iVESTS AND EGGS OA AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 143 



115. — Petkceca goodknovii, Vigors and Horsfield. — (IGG) 



RED-CAPPED ROBIN. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. 5 

 Rtfcrence. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 171. 

 Previous Descriftiotts 0/ Eggs.— Gould: Birds of Australia, Handbook, 

 vol. i., p. 281 (1S65) ; North: Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 103 (1889). 



Geographical Distribution. — South Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, South and West Australia. 



Nest. — Cup-shaped, small, and exceedingly neat; constructed of soft 

 g^ass and bark, beautifully decorated outwardly with lichens and mosses, 

 and cosily lined inside with fur. Situated u.sually low in the upright 

 forked branch or elbow of a gnarled, lichen-covered limb of a tree in 

 native pine (Cd/litri^) or other waterless scrubs. Dimensions over all, 

 -A iudies by 2 A inches in depth; egg cavity, I^, inches across by 1] inches 

 deep. 



Effffs. — Clutch, two to three, occasionally four; veiy round in fonn; 

 texture of shell exceedingly fine ; surface almost without gloss ; colour, 

 delicate pale-green, finely spotted, particularly round the apex, with umber 

 and grey. Dimensions in inches of a pair : (1) -62 x -52, (2) -62 x 'SI ; 

 of a proper clutch: (1) -64 x -51, (2) -64 x -5, (3) -64 x -5. (Plate 8.) 



Observations. — The Red-capped Robin is a bright-feathered gem 

 dwelling in the thirsty and more interior tracts of the eastern provinces, 

 except North-west Australia and Northcni Territory, where its place is 

 taken by Dr. Ramsay's namesake (P. ramsayi ), the Red-throated Robin. 



However, I have found indiv-iduals of the Red-capped Robin near the 

 coast in Victoria. Its glowing scarlet cap at once cUstinguishes it from 

 the other Robins. Nothing can exceed the dazzling brilliancy of its cap 

 and breast when seen conti'asted with its black coat as it flutters on the 

 wing facing the beholder, or as the bird is perched on a naked twig of a 

 dead fallen pine. When suiging, the pretty bird's whole body vibrates or 

 trembles. Tlie nests, too, are fit homes for such wee beauties — liclien- 

 bedecked and artfully situated on some lichen-covered limb. Two nests, 

 containing eggs, wliicli I took in the Wimmera district, wore in bull oaks 

 (Casufirina) — one a sapling. Another pair I found when in company with 

 Mr. Gabriel, in the Riverina, near Moulamein. One was placed in a pine 

 (f'liHitri'i), while the other was on another species of tree common to pine 

 ridges. 



Mr. Lau's tribute of praise from the Darling Dovms (Queensland) to 

 the Red-capped Robin is, " A living jewel when seen on the margin of a 

 mixed scrub in summer time. At winter it approaches the liabitations 

 of man, always choosing conspicuous places to show itself off. Its httle 

 open nest is one of the loveliest of its kind, situated not more than five 

 feet from the ground, in the fork of a dry bush. Delicate lichens compose 

 the outside, and feathers, hau', &c., the inside. Two eggs are all it lays. 

 Rosenthal Creek, Warwick, November, 1879. " 



