30 Insectivorous Birds of New South Wales. 



99. Cinclokamphus ituFESCENS, Vigors and Uorsfield. " Kufous-rumped 

 Skylark," " Singing Lark." 



Cincloramphus rufescens, Gould, Birds Austr., fol. ed., Vol. in, pi. 7G (184S) ; 

 North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 153 (18S9). 



The Rufous-rumped Skylark is a smaller species than the preceding one, 

 but precisely similar in habits, and in the times of its arrival and departure 

 from New South Wales. The nest is cup-shaped, and is composed of dried 

 grasses lined with hair ; it is usually built in a hollow scraped in the earth 

 at the side of a tuft of grass, or hidden by the dead leafy twigs of a fallen 

 tree. Eggs, three or four in number for a sitting, and subject to considerable 

 variation, the most usual variety found being of a purplish white ground 

 colour, thickly freckled and spotted with reddish-chestnut, chestnut, and 

 purplish-brown markings ; length, 0'81 x 0"62 inch. 



100. Mirafba horsfieldii, Gould. Horsfield's Bush Lark, " Thick- 

 billed Lark." 



Mirafra liorsfieldi, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. in, pi. 77 (1848) ; 

 North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 159 (1889). 



The present species frequents open grassy flats, low heath grounds, and 

 cultivation paddocks. When disturbed it only flies a few yards with a 

 peculiar jerky flight, and then suddenly drops into concealment again. It 

 is one of our most pleasing songsters, and may be often heard singing at 

 night while flying slowly about high in the air, and more especially on bright 

 moonlight nights about midsummer. 



The Thick-billed Lark breeds during January and February, constructing 

 a partially-domed nest of dried grasses in a slight hollow in the ground, 

 sheltered by a tuft of grass, or by the surrounding crop when built in culti- 

 vation paddocks. Eggs, three in number for a sitting, closely resembling 

 small specimens of those of Anthus australis ; length, 0"78 x 0'5 inch. The 

 sexes are alike in plumage. 



101. Megalurus galactotes, Temminck. Tawny Grass-bird. 



Sphenceacus galactotes, Gould, BuxU of Austr., fol. ed., Yol. in, pi. 35 (181S). 



Megalurus galactotes, North, Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., Vol. x, 2nd Series, 



p. 217 (1895). 



A rare species, seldom met with except in the north-eastern portions of the 

 Colony. 



102. Megalurus gramineus, Gould. Little Grass-bird. 



Sphenceacus gramineus, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Yol. in, pi. 36 (1848). 



Megalurus gramineus, North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, p. 116 (18S9). 



The Little Grass-bird is dispersed in favourable situations over most parts 

 of New South Wales. It frequents dense grass-beds growing in swampy 

 localities, the rush or reed lined margins of watercourses, and, near the 

 coast, the mangrove-fringed estuaries or sides of rivers. The nest of this 

 species, which is a deep cup-shaped structure, is composed of dried aquatic 

 plants, coarse grasses, or fibrous roots lined inside with feathers, the 

 entrance at the top being slightly narrowed or domed, and is usually placed 

 at the bottom of a tuft of rushes, or on the forked, upright, leafy stems of 

 a mangrove. Eggs, four in number for a sitting, of a reddish-white ground 



