Page:The Emu volume 3.djvu/125

 appears to be a small white cup-lichen, much resembling the excreta of small birds. The entrance to the nest is circular, and well and neatly constructed, the inside being lined with a casing of hair-like material. The nest was taken from a shrub about 6 feet from the ground.

Nestling.—In securing the nest Mr. Lawson was also fortunate in obtaining with it three nestlings, although perhaps the eggs would have been a greater prize. They, however, are distinctly helpful in the respect that they confirm the points of separation from the nearest ally of this species, Acanthiza uropygialis, and other members of the genus. The most notable feature in the nestlings of the new species is the absence of the "shell" or "scale" markings on the forehead, which are present in the nestlings of A. uropygialis and A. tenuirostris. On the other hand, the "ripple" markings present on the cheeks of the adult of the new species are also present on the nestlings. Another point of distinction between the latter nestlings and those of A. uropygialis is the colouring of the tail feathers. In the nestlings of A. uropygialis these feathers, which protrude out of their enveloping sheaths fully a quarter of an inch, are wholly black, except at the ends, which are burnished with chestnut, while in A. robustirostris the same feathers are, excepting a very narrow black transverse band, wholly of a very pale snuff colour. Further, there are present in the nestlings of the species under notice the buff sides of the body, which are a characteristic of the adult female, but which are not present in either the adult or young of A. uropygialis. The bills of the nestlings of A. robustirostris are also very much smaller than in the latter species. The nestlings of both species have the feathers of the lower breast and abdomen well developed and silky white. The description of the nestling is as follows:—General colour of upper surface, brown; rump and upper tail coverts and tail feathers very pale snuff with black transverse band across the middle of the latter; wings blackish-brown, secondaries with pale buff margins; throat white; chest ashy grey; abdomen pure silky white, with sides of body clear buff; under surface of tail feathers slightly paler than upper surface; iris dark brown; beak, legs, and feet dark leaden-grey.

Since the publication of my description of the above species Mr. Lawson has forwarded me a second parcel of skins. The features which caused me to separate the species from the other members of the genus are constant in these skins, and I have not anything to add to the description already given.

(Zietz), (Small-billed Tit).

Nest.—The nest of this species is neatly woven and compact, and about the size and shape of a large Lisbon lemon. It is domed, and has a neat circular entrance, which is nearer the top than the bottom, and making the lower section a spacious pocket. It is composed of narrow strings of the bark of, apparently, large