SERICORNIS MAGNIROSTRIS, Gow.

Large-billed Sericornis.

Acanthiza magnirostra, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 146; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.

 

Tur Sericornis magnirostris 1s an inhabitant of the brushes of New South Wales, both those which clothe
the gullies and sides of the mountain ranges of the interior, as well as those near the coast; such as occur
at Illawarra and on the banks of 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 of interest,
from the very singular nest it constructs, and which, like that of Serzcornis citreogularis, forms a remarkable
object in the scenery of the portion of the country it inhabits. It is formed of a large loose mass of 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 of 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 of 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 of living moss which are attached to many of the extremities of the branches
of the trees of 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 of these hanging masses in order to elude pursuit,
or whether it avails itself of 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 of years ; the entire mass consists of living moss, and the small hole left for an
entrance is so skilfully concealed as scarcely to admit of 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 of 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 varies 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 of 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 of 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 tail 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 of the natural size.