356 THE BIRDS OF ATJSTEALIA 



Family Paridm. 

 Sub-family Parince. 



Bill without notch. Tarsus less than twice the length of the 

 hallux without the nail. Wings rounded. Toes short. Plumage 

 soft, woolly, lax. Sexes alike in plumage. 



Small, non-migratory birds, feeding on insects and seeds. 

 The Australian members of the sub-family are the nearest allies 

 we possess to the European Titmice, but differ from them in 

 their very plain plumage. Both genera are confined to 

 Australia. 



Genus Aphelocephala {Xerophila) . Whitefaces. 

 Bill higher than broad, robust. Nostrils partly covered. 

 No crest. Tail square. Small birds, brown above and dull-white 

 below; face in front of the eyes white. 



The Whiteface, A. leueopsis. — Australia except North. Without pectoral 

 band; bill and feet brown. Length 4 inches. 



The Chestnut-breasted Whiteface, A, pectoralis. — South Australia. With 

 a prominent cinnamon-brown band across the chest; bill and feet 

 black. Length 3.9 inches. 



The Black-banded Whiteface, A. nigricincia. — Central Australia. With a 

 narrow black pectoral band; bill black, and feet purplish -black. 

 Length 3.9 inches, wing 2.2, tail 1.55. 



The Chestnut-bellied Whiteface, A. castaneiventris. — Western Australia 

 (Murehison). — Flank and sides uniform chestnut; general cover 

 above dark brown, a patch of light brown feathers encroaching on 

 each side of the chest. Length 4.1 inches, wing 2.4, tail 2, tarsus .75. 



The Whitefaces are met with in small flocks, and are sociable 

 in their disposition. They are more frequently seen on the 

 ground than in the trees. They are very busy, and hop about 

 in a lively manner. They are not alarmed by the presence of 

 man, and on his near approach just flit aside into the nearest 

 bush. The nest is rather large, domed, with an entrance-hole 

 near the top, and is composed of dried grasses, moss, wool, webs 

 and dead leaves, lined with grasises or feathers. The eggs are 

 pinkish-white, thickly spotted and smudged with pinkish or 

 reddish chocolate, and measure .71 x .52 inch. 



