The top of the head and upper surface are grey, the back having a broad streak of very dark 

 brown down the centre of each feather ; wings, brownish-grey, with a patch of rufous crossing the 

 primaries and secondaries ; tail, black, tipped with white ; throat and lower portion of head, brown ; 

 all under surface, grey ; bill, horn-colour at base ; feet, yellow. 



The female differs in having the head and ear-coverts considerably darker. 



Habitat : New South Wales. 



SITTELLA STRIATA (Gould). 



STRIA TED SITTELLA. 



THIS bird is confined principally to the Cape York Peninsula, where great numbers are to be seen, 

 sometimes moving about in small bands of five or six, but generally running along the branches 

 of the large trees like the other Sittelhe. 



It is an easy matter to procure specimens, as, when one is shot, the remainder come fluttering 

 round and may be killed with the greatest ease. 



The whole of the head, neck, throat and breast, black ; upper surface pale brown, with a blackish- 

 brown stripe down the centre of each feather ; under surface striated in a similar manner, but the streaks 

 are narrower and not so dark, and the edges of the feathers are also lighter, becoming almost white 

 on the centre of the abdomen ; primaries, black, with a large spot of white near the base ; secondaries, 

 dark brown, margined with pale brown ; upper tail-coverts, white ; tail, black, tipped with white ; ^ircle 

 round the eye, base of bill, legs and feet, yellow: tip of bill, black. 



The female has only the crown and nape black, and the striation of the under surface extends 

 from the bill to the vent. 



Total length, 4 inches ; bill, § inch ; wing, 3 inches ; tail, \\ inch ; tarsi, if inch. 



