PLATE XV11 
BIRDS OF THE TREE-TRUNKS AND BRANCHES 
1. Orange-winged Sittella Neositta chrysoptera Latham 
Ne-o-sitt'-a— Gk, neos, new; Gk, sitte, woodpecker: chrys-op'-ter-a— Gk, 
chrysos , golden; Gk, pteron , wing 
distribution. Southern Queensland, New South Wales, and Vic¬ 
toria. 
notes. Also called Tree-runner, Nuthatch, Barkpecker, and Wood¬ 
pecker. Usually in small flocks, frequenting both open forests and 
scrubs. It is very active, running over the branches and down the 
trunks of trees with the greatest ease, seeking insect-life in the crevices 
of the bark. While feeding, and when in flight from tree to tree, it 
utters soft twittering notes. Its flight is undulatory, and is is then 
that the orange markings on the wings are seen. The head of the 
female is black. 
nest. A well-built, cup-shaped structure, composed chiefly of spiders' 
webs and cocoons, neatly interwoven, and decorated on the outside 
with small pieces of bark fastened on like shingles, forming a perfect 
imitation of the bark of the tree in which it is built. Placed in an 
upright forked limb of a dead tree at heights up to 50 feet or more 
from the ground. 
eggs. Usually three, very variable; a typical clutch is greyish-white, 
spotted and blotched all over, particularly at the larger end, with 
dark olive and slate markings. Breeding-season: August to January. 
2. Black-capped Sittella Neositta pileata Gould—2A. Female 
pi-le-d'-ta— L., pileatus, capped. 
distribution. Interior of Victoria, South Australia, New South 
Wales, and south and mid-western Australia. 
notes. Has the same vernacular names as the Orange-winged Sit¬ 
tella. Usually in small flocks, frequenting alike heavily timbered 
country, open forests, and scrubs. Habits similar to the Orange-winged 
Sittella. 
nest. Similar to that of the Orange-winged Sittella. 
eggs. Similar to those of the Orange-winged Sittella. 
3. Striated Sittella Neositta striata Gould—3A. Female 
stri-d'-ta— L., striatus, striped 
distribution. Northern Queensland, from Cape York southwards 
to Inkerman. 
notes. Usually in small flocks in forest country. Probably the most 
active of the Sittellas. 
