RHIPIDURA 



127 



/^ps 



Rhipidura rufifrons. 



RUFOUS-FRONTED FANTAIL. 

 Muscicapa rufifrons, Lath., Ind. Orn., Suppl., p. 1., (1801). 



Rhipidura rufifrons, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol.. Vol. II., pi. 84 (1848), (part); vl, Handbk. Bds. 

 Austr., Vol. I., p. 240 (1865). 

 Adult male— CVojuh of the head, neck, mantle, and upper portion of the back brown slightly 

 tinged irith pale orange-rufous: hnoer portion of the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts orange- 

 rufous: upper wiug-coverts and quills brown, tinged with pale orange-rufous, which is more distinct^ 

 on the outer webs of the inner secondaries: base of the tail-feathers orange-rufous, the terminal halj 

 blackish-brown, with pale brown tips ; forehead, and a line of feathers above the eye orange-rufous: 

 ear-coverts dark broivu : chin, cheeks, upper portion of the throat, and a broad line of Jeathers 

 extending on to the sides of the neck white: lower throat black : feathers of the fore-neck a^id chest 

 black margined tvith white; centre of the breast dull white; sides of the breast and abdomen fawn ^ 



colour: under tail-coverts fawn-buff ; bill broivn, base oj 

 loiver mandible yellowish-horn colour; legs and feet 

 brown; iris brown. Total length in the flesh 6-2 inches, 

 w-ing 2-9, tail SS, bill OSo, tarsus 0-75. 



Adult female — Similar in plumage to the male. 

 Distribution.— Queensland. New South Wales, and 

 Victoria. 



,HE Rufous-fronted Fantail is found in favour- 

 able situations throu,£,'hout the greater portions 

 of Eastern Queensland, Eastern New South ^^'ales, 

 and Victoria. This species chiefly frequents humid 

 mountain ranges and the rich coastal brushes during 

 spring and summer,- leaving after the breeding season 

 is over early in autumn, for more open parts of the 

 country. It is of the same restless disposition as its 

 smaller congener K. albiscapa, and is constantly on the 

 move, displaying the rich colour of the lengthened 

 feathers of its fan-shaped tail. It is more often met 

 with singly, except in the breeding season, when it is 

 generally seen in pairs, frequenting the trees near the water in mountain gullies, or the margins 

 of creeks and rivers in the brushes. Sometimes it is seen in the centres ot large cities. Mr. 

 George Masters, Curator of the Macleay Museum at the Sydney University, informs me that 

 while engaged m entomological duties at his table near a window one day, one of these birds 

 found its way into the building. After flying several times backwards and forwards the length 

 of the Museum, it finally selected as a resting place the top of his head, and there it remained 

 for some time until he attempted to put his hand near it. 



Although found close to or in Sydnev in autumn and winter, I have only known it to 

 breed in the gullies on the highlands of the Milson's Point railway-line, beyond Chatswood 

 and Roseville, or in the humid scrubs and gullies at National Park and Waterfall. 



The food of this species consists entirely of small insects, flies, small moths, etc., captured 

 principally while on the wing. Unlike the White-shafted Fantail, which frequently builds its 

 nest in fruit trees, it is seldom seen in orchards during the breeding season, unless contiguous 

 to its usual haunts. 



RUFOUS-FRONTED FANTAIL. 



