202 
The birds of Australia 
nest. A bulky, bottle-shaped structure, composed of dried grasses, 
bark, and leaves; lined with grass, leaves, and leathers, and sometimes 
fur. Generally built in tall grass, in a bush, or in a pandanus palm-tree. 
eggs. Five to eight, white. Breeding-season: August to December, 
and often as late as March, April, and May. 
19. Pale Crimson Finch Neochmia albiventer Mathews— 19A. Female 
al-bi-ven'-ter— L., albus , white; L., venter , belly. 
distribution. Northern Queensland (the middle of Cape York 
Peninsula). 
notes. Also called White-bellied Crimson Finch. Usually in pairs 
or flocks, frequenting tall grass and pandanus palm-trees bordering 
watercourses and swamps. It is similar in habits to the Crimson Finch. 
Food: seeds of grasses and other plants, also termites, which it catches 
while on the wing. 
nest. Similar to that of the Crimson Finch. 
eggs. Like those of the Crimson Finch, the breeding-period likewise. 
20. Golden-headed Fan tail-warbler Cisticola exilis Vigors and Hors- 
field—20A. Male in winter plumage 
Cis-ticf-o-la— L., cistus, a plant; L., colere, to inhabit: ex-i'-lis— L., exilis, 
slender. 
distribution. Australia (except the south-western portion), Tas¬ 
mania, and King Island; also occurs in New Guinea, the Molucca 
Islands, Philippine Islands, Formosa, and south-eastern Asia. 
notes. Also called Grass-warbler, Fantail-warbler, Exiled Warbler, 
Corn-bird, and Barley-bird. Usually in pairs, frequenting reed-beds', 
swampy areas, heath-lands, and standing grain-crops. It has an animated 
but squeaky song, generally uttered while perched near the top of a 
reed, or on a high twig. Food: insects of various kinds. 
nest. A small, dome-shaped structure with an entrance near the top, 
composed of very fine grasses, coated with plant down and cobwebs 
woven together; often several leaves are carefully worked on to the 
outer portion of the structure; lined with plant down. Generally built 
among tall grass, in a tuft of rushes, in a plant sheltered by grass, and 
frequently in cultivated crops. 
EGGS. Three or four, bluish-green, spotted and blotched with reddish- 
brown or purplish-brown markings, chiefly on the larger end, where 
a zone is often formed. Breeding-season: October to February. 
21. Little Grass-bird Megalurus gramineus Gould 
Meg-abur'-us—Gk, megas (megalos ), large; Gk, ura (<oura ), tail: gram - 
in'-e-us— L., gramineus , grassy. 
distribution. Extra-tropical Australia, from north-western Aus¬ 
tralia to Tasmania. 
notes. Also called Reed-warbler and Marsh-warbler. Usually in 
pairs, frequenting reed-beds and rank giass-lands. It is extremely shy, 
