126 THE BIRDS OF THE COBBORA DISTRICT. 



During the last two seasons I have taken half-a-dozen clutches of their eggs, all of which have 

 been sets of three. 



Cinclothamphus cruralis (Brown Song Lark). — During the spring of 1916 and 1917, two of the 

 best seasons for many years, these birds have been very numerous in the more open parts of the 

 estate. Their nests are very difficult to rind. The female takes upon herself the task of incu- 

 bation, and is a very close sitter, so rinding the nest is simply a matter of chance — one has almost to 

 tread upon it before the sitting bird will flush. As a rule they breed late, often having fresh eggs 

 in January, but on November 14+h 1917, I found two nests, each containing three eggs in a very 

 advanced state of incubation. I have never found more than three eggs for a sitting. 



Cinclorhamphus rufescens (Rufous Song Lark). ---In a favourable spring this species is very 

 numerous on the estate, and although often found together with the Brown Song Lark, the present 

 species has a preference for timbered country, more especially dead timber, where there are plenty 

 of dead fallen branches upon the ground, beneath which they delight in builiding their nests, and 

 they just as often lay three eggs as four for a sitting, mostly during November. 



Ephthianura albifrons (White-ironted Chat). — A rather rare species here ; small flocks may turn 

 up at any time, but most of them seldom stay long, and very few of them breed here. I have only 

 found half a doyen of their nests, each of which contained three eggs. 



Ephthianura tricolor (Tricoloured Chat). — A few of these birds put in an appearance on an 

 average about once every five years ; they remain to breed, then disappear. They mostly lay three 

 eggs for a siting during November, but I once found a nest on October 19th containing two slightly 

 incubated eggs. 



Acrocephalus australis (Reed Warbler). — Some years this species does not put in an appearance 

 at all ; in other years they arrive during the spring in fair numbers, taking up their abode in any 

 suitable situation. At the present time (1917) a single bird (as far as I can judge) has taken a fancy 

 to my garden. This seems strange, because there is a large dam full of water with plenty of cover 

 around it not a hundred yards away. They breed here rather late, the earliest date on which I 

 have seen eggs being November 14th and the latest January 22nd. 



Megalurus gramineus (Grass Bird). — I have only seen one pair in this district ; they arrived at 

 my house dam about September 1st, 191 2, and built a nest in a clump of bulrushes, from which I 

 took three eggs. They almost immediately commenced another nest, and eventually laid another 

 clutch of three. 



Chthonicola sagitiata (Little Field Wren). -Not by any means a common species anywhere in 

 this district, but a few scattered pairs are to be met with in the more thickly timbered country, I 

 have only found five of their nests, and only one of them was without an egg or young of a Cuckoo. 



Acanihiza nana (Little Tit.) — Being so small, and usually keeping rather high up in thickly 

 foliaged pine trees, these birds mostly escape notice, but I am sure they are not here in any great 

 numbers. They are rather shy, and strongly object to any interference with their nest ; when it is 

 being constructed they will desert it foi the least cause. I have found several nests by seeing 

 the birds building, most of which have been torn to pieces upon my next visit to them. I have 

 taken four sets of their eggs, all during the month of October. 



Acanthiza pyrrhopygia (Red-rumped Tit). — A rather rare species, their range of habitation being 

 very limited. I have found five of their nests containing eggs, in three of which the full clutch was 

 a single egg ; the other two contained each two incubated eggs, and I have also found two nests 

 containing a single young bird. Their nests can always be distinguished from that of any other species 

 I know of owing to a number of long streamers of thin blades of soft grass always hanging from, 

 just below the entrance, 



