54 INSEGTI VOEO US BIRDS 



by its habit of hanging to gum-trees, is generally confused 

 with the Striated Acanthiza, but when it is associated 

 with A. chrysorrhoa the two are also considered as one. 

 The differences of manner and markings are quite evident 

 when once shown. Even in the newly fledged of both 

 sj ecies there is no room for a difficulty, for the conspicuous 

 markings of the adults are upon the young before leaving 

 the nest. The best reference plate of this species is to be 

 found in Diggles's " Birds of Australia." 



This restless bird has quite a different series of notes to 



the previous one, the calls being sharp, high, regular, 



metallic, and it associates in flocks in the eucalypti, flying 



quickly and with a less jerky motion than that of 



A. chrysorrhoa. The position of the compact and artful 



nest varies from a bracken 1 8 inches from the ground to a 



sapling, with occasionally a hedge as an environment. It 



is built according to circumstances, but always upon the 



same plan. The architecture will only vary in the material, 



and feathers where obtainable will form a favourable inner 



w^all. One of my friends tells me of four nests observed by 



himself in a forest near Camperdown which were built, so 



far as the main portion was concerned, with sheep's wool and 



grass, with rabbit's fur for the internal lining. In suburban 



districts the soft bark of trees is largely used, with feathers. 



The eggs are laid on each alternate day, and three is a 



usual number for a sitting, sometimes four. The time of 



incubation is 18 days, and the time from the breaking of 



the shell to the departure from the nest 19 or 20 days, and, 



like the former species, it is vigorous, and capable of first 



flight almost equal to that made by the parents. 



Mr. Geo. Graham, of the Heytesbury Forest, having 

 more than ordinary interest in nature, has written to me 

 of a fact showing evident persistence on the part of a pair 



