SOME BIRDS OF THE HEATH AND UNDERGROWTH 
PLATE XXIV 
SOME BIRDS OF THE HEATH AND UNDERGROWTH 
1. Scrub-tit Acanthornis mag&us Gould 
Ac-anth-orn-is — Gk, acantha, spine, thorn; Gk, ornis, bird: mag-nus — 
L., magniis, great. 
Distribution .—Tasmania. 
Notes .—Usually singly or in pairs, keeping to the undergrowth; 
similar in habits to the Scrub-wrens. It is a shy bird, and moves among 
the tree-ferns and fallen logs with great rapidity, searching for insect-life. 
Nest. —A dome-shaped structure, composed of green moss, shreds of 
bark, and fern down; lined with fur or feathers. Usually built in a per¬ 
pendicular fork of a large tree, up to 6 feet from the ground. 
Eggs. —Three, white, blotched with purple markings, particularly at 
the larger end. Breeding-season: August to January. 
2. White-browed Scrub-wren Sericornis frontalis Vigors and Horsfield 
Ser-ic-orn'-is —Gk, sericos, silken; Gk, ornis, bird : front-a-lis —L, front - 
atus ( frons ), with conspicuous forehead. 
Distribution. —From southern Queensland to Victoria and South 
Australia, and the Kent Group (Bass Strait). 
Notes. —In pairs, inhabiting localities clothed with thick undergrowth, 
such as creek-banks and gullies. It is very active and fearless. Its food 
is procured among leaves and debris; call-note, a double whistle repeated 
many times; it utters a harsh scolding note when one approaches its nest. 
Food: chiefly insects. 
Nest. —A dome-shaped structure with a side entrance, loosely com¬ 
posed of bark, leaves, and fine grass; lined with, feathers or other soft 
materials. Usually placed on the ground beneath thick undergrowth or 
under a heap of debris. 
Eggs. —Three, whitish-stone or grey, with a dark zone of purplish- 
brown at the larger end. Breeding-season: July to December. 
3. Buff-breasted Scrub-WTen Sericornis laevigaster Gould 
laev-i-gas-ter —L., levis , light, meaning pale; Gk, gaster, belly. 
Distribution. —From Herberton (northern Queensland) to north¬ 
eastern New South Wales. 
