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THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
PLATE XVI 
BIRDS OF THE BLOSSOMS AND OUTER FOLIAGE 
1. Yellow Weebill Smicrornis flavescens Gould 
Sml-crorri -is — Gk, smicros (micros), small; Gk, orris, bird: flav-es'-cens 
— L., flavescens, becoming yellow ( flavus , yellow). 
Distribution. — Central Australia, north-western Australia, North- 
ern Territory, and northern Queensland. 
Notes. — Also called Yellow-tinted Scrub-tit or Yellow-tinted Tree-tit. 
The smallest bird inhabiting Australia. Usually keeps to the outer foliage 
of saplings and taller trees ; its call-note is loud in proportion to its size; it 
also has a pretty song. It is very active in quest of insects and their 
larvae, keeping up a constant twitter while searching the foliage. 
Nest. — A small, dome-shaped structure with a narrow entrance pro- 
tected by a hood, near the top, composed of partly green stems of her- 
baceous plants, intermingled with plant down ; lined with plant down and 
a few feathers. Usually attached to thin leafy stems near the top of a 
tree. 
Eggs. — Two or three, crearny-bufT, sparingly freckled with dull pur- 
plish-brown markings, with a faint zone of a violet shade on the larger 
end, or an indistinct zone of creamy-brown markings. Breeding-season: 
August to November or December, extending to April in the Gulf country. 
2. Brown Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris Gould 
brev-i-ros'-tris — L., brevis, short: L., rostrum, bill. 
Distribution. — Southern Queensland to Victoria and Western Aus- 
tralia. 
Notes.— Also called Scrub-tit, Short-billed Scrub-tit, and Short-billed 
Tree-tit. Usually in pairs or small parties, inhabiting the leafy branches of 
both tall and low trees; clings to the smallest twigs and leaves of the 
outermost branches, seeking insects and their larvae; has a low, simple 
song ; the call-note, “Winnie-wieldt,” is frequently uttered. 
A T e st. A small, rounded structure with a narrow spout-like entrance 
near the top, composed of fine grasses held together with spiders’ cocoons 
and webs ; lined with feathers and soft plant-stalks or down. Usually at- 
tached to thin leafy twigs near the top of a gum sapling. 
Eggs. Two or three, creamy-buff to salmon-pink, with a zone 
of minute freckles of buffy-brown, purplish-brown, or slaty-brown at the 
larger end. Breeding-season : July to December or January. 
