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THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



There are two species of the Tree-tits. 



The Short-billed Tree-tit, S. hrevivostris. — New South Wales, South 

 Australia, and the Centre. Dull olive-yellow above, pale yellowish- 

 buff below; the eyebrow reddish-brown. It is more of an inland than 

 a coast bird. 



The Yellow-tinted Tree-tit, S. florescens. — North and West Australia. Is 

 pale olive-yellow above, and sulphur-yellow below; the eyebrow is 

 whitish. Its habits are those of its congener. 



From life. 



Hooded Robin 



A. H. E. Mattingley. 

 Petroeca Mcolor. 



Genus Gerygone. Fly-eaters. 



Small woodland birds, the Australian species with white 

 throats and yellow breasts, which busy themselves in hunting for 

 tiny insects which they discover amid the denser foliage of the 

 upper boughs. At the pairing and breeding time the song is 

 liquid and varied. The more widely distributed species, living 

 in New South Wales during the summer months, is often, and 

 not undeservedly, called the "Native Canary." The nest is 

 a beautiful structure. It is suspended from the leafy twigs of 

 a bushy tree ; is oblong-oval in shape, with a narrow entrance in 

 the side, which is almost concealed by a small protecting hood 

 and the bottom of the nest terminates in a small beard or tail 



