ACANTHIZA APICALIS,Gould.Western Acanthiza.
Acanthiza apicalis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., March, 1847.
Djool-be-djoȍl-bung, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.
Wren, Colonists of Swan River.
This species, which is a native of Western Australia, is distinguished from those immediately allied to it—A. Diemenensis,pusillaandEwingii—by its large size, by its larger and rounder tail, by the broad and distinct band of black which crosses the tail-feathers near their extremities, and by their being largely tipped with white.
It occurs in great abundance in the colony of Western Australia, both at Swan River and King George’s Sound, and is to be met with in all wooded situations. Like the other members of the genus, it is active and sprightly in its actions, leaping about from branch to branch with its tail erect, and often repeating a note which very much resembles the syllablesGee-wo-wut. Its stomach is somewhat muscular, and the food consists of small insects of various kinds.
It breeds in September and October. The nest, which is usually placed in a thickly-foliaged bush, or in a clump of the Tea-tree, is of a domed form, with the entrance in the side, and is composed of dried grasses and strips of Tea-tree bark, and lined with feathers. The eggs are from three to five in number, of a flesh-white, thickly freckled with reddish chestnut, the freckles becoming so numerous at the larger end as to form a complete zone; their medium length is eight lines, and breadth six lines.
The sexes are alike in plumage, but the female is somewhat smaller than her mate.
Feathers of the forehead deep buff, edged with dark brown; all the upper surface, wings and tail light olive-brown; tail crossed with a broad and distinct band of brownish black near the extremity, and largely tipped with white; upper tail-coverts tinged with rufous; throat and chest greyish tail-coverts pale buff; white, each feather margined with black, giving that part a mottled appearance; flanks, abdomen and under irides light red; bill, legs and feet dark brown.
The figures are of the natural size.