THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Nest. “ Dome-shaped, situated near the ground in thick scrub ; composed chiefly of dried 
grasses, and warmly lined with feathers. External diameter top to bottom 5| inches 
by 4 inches across.” (H. L. White.) 
Eggs. “ Clutch two, oval in shape, surface of shell fine and rather glossy, ground-colour 
pale brownish, capped at the larger end with dark purplish-brown markings. 19 mm. 
by 14.” (ib.) 
Breeding-season. “ November to December.” (ib.) 
Gould’s account of this bird is as follows : “ This species, though nearly 
allied to the S. maculatus, is distinguished by the entire absence of spots on 
the throat and chest, and by having the tail-feathers largely tipped with white. 
The acquisition of a male and female is part of the results of Dr. Leichardt’s 
overland expedition from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, an example of each 
sex having been killed by Gilbert on the 30th of November, 1844 ; but there 
is no information whatever respecting them in his 4 Journal.’ ” 
This form appears to have been neglected ever since, but recently Messrs. 
Campbell and Barnard wrote : “ This northern Scrub- Wren was only seen on 
the table-land, chiefly along the Kirrama Creek, where families fossicked for 
food, after the fashion of frontalis .” 
From the Tweed River is a bird which is labelled Icevig aster which has a 
broad black bar across the tail but with no white tips. This can be called : 
Sericornis Icevigaster tweedi subsp. nov. 
One of Gould’s birds, a typical Icevigaster from “ New South Wales ” 
(= Queensland as this was before the northern State was partitioned off) is 
the Queensland bird, but was labelled frontalis by Gould. 
The forms admitted are : 
Sericornis Icevigaster Icevigaster Gould. 
Sericornis Icevigaster herbertoni Mathews. 
“ Differs from S. 1. Icevigaster in being browner above.” 
Sericornis Icevigaster tweedi Mathews. 
“ Differs from S. 1. Icevigaster in the absence of white tips to the tail-feathers.” 
