178 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
through the undergrowth with great speed. It has a low plaintive song 
uttered while at rest, also a faint high-pitched call-note. Food: insects 
and seeds, procured on the ground and among the vegetation. The female 
is distinguished from the male by the rufous patches at the sides of the 
breast. 
Nest .—An open, cup-shaped structure, composed of bark and long 
portions of a soft white flowering plant; lined with short, soft pieces of 
flat grass and plant-stems, also a quantity of soft white vegetable matter. 
Placed in the centre of a low bush close to the ground. 
Eggs v—Two or three, white or reddish-white, sprinkled over with 
dots and small irregular spots, with a few blotches of rich red or pinkish- 
red and a few underlying markings of lilac-grey, becoming confluent and 
forming an irregular zone at the larger end. Breeding-season: August 
to October. 
13. Dusky Grass-wren Amytornis purnelli Mathews 
purnelli —H. A. Purnell, ornithologist, Geelong, Victoria. 
Distribution .—Central Australia (Macdonnell, Musgrave and Ever- 
ard Ranges). 
Notes . Inhabits the porcupine grass growing on the foothills of the 
ranges; it is extremely shy and possesses a sweet, twittering song. Food: 
insects and seeds. The female has rufous patches on the sides of the breast. 
Nest .—Not described. 
Eggs .—Not described. 
14. Thick-billed Grass-wren Amyiornts modestus North 
mod-est’-us —L., modestus, modest (in colour) 
so„,^ ™ ^ 
Nest. Similar to that of the Western Grass-wren 
larly 7$ marked aI1 ° ver - more P^CU- 
to rich redd sh and SP ° tS and bIotche s of brown, as well as dull 
early in the year rUSty ' brown markm^s. Breeding-season: after rain, 
15. Striped Grass-wren Amytornis striatus Gould 
stn-a-tus —L., striatus, striped. 
AusS”^' ,W_Interior ot South Wales, Victoria, and South 
small parties, ft frequenthi^ C | l ow <I s^' tr T Iate< a^ nlSS " Wren: usuall y ■» pairs or 
to other Grass-wrens The and r Sandy areas - Similar in habits 
breast. S ’ 1 he femaIe has rufous patches on the sides of the 
