OF VICTORIA. 129 



WHITE-FRONTED CHAT 



(Jenny- Wren, Tang), 



Ephtliiaiinra albifroiis, Jard. and 8elb. 



Ef'thi-a-nurd alh'i-frons. 

 EphOios, languid ; oura, tail ; albus, white ; frons, forehead. 



Ephthianura albifrons, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. 

 iii., pi. 64. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 4, 6, 7, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Male — Black crescent across white breast ; 

 throat white ; forehead white ; hinder crown black. Bill slender. 

 Total length, 4 inches. 



Female — The blacks and whites are much reduced in contrast, 

 and all the parts are greyer. 



The White-fronted Chat associates in flocks in southern 

 Victoria between February and July, upon the high grass 

 and low bushes of open country, uttering its " tang," and 

 becoming as pugnacious as many other birds before the end 

 of July. This is one of four very beautiful and conspicuous 

 species of a genus peculiar to Australia. It is the only 

 one of the three in Victoria that does not migrate north 

 during the late part of summer. It is nomadic only, unless 

 with an exceptionally severe season it may leave the most 

 southerly parts of the colony, and even then it is, figuratively 

 speaking, still nomadic. All build their nests at the bases 

 of herbs or grasses, or some 18 inches from the ground 

 amongst bushes. The birds are early builders, make a cup- 

 shaped nest, deposit three eggs (one on each successive 

 day), and induce the young to leave the nest on the twelfth 

 day from the time of birth. The young are not born on 

 the same day, but with 24 hours' difference in time. If 

 an Qgg does not develop it lies in the nest for weeks, 

 perhaps till decay sets in — in any case, long after the nest 



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