GEOBASILEUS. 141 



3-*. GEOBASILEUS CHRYSORRHGEA, Quoy et Gaimard. 

 TeUow-rumped G-eobasileus. 

 Gould, Handhk. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 229, p. 374. 



" I found this bird one of the most common upon the banks of 

 the Hunter River, also in the Wellington and Lachlan districts. 

 Its nest is a bulky, rough, oblong structure, composed of grasses 

 and strips of bark interwoven in a loose ragged manner, with a 

 little cobweb and wool ; it is lined with feathers and fine grasses. 

 The entrance is about half-way down the side, vrith rounded and 

 thickened edges but without any hood. The most peculiar 

 characteristic of the nest is a cup-shaped framework placed upon 

 the top (often a little to the one side), as if formed for the 

 commencement of another nest ; this I found is made when the 

 framework of the true nest is formed ; but I believe it is added 

 to after the nest is lined and while the bird is still laying. The 

 whole structure is eight inches high by four wide, the frame- 

 work on top being two inches by three wide. The breeding 

 season commences sometimes as early as July and ends in December 

 during which time three broods are often reared ; the most usual 

 months are from August to November. Three or four eggs are 

 the number laid for a sitting : they are of a beautiful pure-white 

 colour, having brownish-red dots, centred with a deeper hue and 

 sprinkled over the surface or forming an indistinct zone upon the 

 larger end. Eggs of this species are often found without any 

 markings whatever.* Length 0'67 inch by 0-.5 inch in breadth. 

 Almost any bushy tree or bough afibrds a safe place for the nest 

 of this species : the ends of mangrove boughs overhanging a stream 

 or even those of the Casuarina, the branches of the Ti-trees as 

 well as orange trees are resorted to. The birds may frequently 

 be found in the gardens and orchards, and not unfrequently 

 hopping over the roofs of the houses.'' {Ramsay, P.Z.S., 1866, 

 p. 575.) 



A set in the Australian Museum Collection measure as follows : 

 length (A) 0-68 x 0-48 inch ; (B) 067 x 0-48 inch; (C) 0-7 x 

 0-49 inch. 



* In Victoria the latter variety is the rnle. 



