2S Insectivorous Birds of New South Wales. 



built in a low bush near the ground, and although slightly smaller, in other 

 respects closely resembles that of the preceding species. Eggs, three in 

 number, white, spotted and dotted with rich red; length, 003 x 0'49 inch. 

 The figure represents a male. 



93. EpniniANUBA tricolor, Gould. Crimson-fronted Ephthianura. 



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

 North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 143, pi. xiii, fig. 12 (1889). 



A migratory speeies arriving in the inland portions of the Colony in 

 October, and departing again at the end of January. It frequents scrub or 

 timbered lands, on the outskirts of which it builds its nest in some low bush 

 or tuft of grass near the ground. Eggs white, spotted and dotted with dark 

 red ; length, 063 x 051 inch. The plumage of the adult male is even more 

 conspicuous than that of the Orange-fronted Ephthianura. 



91. Origma rubricata, Latham. Eock Warbler, " Cave-bird." 



Origma rubricata, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. in, pi. 69 (1S18) ; 

 North, Nest and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 142, pi. xiit, fig. 8 (1889). 



Although sparingly distributed over Eastern New South Wales, the Eock 

 Warbler is more often met with in that portion of the colony lying between 

 the Manning and Shoalhaven Eivers, frequenting the rocky sides of rivers 

 and gullies near the coast, and the ravines of the mountain ranges inland. 

 It is strictly insectivorous, and obtains its food upon the ground among 

 rocks or debris, but is too shy to enter the gardens of settlers. The nest 

 of this species is oval in form with an entrance in the side, and is composed 

 of fibrous roots lined inside with feathers ; it is usually suspended to the roof 

 of a small cave or overhanging rock ; but not unfrequently it is built in a 

 disused coal-pit. Eggs, pure white, and three in number for a setting ; length, 

 08 x 06 inch. 



The members of the following genera, Xerophila, Ghthonicola, Anthus, 

 C incloramphus, and Mirafra I have included in this list, although they are 

 not exclusively insectivorous, their food consisting to a certain extent also of 

 the seeds of various grasses, but they do no harm, and all are exceedingly 

 useful birds to the agriculturist. 



95. Xerophila leucopsis, Gould. White-faced Xerophila, "Squeaker." 



Xerophila leucopsis, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. nr, pi. 67 (1848) ; 

 North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 150, pi. ix, fig. li (1S89). 



This species is freely dispersed throughout the inland districts of the 

 Colony. It is usually met with both on the plains and in timbered country 

 in small flocks numbering from eight to twenty individuals, and almost 

 always on the ground, searching for the seeds of various grasses or insects, 

 which constitute its food. The nest, which is a rather large domed structure, 

 composed of strips of bark and grasses, lined inside with feathers or hair, is 

 usually placed in the hollow limb or trunk of a small tree, and occasionally 

 at the bottom of a thick shrub ; at other times it is placed in the mortise- 

 hole of a post or in the interstices beneath the nest of the Wedge-tailed 

 Eagle. The eggs are four or five in number for a sitting, of a dull white, 



