LITTLE FIELD-WREN. 
deserted nest I conclude that it was the first nest made, and the clutch I first 
took was laid long after. Both nests were evidently the work of the same 
bird as they were both made alike and covered with green mosses and were 
within twenty yards or so of each other. No doubt the Chthonicola 
discovered the imposition or the Cuckoo at the nest and so deserted it but only 
to fall a victim a second time.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby states : “ Although I have collected this little bird in 
several localities in Victoria and New South Wales close up to the Queensland 
border (in the New England county) I have never seen it in South Australia. 
The habits of the Chthonicola always remind me of the arborescent Acanthizas, 
the term 6 Field- Wren 5 seems quite inappropriate.” 
Three subspecies are recognised in my 1913 “ List ” as follows : — 
Chthonicola sagittata sagittata (Latham) 
New South Wales. 
Chthonicola sagittata inexpectata (Mathews) 
“ Darker above and slightly smaller ” from Victoria. 
Victoria and ? South Australia. 
Chthonicola sagittata queenslandica (Mathews) 
“ Differs from C. s. sagittata in the almost entire absence of buff in the flanks, 
and in having a much smaller amount of white tipping to the tail-feathers.” 
Queensland. 
Note. — Mr. Ashby states he has not met with it in South Australia and 
Captain S. A. White has not sent me any notes on this bird. 
In this case the remarkable streaked coloration made the recognition of the 
Lambert drawing upon which Latham undoubtedly based his description 
apparently certain, but it must be recorded that Gray did not unquestionably 
so determine it, writing : 
“ Sylvia sagittata Lath., Vieill. Acanthiza sagittata \ \ 
Anthus minimus V. & H. ? 
As G. R. Gray was one of the most careful of ornithologists this suggested 
a reconsideration, especially in view of the previous case. The Watling drawings 
show good figures of the Streaked- War bier, very easily recognisable, but as 
doubt has been cast upon their applicability in the case of the Ruddy- War bier 
I herewith reproduce Latham’s account : 
“ S. sagittata. — S. nigro sagittato-striata, corpore supra fusco subtus albo, 
vertice nigro striis albis, per oculos vitta ferruginea. 
Streaked- Warbler, Gen. Syn. Sup. II ., p. 247, 29. 
Habitat in Nova Hollandia, egregie cantillans : magnitudo S. modularis . 
Streaked-Warbler. — Size and shape of an Hedge-Sparrow ; bill black ; 
legs dusky ; the upper parts of the body, wings and tail, are not greatly 
405 
