_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
ACANTHIZA REGULOIDES, _Vig. & Horsf._
Regulus-like Acanthiza.
_Acanthiza Reguloides_, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
226.
_Dwarf Warbler_, var. β? Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 135. No.
161.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 283.
Many of the actions of this little bird offer a close resemblance to
those of the Yellow-tailed Acanthiza (_A. chrysorrhœa_); like that
species, it resorts to the ground for its food; moves about in small
flocks of from eight to fifteen in number; when flushed shows the yellow
or buff of the rump very conspicuously; always spreads its tail while
flying; flits along with a jerking motion, and is very tame. It is
extremely common in South Australia, where I observed it in every part
of the country I visited, and in New South Wales I even found it in the
interior beyond the ranges, and also on the bare ridges between
Patrick’s Plains and the Liverpool range. I did not meet with it in Van
Diemen’s Land. It evinces a decided preference for the open country or
hills slightly covered with brush, where it can feed on the ground and
fly to the low shrub-like trees when disturbed; I have also seen it
busily engaged among the branches, apparently in search of insects, in
the pursuit of which, like the other members of the genus, it displays
unusual alertness and address.
Its domed nest is placed among the foliage of the gum, swamp oak and
other trees, and is composed of fine grasses interwoven with cobwebs and
slightly lined with feathers. The breeding-season comprises the months
of September, October and November, and the eggs are four in number.
Crown, back of the neck, upper surface and wings olive-brown, the
feathers of the forehead tipped with a lighter colour; rump, upper and
under tail-coverts pale ochre; throat and chest white, each feather with
a very slight, broken margin of brown; base of all the tail-feathers
pale buff, the external margin of the outer feathers and the tips of all
brownish buff, the central portion blackish brown; bill brown, the under
mandible paler than the upper; feet olive-brown; irides beautiful
straw-yellow.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
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