SERICORNIS MAGNIROSTRIS , Gould.
Larg*e-billed Sericornis.
Acanthiza magnirostra, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 146 ; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.
T he Sericornis magnirostris is an inhabitant of the brushes o f New South Wales, both those which clothe
the gullies and sides o f the mountain ranges o f the interior, as well as those near the coast; such as occur
at Hlawarra and on the banks o f the Hunter, the Clarence, the Macleay and other rivers ; it is never seen
in the open country, and so far as I am aware, is entirely confined to New South Wales. Although it has
nothing either in its form or colouring to recommend it to notice, it must always be an object o f interest,
from the very singular nest it constructs, and which, like that o f Sericornis citreogularis, forms a remarkable
object in the scenery o f the portion of the country it inhabits. It is formed o f a large loose mass o f moss,
and being attached to the extreme tips of the pendent branches, waves about with every wind that blows ;
it is very frequently constructed within reach o f the hand, but is more often suspended at about ten, and
sometimes as high as thirty feet from the ground ; occasionally two or three are constructed together under
a dense canopy o f foliage, overhanging water or a deep and gloomy gully, and then present a very singular
appearance. I procured several examples by shooting the branch asunder just above the nest. The nest
so perfectly resembles the tufts o f living moss which are attached to many of the extremities o f the branches
of the trees o f the brushes, that it is impossible to distinguish the one from the other ; and it is a question
whether the bird purposely builds its nest in imitation o f these hanging masses in order to elude pursuit,
or whether it avails itself o f the mass already formed,'and by a little architectural skill converts it into a
receptacle for its eggs. It would seem that the same nest is resorted to for several seasons in succession,
and probably for a series o f years ; the entire mass consists o f living moss, and the small hole left for an
entrance is so skilfully concealed as scarcely to admit o f detection. The breeding-season commences in
August and continues until February, during which period many broods are reared. I procured a nest in
September out o f which flew three young birds, and others during the same month which contained eggs
so recently laid that they could scarcely have been sat upon. The eggs are generally two or three in
number; their ground-colour variés from bluish white to dull reddish white, with the larger end sparingly
washed, freckled and streaked with dark brown ; they are large for the size o f the bird, being nine and a
half lines long, by seven lines broad.
It is a very active but shy bird, keeping much among the branches of the high trees, where it gains a
plentiful supply of insect food ; it may, however, be easily enticed into view by imitating the squeak of its
young.
Its powers o f song are very feeble.
The sexes do not differ in external appearance, nor do the young when fully fledged offer any variation in
colour from the adult.
Crown of the head, all the upper surface, wings and tait olive-brown, the forehead and tail becoming
rufous brown ; throat and chest brownish white ; abdomen greyish white, passing into bright olive-green on
the lower part of the flanks ; bill black ; feet light brown ; irides brown.
The figures represent a male and a female o f the natural size.