1866.] MR. RAMSAY ON THE FOSTERPARENTS OF CUCKOOS. 573 



We find this species of Acanthiza usually the first to commence 

 breeding. I have taken its eggs in July, but for the most part find 

 them from August to September. They are three in number, rather 

 long, and of a beautiful pinky white, zoned at the larger end with 

 minute freckles and irregular markings of a light brownish red, 

 having also a few minute linear dashes of the same colour over the 

 rest of the surface. The zone at the tip of the larger end is extremely 

 characteristic ; few specimens are found without it ; but some, which 

 I believe to be the eggs of young birds breeding for the first time, 

 are of a pure white without any markings whatever. The average 

 length is ■$ or ^ f an inch, by f s in breadth. This species has 

 two, and sometimes three broods in the year, stragglers breeding 

 as late as December and January, and is perhaps more frequently 

 the fosterparent of the Bronze Cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus) than any 

 other species. Two Cuckoo's eggs of this species have more than 

 once been taken out of the one nest at the same time, but we have 

 never found more than one young Cuckoo hatched. 



Except during the breeding-season, the Lineated Acanthiza is found 

 to assemble in small troops from five to eight or ten in number, tra- 

 versing the leafy boughs of the Eucalypti, turpentines (Syncarpia), 

 and almost all trees alike, showing no preference to any species. 



This Acanthiza, although frequently found building its nests 

 within 2 or 3 feet of the ground, as well as among the higher branches 

 of the trees, is strictly arboreal. 



Their song is a slight twitter, or rather a combination of twitter- 

 ings, very merry and lively, besides a pleasant little warble of short 

 duration, invariably emitted when engaged in conveying a fresh piece 

 of material to its nest. 



2. The Yellow Acanthiza. Acanthiza nana, Gould, Birds of 

 Australia, hi. pi. 60. 



This species, the smallest of its genus, and doubtless the most di- 

 minutive of our Australian birds yet discovered, with the exception 

 of Smicrornis flavescens, closely resembles Acanthiza lineata in its 

 habits and actions. Seldom, it' ever, found on the ground, it may 

 almost always be observed among the thickest and most leafy boughs, 

 creeping about through the foliage, clinging, head downwards, to 

 the ends of the twigs — in every possible position — sometimes flut- 

 tering in front of a bunch of leaves, and darting into the midst of 

 them to capture some spider or grub. 



It is a noisy little bird, especially during the early part of the 

 morning, at which time it is exceedingly lively and busy searching 

 for food. 



The Yellow Acanthiza has no continued song ; but nevertheless it 

 is very delightful to hear its pleasant twittings among the flower- 

 beds and fruit-trees, its pleasing and varied sounds being occasion- 

 ally accompanied by a sharp note resembling "tsze," "tsze," "tsze," 

 " tsze," "tsze," "tsze," &c, hissed through the teeth. 



The nest of this species is not by any means as neat a structure 

 as that of A. lineata; it is, moreover, placed in situations quite dif- 



