ACANTHIZA REGULOIDES, Vig. and Horsf.
Reg-illus-like Acanthiza.
Acanthiza Reguloides, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 226.
Dwarf Warbler, var. /3 ? Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 135. No. 161.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 283.
M an y o f the actions of this little bird ofFer a close resemblance to those o f the Yellow-tailed Acanthiza
(A . chrysorrhosa') ; like that species, it resorts to the ground for its food; moves about in small flocks
o f from eight to fifteen in number; when flushed shows the yellow or buff o f 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 shrublike
trees when disturbed ; I have also seen it busily engaged among the branches, apparently iii search of
insects, in the pursuit of which, like the other members o f 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 o f September, October and November, and the eggs are four in number.
Crown, back of the neck, upper surface and wings olive-brown, the feathers o f 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 o f brown; base o f all the tail-feathers pale buff, the external margin o f 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.