OF VIGTORIA. 113 



WHITE-FACED TITMOUSE, 



Xerophila leucopsis, €ld. 



Ze-ro-Jil'a lu-kojj'sis. 

 Zeros, dry ; philein, to love ; leukos, white ; ops, face, 



Xekophila leucopsis, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. iii., 



pi. 67. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 6, 7, 9, occasionally 2 and 4. 



Key to the Species. — Under surface white ; upper surface brown ; 

 forehead white ; tail square ; first primary larger than half 

 second ; bill higher than broad ; nostrils in a semi-operculated 

 groove, round, and partly hidden by feathers. 



There are three species of " White-faces." One is in 

 Central Australia, a second is rare in the north-west of 

 Victoria with South and Western Australia, while the 

 third is found in the dry parts of Victoria and further 

 inland. It is a cheerful little bird, delighted to build 

 under the verandah of the house and to act as a scavenger 

 about the property. Although omnivorous to a degree, 

 it is insectivorous. It is just such a bird whose presence 

 about a farm is worth cultivating, for it allows no waste, 

 and indirectly helps to prevent germ growth. It is un- 

 fortunate that the introduced Sparrow [Passer domesticus) 

 docs not confine itself to this exact occupation in the 

 country, which it well performs in a town. In most 

 respects the White-face is a tit, but the bill, which is 

 more like that of a grain-eater than that of a tit, separates 

 them. It associates in small flocks of a dozen, more or less, 

 and upon the ground pries into whatever is likely to afford 

 a meal. As the name implies, it is a lover of dry districts. 

 With regard to its nesting, it is not particular where it 

 builds. I once saw a nest in the rolled-up side-flap of a 

 waggonette. The birds, possibly thinking it was of no use 



