CYSTICOLA LINEOCAPILLA,Gould.Lineated Warbler.
Cysticola lineocapilla, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Jan. 27, 1847.
TheCysticola lineocapillais a much smaller and more delicately formed species than theC. exilis, and may, moreover, be distinguished from that and every other member of the genus with which I am acquainted by the lineated form of the markings of the head. It is a native of the north coast of Australia, and all the specimens I have seen were from the neighbourhood of Port Essington. Mr. Gilbert states that it “is very rarely seen in consequence of its generally inhabiting the long grass of the swamps, where it creeps about more like a mouse than a bird, and if once alarmed it is no easy task to get a sight of it again; its note is a short and feeble, but very pleasing song.
“The stomach is muscular, and the food consists of insects of various kinds.”
General plumage pale rufous, with broad and conspicuous striæ of blackish brown forming lines down the centre of the feathers of the head and back; the under surface fading into white on the throat and centre of the chest; tail-feathers with a conspicuous blackish spot on the under surface near the tip; irides light reddish brown; bill and feet flesh-brown.
The figures are of the natural size.