the 

 " Yellow-tail." The Pseudogerygone has a dolce yet 

 powerful voice (a lullaby), which I have only heard in 



