ACANTHIZA NANA, Vig. and Horsf:

Little Acanthiza.

Dwarf Warbler, vay. A.? Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 134. No. 161.
Acanthiza nana, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 226.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 283.

 

Tus little bird, which is very generally distributed over the colonies of New South Wales and South Au-
stralia, inhabits the extremities of the branches of the various trees, without, so far as I could observe,
evincing a partiality for any particular kind; the Casuarine on the banks of creeks, the Eucalypti of the
plains, and the belts of Banksie being equally resorted to by it. Insects of various orders constitute its sole
food, and in the capture of these it exhibited many lively and varied actions, which strongly reminded me of
those of the Regulus cristatus of our own island: that, like its near allies, it may occasionally resort to the
ground for food, I think very likely, yet I do not recollect having seen it in such situations.

The nest is a neat domed structure with a small entrance near the top, and is composed of fine grasses ;
its site varies according to circumstances, but is generally among the smaller branches of the trees.
The number and colour of its eggs are at present unknown.

As its name implies, and as will be seen on reference to the Plate, the dcanthiza nana is one of the more
diminutive, although not the least of the Australian birds.

There is no outward difference by which the sexes can be distinguished, neither do they undergo any
seasonal change, nor is there any great variation in the colouring of the young and the adult.

All the upper surface bright olive ; tail greyish brown tinged with olive, and crossed by a broad band of
blackish brown ; throat and under surface yellow; irides brown with a very narrow rim of yellowish white ;
bill and feet blackish brown.

The figures are of the natural size.