CYSTICOLA RUFICEPS, Gould.
Rufous-headed Warbler.
Cysticola ruficeps, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 150; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.
It would give me great pleasure could I communicate any particulars respecting this pretty little bird, but this unfortunately I am unable to do, no information of any kind having as yet reached me; I can only say therefore that I possess three examples, one from the Liverpool Plains in New South Wales, another from the district of Port Philip, and a third from the north coast, which proves that it enjoys a widely extended range of habitat. The uniform rufous colouring of the head and occiput at once distinguishes it from all the other Australian members of the genus. In its habits, manners and general economy it doubtless closely assimilates to its congeners the C. exilis and lineocapilla, and like them inhabits the open grassy glades between the forests, the grassy crowns of thinly-timbered hills, and all similar situations.
Crown of the head, and back of the neck, rump, chest, flanks and thighs delicate fawn-colour, becoming deeper and redder on the crown and the rump; upper part of the back, secondaries and tail deep brownish black, each feather margined all round with buff; throat and centre of the abdomen white; bill brown; feet yellowish brown.
The Plate represents the birds of the natural size on one of the plants of New South Wales.