1 14 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
cocoons, and lined with these materials. Placed among the slender 
branches of a small bush. 
Eggs. — Three, white, with a very faint tinge of pink, finely speckled 
with minute markings of reddish-brown, forming a well-defined zone at 
the larger end. Breeding-season: July to October. 
18. Brown Thornhill Acanthiza pusilla Shaw 
pu-sil'-la — L., pusillus, very small. 
Distribution. — Southern Queensland to Victoria, South Australia, 
and the interior; and Tasmania. 
Notes. — Also called Brown Tit and Scrub Thornhill. Usually in 
small parties, frequenting thickets and low scrub; it also visits gardens 
and orchards, where it does much useful work in destroying insects and 
their larvae. 
Nest. — A dome-shaped structure with an entrance near the top, com- 
posed of bark, coarse grasses, and spiders' webs matted together; lined 
with feathers and other soft materials. Usually placed near the ground 
and attached to bracken fern or a low bush. 
Eggs . — Three, white, freckled with dull red, reddish-brown, or pur- 
plish-red markings, forming a zone at the larger end. Breeding-season: 
August to December. 
19. Broad-tailed Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis Gould 
a-pic-a-lis — L., apicalis , tipped. 
Distribution. — Western Australia (Swan River). 
Notes. — Similar in habits and economy to the Brown Thornbill. 
Nest. — An oval-shaped structure with an entrance at the side, com- 
posed of soft dried grasses, matted together with spiders’ webs and egg- 
bags ; lined with feathers. Attached to the stems of a low bush, close to 
the ground. 
Eggs. — Three, white, with minute freckles and dots varying from 
dull red to pinkish and faint chestnut-red, the markings predominating on 
the larger end, often forming an irregular-shaped zone. Breeding-season: 
July to October, probably to December. 
20. Red-tailed Thornbill Acanthiza hamiltoni Mathews 
hamiltoni — Hamilton, brother of Gregory M. Mathews. 
Distribution. — North-western Victoria, South Australia, and central 
Australia. 
Notes. — Also called Rufous-rumped Thornbill. Similar in habits and 
economy to the Brown Thornbill and other scrub-frequenting species of 
the genus. 
Nest. — An oval-shaped structure with an entrance near the top, com- 
posed of bark, wool, dried grasses, and spiders’ cocoons matted together ; 
