PLATE XIXIX. 



GENUS CONOPOPHILA (Reichenbach). 



fJlHE two species known of this genus both inhabit the north coast of Australia. 



CONOPOPHILA ALBIGULAPJS {Gould). 



WHITE- THRO A TED H ONE Y-EA TER. 



GILBERT first discovered this species on a little island in Van Diemen's Gulf, but it has since 

 been found to be rather abundant in most of the swamps and mangrove islands about the 

 north coast. It is not found in any other locality. 



The song, which is very pretty, is uttered while Hitting about with great activity among the 

 branches, or while perched on those near the top of the tree. 



The food consists almost entirely of insects. 



It breeds in November and the two following months. The nest is formed of narrow strips 

 of the bark of the Melaleuca (tea-tree) fastened together, and lined with soft fibres and grasses. It 

 is suspended from a branch overhanging the water, and is so situated that the rays of the sun are 

 kept off by the leaves. The eggs, either two or three in number, are in length nine lines and in 

 breadth six lines. Their colour is white, thickly spotted with chestnut-red. 



The head is grey ; all the upper surface, wings and tail, brown ; primaries and basal half of 

 the tail-feathers niaro-ined with yellow : secondaries and other winof-feathers margined with dark 

 brown; throat, white; chest and Hanks, reddish-buff; centre of abdomen, white; rest of under surface, 

 grey; irides, brown; bill, legs and feet, blackish-grey. 



Total length, 4,^ inches ; bill, § inch ; wing, 2| inches ; tail, 1 inches ; tarsi, f inch. 



Habitat: Northern portion of Australia. 



CONOPOPHILA RUFIGULAPIS (Gould). 



RED- THRO A TED HONE Y-EA TER. 



ALMOST nothing is known of the habits and economy of this bird, which was tirst discovered on 

 the northern coast of Australia by Mr. Bynoe, of H.M.S. "Beagle." It can easily be dis- 

 tinguished from Conopophila Albigularis by its smaller size and the red colour of the throat, though 

 in structure it is closely allied to that species. 



