PLATE XI. 



GENUS ACANTHIZA (Vig. and Horsf.) 



THE members of this genus have an extensive range over Tasmania and the whole of the continent 



of Australia, with the exception of the north coast. Some of them arc often the foster-parents 

 of the young of the Bronze Cuckoo. 



ACANTHIZA PUSILLA (Vig. and Horsf.) 

 LITTLE BROWN ACANTHIZA. 



THERE are very few parts of New South Wales in which this species is not found, frequenting 

 the thickets and even gardens in close proximity to dwellings. 



It Hits about the bushes and the branches of trees, clinging to them in every variety of position 

 whilst active!}* engaged in procuring the various insects which constitute its sole nourishment. 



Except when perched on a branch, it holds its tail erect from the body, a habit which is shared 

 by most of the members of the genus. 



The eggs, which are either four or five in number, are laid in a nest composed of grasses and 

 narrow strips of bark, interlaced with the webs and cocoons of spiders. They are of a greyish-white 

 colour, freckled with reddish-chestnut, the spots being most numerous at the larger end, where they 

 often form a zone. The average length of the eo-o-.s is eight lines and a half, and the breadth 

 is six lines. 



The sexes are exactly alike, both in size and plumage. 



The forehead is rufous-brown ; the upper surface, wings, and tail, dark brown, tinged with 

 olive ; rump, reddish-brown ; throat, chest, sides of the neck, and ear-coverts, greyish-olive, each feather 

 margined with dark grey; under surface, buffy-white ; irides, light yellow; bill, black; legs and feet, 

 l ight brown. 



Habitat : New South Wales. 



ACANTHIZA DJEMENENSIS (Gould). 



TA S.)fA NIAN A CANTHIZA . 



TI^HIS is the Tasmanian representative of Acanthiza Pusilla, to which bird it bears a marked resemblance 

 ■A- both in habits and appearance, although slightly larger than that species. 



