in the Neighbourhood of Sydney. 27 / 



Several pairs have for some time past taken possession of an 

 old bathing-house at Dobroyde, where every year they build 

 on the lower beams, within a few inches of high-water mark : 

 these nests are always composed of black pitchy mud, mixed 

 with seaweed, obtained, I have no doubt, from the flats at low 

 tide ; the lining consists of soft dry pieces of bleached sea- 

 weed. 



18. CiSTicoLA RUFiCEPs, Gould, Handb. B. Austral, i. p. 353. 



I have before me at present the eggs of two, if not three, 

 species of Cisticula, all taken from nests placed in like situa- 

 tions, among the reeds, small plants, and weeds growing upon 

 the edges of swampy places. 



The nests, as well as the eggs, of all closely resemble each 

 other, being small cup-shaped structures, partly slung to, and 

 partly supported by, the twigs of the bushes, or upright reeds, 

 among which they were found. In form they are not unlike 

 those of Zosterops carulescens, but take slightly after those of 

 Acrocephalus australis, though they are by no means so bulky. 

 They are composed of fine grasses and woolly substances ce- 

 mented with cobwebs and spiders' nests, and are about 2 inches 

 wide, by 1*5 in. deep. The eggs in nearly every instance were 

 three in number ; but one nest contained four. The ground- 

 colour is a delicate pale blue, dotted, spotted, or blotched with 

 brownish-red of various tints and shades. Their length is from 

 •5 in. to '65, by from "4 to "5 in breadth. 



I found Cisticola ruficeps abundant upon the Hunter River, 

 on Ash Island and also upon Long Island, and in the reed-beds 

 in the neighbourhood of Hexham. This is a very lively and 

 interesting species, and diflfers remarkably in its habits from 

 what one would naturally expect in a grass- and recd-frequcnt- 

 ing bird. It may often be seen floating high in the air, almost 

 out of sight, and singing sweetly in a lively and pleasing strain, 

 although of short duration, but continued at intervals of about 

 a quarter of a minute. 



From my note-book I take the following remarks, made 

 during one of my last trips to the Hunter River : — 



" Ash Island, 21st Dec. 18G0. — Hearing more Cisticuliv 



