CYSTICOLA ISURA, Gould. 
Square-tailed Warbler. 
Cysticola isura, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XV. 
Little as is the information I have been able to give respecting the C. ruficeps, I have still less to commu- 
nicate about the present species, circumstances not having admitted of my seeing them in a state of nature : 
at a first glance it might readily be mistaken for the C. ex'ilis , but after a careful examination of many 
specimens I am satisfied of its being distinct; had it been identical with that species, I must have pro- 
cured specimens at the same time that I killed the many examples I obtained. I am not so sure however 
that it may not prove to be the female, or some peculiar state of plumage of the Cysticola ruficeps ; without a 
further knowledge of the subject, I can only view it as distinct from both, and I have therefore assigned to 
it the specific appellation of isura , as indicative of the shorter and more truncated form of its tail, the prin- 
cipal character hy which it may be distinguished. Like the other species of the group, it appears to enjoy 
an extensive range over the grassy districts of the country, the specimens in my possession having been 
killed on the Liverpool Plains and at Port Phillip ; the arid and sterile nature of the country seems to be 
peculiarly adapted to the members of this group, and hence there are many species. 
Sides and back of the neck and rump pale rufous ; crown of the head, back and secondaries deep 
brownish black, each feather margined with buff ; tail dark brown margined with huff, and crossed on the 
under side near the tip with a broad conspicuous band of black ; under surface deep buff, becoming paler 
on the chin and centre of the abdomen ; bill brown ; feet yellowish brown. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
