75 
Sept. 80, 1908. The Queensland Naturalist. 
The nest is a strongly built, compact structure, of oval 
shaj)e and abruptly narrowing to a long slender appendage ; 
it is suspended from one or more slender twigs, round 
which the material forming the roof is neatly and strongly 
woven ; the entrance is protected from the weather by an 
overhanging flap, similar to tlie eaves of a house. It is 
composed externally of delicate fibrous bark, fine roots, 
and dry grasses, firmly bound together by spiders’ webs, 
and almost invariably ornamented with the cocoons of 
those insects ; internally it is lined with feathers, thistle 
down, and other soft material. It is most frequently 
suspended from the end of a mangrove bough overhanging 
the water. Total length II inches, about 5 inches of wliich 
constitute the appendage ; diameter 3 inches at the widest 
part ; entrance circular, 1 inch in diameter. 
Eggs : Clutch, three ; long-oval in shape ; texture of 
li shell fine ; surface slightly glossy. Colour pale pink ; some 
k speckled all over with reddish brown spots ; others with 
the spots forming a dark red zone at the larger end. Out- 
side dimensions (in millimeters) 17.8 by 12.6 to 17 by 13.2. 
Type in the Queensland Museum, collected and pre- 
sented by Mr. W. E. Weatherill. 
This bird is a denizen of the coast and lives among the 
mangrove bushes on the islands of Moreton Bay, and along 
the banks of the rivers and creeks in South-East Queens- 
land. It may often be observed in the parks and gardens 
close to the coast, busily engaged in quest of insects. At 
intervals of every few minutes it bursts forth into song ; 
this is so sweet and well sustained, that the residents of 
tlie Brisbane District call it the “ Queensland Canary.” 
Its pre-eminence as a song bird above its congeners induces 
me to propose the above name for the species. 
