GRASS-WARBLER. 
buzzing sound. I have found its rather peculiar nests, of which an excellent 
illustration is given in the Australian Museum’s No. 1 Special Catalogue , but 
not until they had fulfilled the purpose for which they were constructed. I 
notice by the publication just quoted that Mr. A. J. North considers this a 
coastal bird.” 
Cornwall has also recorded : “ On the northern side of the Pioneer River 
(near Mackay, North Queensland), and stretching towards Habana Bay, there 
are immense tracts of land which were at one time under sugar-cane, but now 
produce nothing but a coarse herbage and a rank growth of that curse of the 
northern coast lands, the Lantana. Here the little Grass-Warbler ( Cisticola 
exilis) has its home and finds a habitat eminently suited to its economy. The 
time of nesting varies with the season. In a dry time, when the grass is all 
burnt off, they have sometimes to wait until February before there is sufficient 
growth of grass to afford them shelter, but last season was a bountiful one, the 
grass was tall and green the whole summer through, and the Grass- Warblers 
were found nesting in October. My last note records a nest of young ones 
early in February.” 
Broadbent also wrote : “ 30th August, Herbert River. This pretty 
little bird is rare on Bellenden Plains in long grass, also on the grass flats on 
the Herbert as far as Craig’s, Herbert Gorge, and on the head of the Murray, 
near the hills.” 
Barnard observed : “ Plentiful at Cape York in long grass in open forest,” 
while later Campbell and Barnard wrote : “ This puzzling little species was 
observed on the flats (Bellenden Ker district), and a specimen procured 
appeared referable to Gould’s lineocapilla. (On a former visit, 1914, this 
species was common in grassy situations, Bellenden Plains, where it was 
breeding. A. J. C.) ” 
Miss Fletcher has written : “ Since September 1911, observations have 
pointed to the existence of Cisticola exilis in the Springfield district, Tasmania.” 
Some notes were given of the finding of nests and eggs apparently referable 
to this species, but no birds were secured for absolute identification at that 
time and I have failed to trace any further information on this subject. 
Donald Thomson has given a nice account of this species in Victoria, 
and I extract the following : “ Even before one actually reaches the home 
of this beautiful little bird, its sharp, wheezing, but not piercing call is plainly 
audible, wafted to the ears by soft spring breezes. At first it appears to come 
from the clear azure above, then from the right or left, and then when the 
bird at last is seen it will probably be in quite a different direction from that 
which it at first appeared to come. Thus it would seem that this bird has 
the wonderful natural gift of ventriloquism. ... A bird flits and settles 
VOL. IX. 
369 
