218 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



ing for the local museum. Such there should be in every 

 hamlet, in order that one may know the animals and plants, 

 useful or noxious, of the district. 



The name " Stench-bird " has been applied because of an 

 offensive smell it is said to emit. Personally, my nose has 

 not detected any objectionable aroma, but game dogs quickly 

 trace the birds by this means. 



Nest. — Suspended in rushes growing in water; dome- 

 like ; entrance near top ; deep ; grasses, lined within by 

 feathers. 



Eggs. — Four to a sitting; ground colour flesh white, 

 minutely freckled with red, varying in intensity in difterent 

 sets. Length (much longer than broad), 0*75 inch ; breadth, 

 0*5 inch. 



REED-WARBLER, 



Acroceplialiis aiistralis, Old. 



A k-rd-se,f' a-lus ds-tra'lis. 



Al'ros (a reference to the bill of the bird), a pointer; kephaJos, a 



head ; auslralis, southern. 



ACROCEPHALUS AUSTRALis, Goiild, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. 

 iii., pi. 37. 



Geographical Distribution.— Areas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 



Key to the Species. — General colour brown to olive-brown ; bill 

 large, depressed and broad at base, with moderately developed 

 rictal bristles ; third primary longest, the second equal to or 

 longer than the sixth ; wing 3 inches in length; culmen, 0"75 

 inch. 



The present bird is well dispersed over the sedgy lagoons 

 and rivers of the eastern portion of the continent. The 

 law of representation has placed a second species of the 



