GRASS-WARBLER. 
by Gould for Mcdurus) by Vigors and Horsfield while engaged in naming the 
collection of Australian birds in the possession of the Linnean Society. Its 
natural habitat is New South Wales and South Australia, in both of which 
colonies I observed it to be abundantly dispersed among the thick beds of 
grasses which clothe the valleys and open plains. I have never received it 
from either of the other colonies, all of which, however, are inhabited by nearly 
allied species. It is very retiring in its habits, generally creeping about among 
the grasses, and will almost admit of being trodden upon before it will rise 
and take wing ; during the months of spring the male becomes somewhat 
bolder, and early in the morning will frequently perch on the highest of the 
grasses and pour forth a pretty but feeble song, resembling that of the Maluri. 
As some confusion existed respecting the sexes of the various species of this 
genus, I was particular in dissecting all the individuals I shot, and I can 
therefore state with certainty that the plumage of both sexes of this species 
is perfectly similar, and that the only outward difference between them consists 
in the female being somewhat smaller than her mate.” Gould also described 
Gisticola lineocapillce, writing : “ Is a much smaller and more delicately formed 
species than the C. exilis, and may, moreover, be distinguished from that 
and every other member of the genus with which I am acquainted by the 
lineated form of the markings of the head. It is a native of the north coast 
of Australia, and all the specimens I have seen were from the neighbourhood 
of Port Essington. Gilbert states that it “ is very rarely seen, in consequence 
of its generally inhabiting the long grass of the swamps, where it creeps about 
more like a mouse than a bird, and if once alarmed it is no easy task to get 
a sight of it again ; its note is a short and feeble but very pleasing song. The 
stomach is muscular, and the food consists of insects of various kinds.” 
Previously he had described as new C. ruficeps , of which he wrote : “I can 
only say, therefore, that I possess three examples, one from the Liverpool 
Plains, another from the district of Port Phillip, and a third from the north 
coast, which proves that it enjoys a widely extended range of habitat. The 
uniform rufous colouring of the head and occiput at once distinguishes it from 
all the other Australian members of the genus. In its habits, manners, and 
general economy it doubtless closely assimilates to its congeners, and like 
them inhabits the open grassy glades between the forests, the grassy crowns 
of thinly-timbered hills and all similar situations.” He then added another 
new species, apologising : “I am uncertain whether this bird may not prove 
to be a female, or an example in some peculiar state of plumage of the 
C. ruficeps. Without a further knowledge of the subject I can only view it 
as distinct, 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 
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