CYSTICOLA EXILIS.
Exile Warbler.

Exile Warbler, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 136.
Malurus evilis, Lath. MSS. Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 223.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 279.

 

Tis 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 Cystecola
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 inha-
bited 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 Mature. 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.