II2 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
11. Little ThornbiJl Acanthisa riana Vigors and Horsfield 
Ac-anth-is-a —Gk, acantheon, thorny brake; Gk, zao , I live: na-na —L., 
nanus , dwarf. 
Distribution .—Eastern and southern Australia from the Dawson 
River (Queensland) to South Australia. 
Notes .— Also called Little Tit. Usually in small parties, frequenting 
the outer branches of trees; it is very active, searching among the leaves 
and twigs for insects and their larvae ; call-note, a harsh “Tiz-tiz.” 
Nest .—A domed structure with an entrance near the top; composed 
of bark and grasses, matted together with cobwebs and often ornamented 
with green mosses. Usually placed among the outer branches of a leafy 
tree. 
Eggs .—Two to four, whitish, freckled with reddish-brown and laven¬ 
der markings, especially on the larger end. Breeding-season : August to 
December. 
12. Striated Thornhill Acanthisa lineata Gould 
lln-e-a-ta —L., line at us, lined. 
Distribution.- Eastern and southern Australia, from Charleville 
(southern Queensland) to South Australia and Kangaroo Island. 
Notes. Also called Striated Tit. Usually in small parties, frequent¬ 
ing alike the topmost foliage of the tallest trees and also low shrubs It is 
very active, searching diligently for small insects and their larva keen¬ 
ing up a constant chattering, and occasionally uttering a pretty song 
Nest.—A pear-shaped structure with a hooded entrance •' comrosed 
togcther with cobwebs; lined ' vitb °< 
Breeding-season: September to December. g 
13. Western Thornbill Acanthisa inornata Gould 
hi-orn-a-ta —L., inornatus, unadorned. 
Strelky ““'“"—Western Australia, from the Stirling Ranges to the 
quen^g^Traves’^tnd'brandies’of’tree^'or shrubs'" ‘U'T f ,T 
song. Food: insects and their larva. b 1 haS a Sh ° rt ’ feebIe 
posed'of TwTral'eVfnd 0 m'be Wi ‘ b f a ? i< ? C e "“"“ the top, com- 
webs; lined with feathers or nHnt , maten ^l®» together with spiders’ 
twigs of trees a, *-* 
brown^markings° with^zone at fr *: ckIed a11 over with reddish- 
ber to December. ' &t the krger end - Breeding-season : Septem- 
