THE SINGING BIRDS. 



I 9 7 



The young are watched and tended with great care, and are saved from many enemies by the 

 prudence of their parents, who, should danger be at hand, remain perfectly silent and motionless 

 until the unwelcome visitor has left the spot. As regards the movements, diet, and habits of these 

 two species, we will only add that in almost every essential particular they resemble those of the 

 Warblers already described. 



The CLIPPERS {Ephthianura), another group of the same family, met with in New Holland, 

 are recognisable by their nearly straight beak, which is shorter than the head, compressed at the 

 sides, and incised close to the tip. The third and fourth quills of the long wing exceed the rest 

 in length ; the tail is short, and straight at its extremity ; the legs are long, the tarsi thin, and the 





THE WHEATEAR (Saxkola GHulithe). 



toes slender. We are at present acquainted with but few members of this interesting and probably 

 numerous group. 



THE WAGTAIL CLIPPER. 

 The Wagtail Clipper {Ephthianura albifrons), as the species most frequently met with is called, 

 is deep grey on the upper part of the body, each feather having a dark brown spot in its centre. The 

 wings and tail-feathers are dark brown, the latter, with the exception of those in its centre, decorated 

 with a large, oval, white spot. The fore part of head, face, throat, breast, and belly are pure white. The 

 hinder part of the head and a broad line that passes from the sides of the neck to the upper region 

 of the breast, are black. In the female the mantle is greyish brown ; the throat and under side 

 are yellowish white; while the ring about the neck and a light spot on the exterior tail-feathers 

 are only slightly indicated. This species is four inches long. Gould, who first described the 

 Wagtail Clipper, found it upon a small island in Bass's Straits, ami afterwards throughout the whole 



