authenticated https repositories - scripting?

[Bill Barry]

I have some repos that are only accessible over authenticated https:

...
<Directory /var/hg>                                                             
  AuthType  Basic                                                               
  AuthName "repository"                                                         
  AuthUserFile /var/permissions/hg.list                                              
  Require valid-user  

...


When I try to clone it from the command line (or push or pull or 
interact with it at all) it keeps asking for http authorization. I have 
read about daemons for ssh but nothing particularly about http 
authentication. Is there anything I can do to get it so I don't need to 
enter my credentials?

I am also asking because I am writing a Cruise Control.NET source 
control provider and I will need to be able to authenticate 
non-interactively.