Part 23

CYSTICOLA LINEACAPILLA: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

CYSTICOLA LINEOCAPILLA, Gould. Lineated Warbler.

Cysticola lineocapilla, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Jan. 27, 1847.

The Cysticola lineocapilla is a much smaller and more delicately formed species than the C. exilis, and may, moreover, be distinguished from that and every other member of the genus with which I am acquainted by the lineated form of the markings of the head. It is a native of the north coast of Australia, and all the specimens I have seen were from the neighbourhood of Port Essington. Mr. Gilbert states that it “is very rarely seen in consequence of its generally inhabiting the long grass of the swamps, where it creeps about more like a mouse than a bird, and if once alarmed it is no easy task to get a sight of it again; its note is a short and feeble, but very pleasing song.

“The stomach is muscular, and the food consists of insects of various kinds.”

General plumage pale rufous, with broad and conspicuous striæ of blackish brown forming lines down the centre of the feathers of the head and back; the under surface fading into white on the throat and centre of the chest; tail-feathers with a conspicuous blackish spot on the under surface near the tip; irides light reddish brown; bill and feet flesh-brown.

The figures are of the natural size.

CYSTICOLA ISURA: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

CYSTICOLA ISURA, Gould. Square-tailed Warbler.

Cysticola isura, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XV.

Little as is the information I have been able to give respecting the C. ruficeps, I have still less to communicate about the present species, circumstances not having admitted of my seeing them in a state of nature: at a first glance it might readily be mistaken for the C. exilis, but after a careful examination of many specimens I am satisfied of its being distinct; had it been identical with that species, I must have procured specimens at the same time that I killed the many examples I obtained. I am not so sure however that it may not prove to be the female, or some peculiar state of plumage of the Cysticola ruficeps; without a further knowledge of the subject, I can only view it as distinct from both, and I have therefore assigned to it the specific appellation of isura, as indicative of the shorter and more truncated form of its tail, the principal character by which it may be distinguished. Like the other species of the group, it appears to enjoy an extensive range over the grassy districts of the country, the specimens in my possession having been killed on the Liverpool Plains and at Port Phillip; the arid and sterile nature of the country seems to be peculiarly adapted to the members of this group, and hence there are many species.

Sides and back of the neck and rump pale rufous; crown of the head, back and secondaries deep brownish black, each feather margined with buff; tail dark brown margined with buff, and crossed on the under side near the tip with a broad conspicuous band of black; under surface deep buff, becoming paler on the chin and centre of the abdomen; bill brown; feet yellowish brown.

The figures are of the natural size.

CYSTICOLA RUFICEPS: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

CYSTICOLA RUFICEPS, Gould. Rufous-headed Warbler.

Cysticola ruficeps, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 150; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.

It would give me great pleasure could I communicate any particulars respecting this pretty little bird, but this unfortunately I am unable to do, no information of any kind having as yet reached me; I can only say therefore that I possess three examples, one from the Liverpool Plains in New South Wales, another from the district of Port Philip, and a third from the north coast, which proves that it enjoys a widely extended range of habitat. The uniform rufous colouring of the head and occiput at once distinguishes it from all the other Australian members of the genus. In its habits, manners and general economy it doubtless closely assimilates to its congeners the C. exilis and lineocapilla, and like them inhabits the open grassy glades between the forests, the grassy crowns of thinly-timbered hills, and all similar situations.

Crown of the head, and back of the neck, rump, chest, flanks and thighs delicate fawn-colour, becoming deeper and redder on the crown and the rump; upper part of the back, secondaries and tail deep brownish black, each feather margined all round with buff; throat and centre of the abdomen white; bill brown; feet yellowish brown.

The Plate represents the birds of the natural size on one of the plants of New South Wales.

SERICORNIS CITREOGULARIS: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

SERICORNIS CITREOGULARIS, Gould. Yellow-throated Sericornis.

Sericornis citreogularis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 133; and in Synopsis of the Birds of Australia, Part IV.

This is the largest and most attractive species of the genus yet discovered, and so far as I am aware, its habitat is restricted to the south-eastern portions of Australia, where it dwells exclusively in the districts known by the name of “brushes.” I personally observed it in those of Illawarra, and of the Hunter, and in the cedar brushes of the Liverpool range. It frequents the most retired parts of the forest, living in gullies and under the canopy of lofty trees, hopping about among the stems of the tree-fern, fallen trunks of patriarchal gums and moss-covered stones. It rarely flies, and when disturbed, seeks seclusion and safety by hopping away among the underwood. Its food, which consists of insects of various kinds, is obtained on the ground or among the trunks of the prostrate trees, over which and the large stones it passes with much ease and agility.

The sexes are very similar in colour, but the female may at all times be distinguished by her smaller size and the less strongly contrasted tints of her plumage, particularly in the hue of the streak running through the eye and extending over the ear-coverts, which is neither so dark nor so broad as in the male.