Insectivorous Hirds of New South Wales. 27 



90. Geobasileus reguloides, Vigors and Horsfield. Buff-rumped 



Geobasileus. 



AcantJiiza reguloides, Gould, Birds o£ Austr., fol. ed., Vol. nr, pi. 62 (1848). 



Geobasileus reguloides, North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 140(1889). 



The Buff-rumped Geobasileus is often found in the same localities as the 

 preceding species, aud is distributed over most parts of the Colony. It is 

 usually met with in autumn and winter in small flocks of from seven to ten 

 in number, busily engaged in searching for insects in ,the grassy glades of 

 the lightly-timbered undergrowth near the coast, or open forest country 

 inland. The nest of this species, which is usually built in the forked trunk 

 of a tree, and hidden by strips of bark, or under an overhanging bank, is a 

 dome-shaped structure, composed of strips of bark and grasses, lined inside 

 with feathers, opossum-fur, or the silky down from the seed-pods of the 

 " Cotton Plant." Frequently, too, the nest is placed in the mortise-hole of a 

 post, or at the bottom of a low shrub. Eggs, three or four in number for a 

 sitting, of a delicate white ground colour, freckled and spotted on the thicker 

 end with different shades of reddish and purplish brown, which in most 

 instances become confluent and assume the form of a zone ; length, 067 x 047 

 inch. This species is not uncommon in the orchards near Eastwood, and 

 where I saw several feeding a young Fan-tailed Cuckooo on the 1st of 

 January. 



91. Ephthianuea albierojts, Jar dine and Selbg. White-fronted 



Ephthianura. 



Ephthianura albifrons, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. in, pi. 61 (1848); 

 North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 144, pi, xm, fig. 11 (1889). 



A resident species, frequently met with during spring and summer in 

 marshy localities, or among low ferns on the sand-covered wastes near the 

 coast, and on the open plains and partially-cleared country inland. The 

 nest of this bird is usually built in a tuft of rushes, or in a low bush near 

 the ground; it is an open, cup-shaped structure, outwardly composed of very 

 fine twigs or coarse grasses, and neatly lined inside with finer grasses and 

 hair. Eggs, three or four in number for a sitting, pure white, sparingly 

 spotted and dotted or irregularly marked with rich reddish-brown ; length, 

 0'67 x 0"18 inch. The food of this species, like the other members of the 

 genus Ephthianura, consists principally of caterpillars and soft-bodied insects. 

 The figure represents a male. August and the two following months con- 

 stitute the usual breeding season, but nests containing fresh eggs have been 

 found during March and April near Sydney. 



92. Ephthianura aurifrons, Gould. Orange-fronted Ephthianura. 



Ephthianura aurifrons, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. in, pi. 65 

 (1848) ; North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 144 (1889). 



A plain-frequenting species, inhabiting the central and western districts 

 of the Colony. It is usually met with in small flocks of from ten to twe nty 

 individuals, the brilliant orange-coloured plumage of the male frequently 

 attracting one's attention when travelling over those wide expanses in which 

 the "Cotton Bush" (Kochia aphylla) and "Salt Bush" (Rhagodia para- 

 bolica) abound. The nest of the Yellow-fronted Ephthianura is usually 



