OF VICTORIA. 133 



In one colony, across the river, some birds had fresh eggs, 

 others had young, and a few nests were being built in 

 preparation for the eggs. 



^est. — In all respects the same as an average specimen of 

 Ephlhianura albi/rons, described above. 



Eggs. — So much like those of E. albi/rons that the differ- 

 ence in colouration and size is scarcely perceptible. 



ORANGE-WINGED TREE-RUNNER 



(Bauk-runnkr), 



Sittella chrysoptera, Lath. 



Sl-td'd kris-op'te-rd. 



Sitte, a kind of wood-pecker [sittella, diminutive) ; chrmos, gold ; 



pteron, a whig. 



Sittella CHRYSorTERA, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol. , vol iv., 

 pi. 101. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 2, 3, 4, 6. 



Key to the Species. — Middle third of wing quills forming a 

 large rusty-red patch ; breast and abdomen streaked with 

 brown ; crown of head dark brown. Bill pointed and slightly 

 curved upwards ; nostrils with a cutaneous valve. 



The vernacular name implies the habit. While this species 

 keeps mostly to the east and south of the colony, there is a 

 second (*S'. pileata. Black-capped Tree-runner) that resorts 

 to the timber of the north-west. Both search the crevices 

 of limbs by spirally working, head downwards. This habit 

 is in contradistinction to that of the Tree-creepers (Climac- 

 teris), which inspect carefully the crevices as they move 

 spirally up the tree. Both genera are great eaters of hard- 

 winged insects. The Sittella? go in small flocks of about 



