60 Order Passer if ormes, Family Melipkayiclae, Genus Myzavtha. 



Legs and Feet — yellow. 



Bill— Yellow. 



Iris — Light brown, bare skin below and behind the eye, 

 yellow. 



Measurements— Total length of skin, 255 m.m.; wing, 145 

 m m. ; tail, 130 m.m. ; bill, 18 m.m. ; tarsus, 32 m.m. 



The female resembles the male in colour, but is slightly 

 smaller in all measurements. The young from the nest 

 resemble their parents. 



Distribution — This bird is found in all the Eastern States, 

 but does not extend west of St. Vincent's Gulf, nor is it found 

 in Kangaroo Island. Until about 25 years ago it was 

 unknown in the Adelaide district, but since that time it ha* 

 gradually extended along the foot hills from the Barossa 

 Ranges until it is now fairly common, and is still extending 

 its range over the plains, for it is only during the last three 

 years that they have appeared at the Reedbeds, where they are 

 now fairly numerous. They appear to have reached South 

 Australia from the Murray, along the banks of which they 

 are common, though they do not extend into the mallee 

 country on either side of the stream. 



Habits — They inhabit open forest lands fairly well, but 

 not too thickly timbered. The high stringy bark hill country 

 with thick undergrowth is not favoured by them. In the 

 breeding season they are found in pairs, but when nesting has 

 finished they go about in small flocks of five to ten in number. 

 They are exceedingly noisy and animated birds, being always 

 on the move uttering a great variety of notes and calls. They 

 are very inquisitive and will peer down from the tree tops at 

 anything strange, calling loudly to the rest of the flock who 

 usually gather to join in the clamour. They are good mimics, 

 and will at times give imitations of the calls of other birds. 



Flight — Rather slow, straight and flapping, not undulat- 

 ing. 



Song — A great variety of notes. When feeding they 

 utter a clear bell-like note. Sometimes the whole flock will 

 gather in the top of a tree and utter loud squawking notes, 

 and at other times a shrill clear whistle. This last is the 

 alarm note, and is uttered on the approach of a hawk or other 

 enemy. They are occasionally a great nuisance to sportsmen, 

 frightening up any game they may be stalking. On the other 



