124 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



migration, as they quickly come and go — far too rapidly for 

 this part of the life-history of any known bird. 



Nest. — A hollow of a tree with a small entrance, and 

 decayed wood to act as a floor for the eggs. 



Eggs. — Four or five to a sitting, pearly white and nearly 

 round. Length, 1 inch; breadth, 0*9 inch. 



GRASS-WARBLER 



(Corn-bird), 



Cisticola exilis, Vig, and Hors. 



Sis-tik'd-Jd ek'sil'is. 

 Cistns, a rock rose ; coJere, to dwell ; exilis, slender. 



Cisticola exilis, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol,, vol. iii., 



pl. 42. 



Geographical Distribution.— Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8. 



Key to the Species. — General description sandy buff, much 

 striped ; tail strongly graduated or rounded. Total length, 

 4 inches. 



Winter Plumage. — Male and female — Blackish, with streaked 

 head and back. 



Summer Plumage. — Male — Head rufous. Female — Head 

 striped. 



The Grass- Warbler is a tawny-coloured little bird that 

 seems to come when the corn is about two feet high. It is 

 nomadic, because when it has reared a brood of young in 

 a delicate, purse-like nest in the oat crop it goes. Previous 

 to this time it is not seen in settled districts. It is a bird 

 of the rank-grassed country, and particularly shy. Creeping 

 about and not showing itself when danger is near, it is, on 

 this account, not a well-known bird. I had a wonderful 



