PLATE XXVII. 



GENUS EOPSALTRIA (Gould). 



JpiVE members of this genus inhabit Australia, none being found in other countries. 



EOPSALTRTA AUSTRAL IS (G. R Gray). 



YELLOW-BREASTED ROBIN. 



rr^HIS species inhabits New South Wales and Victoria. Like all the Robin tribe, it is very tame, and 

 J- when perched on a log or stump will sometimes allow persons to approach so close as to be almost 

 able to touch it with the hand. I have seen it following men from tree to tree when they are clearing 

 ground, and now and again darting down to pick up a grub as it is unearthed. One of them one 

 day came where I was sitting on the ground, and first of all picked up some March-flies which I 

 had killed, then perched on my boot, and finally on my shoulder, where he remained until a sudden 

 movement of my head frightened him. For several days after that 1 went to the same place, and each 

 time my little friend came up, first shyly, and then more boldly, until he was perched on some part of 

 my body, remaining there as long as I kept perfectly still. 



Its food consists of all kinds of insects. 



During the months of September and October, which constitute the breeding season, a small cup- 

 shaped nest is constructed of strips of bark, small roots and grass, the whole being fastened together 

 with cobwebs, and lined with leaves and fine grasses. Two eggs are laid, the colour of which is bright 

 green, spotted with chestnut-brown, and also to a small extent with dark brown. Their length is nine 

 lines, and their breadth seven and a half lines. 



The female is smaller than the male, but there is no material difference in the colouring 

 of the sexes. 



The head, ear-coverts, and back are olive-grey ; wings and tail, brown ; rump, chin, and under 

 surface, yellow ; irides, umber-brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. 



Habitats : New South Wales and Victoria. 



EOPSALTRIA GRISEOGULARIS (Gould). 



GREY-BREASTED ROBIN. 



THE Grey-breasted Robin is found in most of the forests and thickets of Western Australia, where 

 it flits about from bush to bush, or runs along the ground in search of its food. 



Its song consists of a long drawn-out double note several times repeated. 



The breeding season is in September and October, when it lays two eggs in a cup-shaped nest, 



