132 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
close to cover. It has a pleasant, half-twittering, half-warbling song, of 
short duration. Food: insects and their larvae. 
Nest. —A domed structure with a side entrance near the top, com¬ 
posed of swamp grasses and plant down; lined with feathers and plant 
down. The nest was placed in a clump of small bushes in a dry swamp 
at about 2 feet 6 inches from the ground. (Only one record.) 
Eggs. _Two? white, sparsely spotted with pink all over, with fewer 
spots towards the smaller end, and a decided ring of spots about one-third 
of its length from the larger end. Breeding-season: October. 
12. Varied Thornhill Acanthiza squaniata De Vis 
squa-ma-ta —L., squamatus , scaled. 
Distribution. —Northern and eastern Queensland. 
Notes. — Also called Scaly-breasted Tit-warbler. Frequents mountain 
ranges; probably similar in habits and economy to the Buff-tailed Thornhill. 
Nest .—Similar to that of the Buff-tailed Thornhill. 
Eggs. — Similar to those of the Buff-tailed Thornhill. 
13. Yellow-tailed Thornhill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa Quoy and Gaimard 
chrys-orr(h)'-o-a — Gk, chrysos, golden; Gk, orrlws, tail. 
Distribution. — Australia (except north-western Australia and North¬ 
ern Territory) and Tasmania. 
Notes. —Also called Yellow-rumped Tit, Yellow-rumped Tit- warbler, 
and Yellow-tail. Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting open forest and 
partly cleared lands; it is also common in orchards, vineyards, parks, and 
gardens. It spends much of its time on the ground, and when flushed, 
rarely flies any distance. Its song is a succession of soft, sweet notes, 
following a sharp “Chip, chip.” Food: insects and their larvse. 
Nest. —A double nest, consisting of a dome-shaped structure with a 
narrow entrance at the side, with a roughly formed, open, cup-shaped 
addition built on top; composed of dried grasses, plant-stalks, cobwebs, 
spiders’ egg-bags, wool, or other soft materials, all matted together; lined 
with fine dried grass, hair, wool, fur, and feathers. The upper compart¬ 
ment is believed to be used by the male at night. Generally built in the 
bushy end of a drooping branch, or in some thickly foliaged tree. 
Eggs. — Three or four, white or pale flesh-colour, sometimes speckled 
with pale red or reddish-brown markings at the larger end. Breeding- 
season : July to December, and often until May. 
14. Buff -tailed Thornhill Acanthiza rcguloides Vigors and Horsfield 
reg-u-ldl’-des —L., regulus , European genus = kinglet; - oides from Gk, 
eidos, form = like. 
Distribution. — Southern Queensland to Victoria and South Australia. 
Notes. —Also called Buff-rumped Tit, Buff-rumped Tit-warbler, and 
Bark-tit. Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting open scrub-lands, lightly 
