21 



Genus— MEG ALURUS.— Twelve tail feathers ; tail longer than wiag, 



I S3. M, graillillOUS, Gkl. (Sphenoeacus gramineus), Grass-bird. 



IJack brown ; secoiulaiies black, edged buft'; fore-neck and lower 

 throat more or less distinctly streaked with dark brown. 



Total length, 5'75 in. ; bill, 0'.5 in. ; wing, 2'3 in. ; tail, 2 5 in. 

 Hab. : 3. 4, 7, 9. 



184. M. galactotes, Tennn. (S galactotes), Tawny Grass-bird. 



Back broMn and black ; fore-neck and lower throat not spotted or 

 streaked ; head more rufescent. 



Total length, 6 '5 in. ; culmen, 6 in. ; wing, 2 6 in. ; tail, 3 '3 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7. 



Gents — ORIGMA. — Twelve tail feathers ; wing much longer than tail. 



185. O. rilbricata . Lath., Rock -Warbler. 



General colour above sooty- brown ; upper tail coverts and tail 

 feathers blackish, with narrow pale margins to tips of latter ; head 

 like back, the frontal plumes pale rufous, tipped with duskj- brown ; 

 throat ashy whitish, mottled with dusky bases ; rest of under sur- 

 face deep ferruginous. 



Total length, 5'75 in. ; culmen, 0'6 in. ; wing, 2'6 in. ; tail, 2'4in. 

 Hab. : 3, 4. 



Group — Cisticolae : Grass- Warblers. 



The AcanthizaB and Sericornes weaken the unity of this group because of 

 their likeness to the foreign Willow- \\''arblers (Pliylloscopi). — 

 Sharpe. 



Genus — CISTICOLA. — Tail strongly graduated or rounded. 



186. C exilis, Vig. and Hors. (including also C. ruticeps, C. lineo- 



capilla, and C. isura), Grass-Warbler. 



Sandy buff, much striped. 



According to Dr. R Bowdler-Sharpe, C. ruficeps (Rufous-headed 

 Grass Warbler), C. lineocapilla (Lineated Grass- Warbler), and C. 

 isura (Square-tailed Grass-Warbler) are seasonal and sex variations 

 of C. exilis. " In Australia the full-plumaged males have rufous 

 heads, the females striped heads, and the winter plumage of both 

 sexes appears to be blackish, with streaked backs and heads. C. 

 ruficeps is adult male ; C. exilis is the bird in full winter i)luinage, 

 while C. isura is only the square-tailed summer-plumaged l)irds." 



C. magna, Gld. In Ramsay's List as found in New South Wales, 

 but marked doubtful. No specimen in Australian Museum. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8. 



Genus— CHTHONICOLA.— Tail quite even ; tarsus scutellated ; first 

 primary long — halt length of whole wing. 



187. €, sagitttlta. Lath , Little Field- Wren. 



Plumage olive-brown ; throat and under surface very pale yel- 

 lowish, with broad black streaks, broader on breast and sides ; under 

 tail coverts uniform yellow. 

 Hab. : 3, 4. 



Genus — ACANTHIZA. — Tail quite even ; tarsus scutellated ; first prhnary 

 naiTOW and short — half length of second primary. 



188. A. nana. Vig. and Hors., Little Tit 



Band on tail strictly subterminal ; throat rufescent, streaked with 

 whitish shaft lines ; upper surface uniform olive-green. 

 Hab. : 3, 6. 



