THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Nest. Domed, with side entrance. Composed of fine "bark, moss, leaves, grass, etc., 
and lined with fine materials and feathers. Outside measurements 6 to 8 inches 
deep by 4 or 5 wide. 
Eggs. Clutch, three. Ground colour purplish-buff or reddish, spotted with umber, 
especially at the larger end where a zone or cap is formed. 23 mm. by 17. 
Breeding-season. August to December. 
Gould’s notes read: “This species is very generally dispersed over Tasmania; 
and as I have found it on some of the islands in Bass’s Straits, it is not improbable 
that it may also extend its range to the southern coast of the continent of 
Australia. Ravines, deep glens, water-courses covered 'with dense herbage, 
and thickly-w r ooded copses are the situations congenial to its habits. Although 
abundant and generally distributed, it is a bird that is less seen, and one 
whose habits are less known than most others inhabiting the island. In 
many of its actions it closely resembles the Troglodytes europceus , particularly 
in its manner of hopping about on the ground, and from stone to stone, with 
its tail erect, in search of insects, upon which it solely subsists. It rarely 
flies more than a few yards at a time, but secretes itself in the midst of the 
little thicket in which it has taken up its abode. The male constantly cheers 
his mate with a pretty lively song, which, although neither loud nor voluminous, 
serves to give life to its secluded abode, which in many instances is in the depth 
of the forests, where few sounds are heard except the monotonous note of the 
Honeysucker, and the perpetual rippling of the rivulet as it steals over the 
stony bed of the gully. The sexes presenting no difference in the colouring 
of the plumage, by dissection alone can they be distinguished.” 
Mr. Frank Littler has written me : “ Frequents more open and accessible 
country, though it is very fond of tracts with an abundance of undergrowth, 
where it procures its food. It is a fast runner and somewhat shy, so that it is 
with difficulty that one obtains a good view of it in the scrub. I have seen 
six or eight birds searching for insects among the grass and leaves and small 
bushes in a partly cleared patch. The slightest movement and they all flew off.” 
Mr. H. Stuart Dove’s account is excellent. “ On the 13th October one 
young one was hatched before 8 a.m., the second on the following morning. 
On 15th the young still blind and naked. Female always on or near the nest 
and her scolding notes like 4 ehee-chee-chee,’ ‘ chee-chee ’ angrily and rapidly 
repeated when I am by, bring all the Blue Wrens, Browntails and Goldfinches 
in the locality to the spot, when they also hop around in the bushes and utter 
their scolding notes in sympathy. The male Sericornis I have only seen twice 
so far ; he is silent and shy, the female being quite bold in comparison. On 
the 19th the two young were still blind and naked, except for a few dark sprouts 
on wings, and make a faint ‘ cheep-cheep ’ when touched ; the parents are now 
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