SCRUB- WREN. 
species inhabitating the coastal tea-tree ( Leptospermum ) belts which fringe many 
parts of the coast, the freshwater tea-tree ( Melaleuca ) brakes which cover 
thousands of acres of swampy ground through Gippsland and all the scrub 
and lightly timbered lands that clothe Mornington Peninsula, many parts of 
Gippsland and in fact most parts of the State, the westward limits being the 
Pyrenees and the Grampians. The habitat of S. frontalis on the other hand 
seems to be restricted to the deep secluded gullies of the ranges — Dandenong 
and Healesville Ranges, South Gippsland and Otway Ranges and the Alps. 
No specimens have come under my notice from any but heavily timbered and 
mountainous country.” 
Mr. E. J. Christian under the name S. frontalis has written : “ This is 
very common in the thick tea-tree which borders the shores of Port Phillip Bay. 
It is found in the thickest and darkest clumps and does extremely good work 
in parts where no other birds seems to go. Often I have had to crawl on my 
hands and knees to get to the centre of a dark clump of trees to see a nest. 
It, of course, does not always stay in the thick clumps and is found in much 
higher timbered places and in low bushes. It has a loudish clear note and if 
disturbed, especially when nesting, keeps up an incessant noise which often 
betrays the owner’s nest. As a rule they are very early breeders and in 
1905 I found them building on June 20th.” 
Mr. F. E. Howe has written : “Is confined to the thick scrubs that border 
the creeks. Their call is a rather pleasant one, but if a nest is close by is changed 
to a harsh scolding note. The breeding-season extends from July to December 
during what time two broods are hatched. At sixteen days old one youngster 
had the gape creamy white ; mouth, yellow ; irides, black.” 
Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley has also written: “ Young born naked and blind, 
colour of skin fleshy with dark tinge. The parents feed them every few minutes. 
The parents keep up harsh notes of danger if any enemy is near their nest, which 
I have known them to build in saplings leaning against a tree in a heap ; also 
in a potato sack hanging up in a tree.” 
Under the name S. frontalis Mr. J. W. Mellor has written me : 
“ Plentiful in the scrub country of Victoria and New South Wales. I 
have taken it at Tumbulgum on the Tweed River, and also in the Dandenong 
Ranges just out of Melbourne. This is its northern and southern limit I believe, 
but think it goes westward some distance from the eastern coast and although 
I have not seen the bird personally in South Australia I believe it is to be found 
in the south-eastern district towards Mount Gambier and the Victorian border.” 
Writing of the Birds of Sydney Le Souef and Macpherson have recorded : 
“ The White-browed Scrub-Wren ( Sericornis frontalis ) is found in many little 
gullies and secluded pockets of thick vegetation in the parks round the harbour. 
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