CYSTICOLA EXILIS.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
CYSTICOLA EXILIS.
Exile Warbler.
_Exile Warbler_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 136.
_Malurus exilis_, Lath. MSS. Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv.
p. 223.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 279.
This species appears to have been first noticed by Latham in the seventh
volume of his “General History of Birds” under the title of Exile
Warbler, and to have been subsequently placed in the genus _Cysticola_
by Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield while engaged in naming the collection
of Australian birds in the possession of the Linnean Society. Its
natural habitat is New South Wales and South Australia, in both of which
colonies I observed it to be abundantly dispersed among the thick beds
of grasses which clothe the valleys and open plains. I have never
received it from either of the other colonies, all of which, however,
are inhabited by nearly allied species. It is very retiring in its
habits, generally creeping about among the grasses, and will almost
admit of being trodden upon before it will rise and take wing; during
the months of spring the male becomes somewhat bolder, and early in the
morning will frequently perch on the highest of the grasses and pour
forth a pretty but feeble song, resembling that of the _Maluri_. As some
confusion existed respecting the sexes of the various species of this
genus, I was particular in dissecting all the individuals I shot, and I
can therefore state with certainty that the plumage of both sexes of
this species is perfectly similar and that the only outward difference
between them consists in the female being somewhat smaller than her
mate.
I was not able to discover the nest and eggs of this little bird, which
doubtless breeds among the grasses, and builds a dome-shaped nest
similar to that of its European ally.
Crown of the head, back, wing-coverts, scapularies and tail-feathers
brownish black, each feather narrowly margined with buff; sides and back
of the neck and all the under surface sandy buff, fading into white on
the throat and centre of the abdomen; bill and feet flesh-brown.
The figure represents the bird of the natural size.
[Illustration:
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.
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