THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
they will utter a sweet, but feeble, chirp, sometimes changing into a twitter of 
alarm. Their nests are most wonderfully concealed under the least bit of cover, 
even to a small twig-like dead branch without any leaves upon it, just large 
enough to cover the situation of the nest. They would be invariably passed 
by if the sitting bird did not flush. Placed in a slight depression in the ground, 
dome-shaped, with side entrance level with the ground, sometimes having a small 
platform leading to it. Composed of strips of bark and dry grass, lined with 
feathers and fur. Three eggs usually form a clutch.” 
Mr. Tom Tregellas has written me : “ The Little Field- Wren is closely allied 
to the Striated Field-Wren and though partaking of much the same character 
as the larger bird, it is never found in the same locality. The Striated Field- 
Wren is wrongly called, as it is never found in the fields, but always in the 
scrub. On the contrary, the Little Field- Wren is invariably found in the fields 
and paddocks, is a trustful, confiding sort of a bird, is not at all put out at the 
presence of human beings, and is nearly always found in the company of 
Yellow-rumped, Buff-rumped and Brown Tits. These latter three, with 
the Striated Tit, are not discomposed at the presence of strangers, and pursue 
their calling without interruption. The Little Field- Wren is nearly always 
feeding on the ground, and it is when in this position that it may be approached 
and its habits closely studied. It has a peculiarly sweet note when calling or 
answering its mate.” 
Mr. Frank E. Howe’s notes read : “ Is a very common bird in this district 
and is both terrestrial and arboreal. It is a most lively little creature and as it 
walks about in search of its food is very quick in its actions. The song is very 
pleasing and is not unlike that of Sericornis brunneus of northern parts. The 
nest is rarely found and then only by flushing the bird ; one that we found 
(Nov. 4) contained two young and an addled egg. An egg of Chalcococcyx was 
also seen on the ground in front of and about eight inches from the nest, which 
had evidently been sat upon and ejected by the bird. The young, not many 
hours old, were blind and covered with long light grey down, one tuft, nearly 
one inch long, hanging from the crown of the head. Gape, white ; mouth, yellow ; 
bill, flesh-colour with dark tips with the egg tooth still adhering to the upper 
mandible ; tarsi, almost white. Three days later the eyes were still closed. 
Later at Ringwood with Messrs. Ross, Chandler and Wilson, I found a nest 
containing two young and an egg which I think is that of the Black-Eared 
Cuckoo. On the same day ( Oct. 31, 1909) I found another nest of the Chthonicola 
containing two eggs and an egg of the Square-tailed Cuckoo, all three fresh. 
On Dec. 4, 1909, 1 again found the Chthonicola’ s nest and again it contained two 
eggs and a Cuckoo’s egg. When blowing them I noticed that the yolk was 
stuck to the side of the egg in all three and as we noticed that it looked like a 
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