182 



MUSCICAPID.E. 



J- 



G-envLS EOI=S-<£^XjTISI.^^, Gould. 



Eopsaltria australis. 



YELLOW-BREASTED ROBIN. 

 Mtiscicapa australis, Lath., Ind. Orn., Suppl., p. 1., (1801). 



Eopsaltria australis, Gould, Handbk. Bds. Austr., Vol. I., p. 293 (1865); Gadow, Cat. Bds. Brit. 

 Mus., Vol. VIII., p. 176 (1883), (part). 

 Adult male — General colour above dark gray, strongly washed with olive on the lower hack 

 and rump ; upper tail-coverts olive- yellow : lesser and median wing-coverts dark grey, the greater 

 coverts blackish-brown; primary coverts blackish-brown ; quills dark greyish-broum, the secondaries 

 externally edged with olive, the basal portion of the inner webs of the innermost primaries and the 

 outermost secondaries crossed with a dull white band.- tail dark greyish-brown, the central feathers 

 margined externally jviih olive, and the lateral feathers narrouiy tipped with tchite on their inner 

 webs; feathers in front of the eye blackish: chin and upper part of the throat greyish-white; 

 remainder of the tinder surface bright yelloii; washed ivith olive on the sides of the breast ayid flanks; 

 bill black; legs and feet broicnish-grey ; iris brownish-black. Total length in the jlesh fr6 inches, 



wing 3 5, tail 28, bill 0-55, tarsus 0-9. 



Adi'M' fkmalk — Similar in plumage to the 

 male, but having the upper tail-coverts and 

 under surface slightly duller in colour. 



Distribution. — New South Wales, N'ictoria. 



^X suitable localities the range of this 

 familiar and well known resident extends 

 over the greater portion of South-eastern 

 Australia. It frequents the coastal brushes, 

 humid scrubs, and undergrowth of mountain 

 ranges, and is also found in orchards, large 

 gardens, and shrubberries. In the neighbour- 

 hood of Sydney it is very common, and a few 

 pairs breed every year in the Botanic Gardens 

 and the Domain. Usually it is met with in 

 pairs, resorting chiefly to the branches or stems of low trees, as well as the ground in open 

 parts of the scrub. When disturbed it merely flits from tree to tree, often perching trans- 

 versely against the trunk and calmly watching the intruder, at the same time repeatedly 

 jerking its tail upwards. Frequently it will remain in this position for some time, leaving 

 perhaps to secure some insect in the grass, and returning afterwards to the same place. 

 About orchards and gardens it becomes remarkably tame, and when one is engaged in 

 digging will perch on some neighbouring post or limb only a few yards away, watching 

 intently for any unearthed grub, which it quickly darts upon and carries away to devour 

 at leisure. 



The food of this species consists principally of insects and their larv*. I have also seen 

 it eat cold roast mutton fat. 



In the bright clear days at the latter end of winter and early spring, the piping but 

 somewhat monotonous call-note of the Yellow-breasted Robin may be heard, more especially 

 in the early morning and again just about dusk; during the summer months it is remarkably 

 soft and low. Sometimes it also utters a low "churp churp," when its nest is approached, 

 resembling some of the notes of the introduced House Sparrow (Passer domesticiis). 



YELLOW-BKEASTEI) ROBIN. 



