A'i-S7S AND EGGS 01' AUSTRALIAN BIKDS. }^-j^ 



Uhstridtioiin. — This is the smallest of the t'lcgant I'aiiiily of Wood 

 Swallows, and in appearance resembles the Dusky coloured Wood 

 Swallow (A. sordid n't) in miniature. It is a permanent or stiitionary 

 species in Queensland and the northern parts of Australia generally. 



lu August (1885) I notieetl them in the Cardwcll district, where 

 Mr. K. Hroadbent says he found them piintiful during the months of 

 June and July. 



However, some wander down to New South Wales, where the species 

 was found by Gould on the Lower Namoi, and where he states the 

 birds had evidently been breeding, because ho observed numerous young 

 ones, whose primai-ies were not sufficiently developed to admit of their 

 flying any great distance; besides they were constantly being attended 

 by their parents, who were hawking about in the air over and among 

 the trees, notably myalls (Acacia pendii/aj, while the young were 

 quietly perched close to each other on a dead twig, as is the fashion 

 of most young Wood Swallows. 



Now we take leave of the showy and beautifully-formed Wood 

 Swallows, which, being insectivorous, are most useful to man, and as 

 Gould truly says must perform a most important part in checking 

 an overdue increase of injurious insects. 



FAMILY— STURNID^E : STARLINGS. 

 Sub-family — STURNiNiE. 



391. — Calornis metallica, Tcmmiuck. — (291) 

 SHINING STARLING. 



Figure. — Gould : Bird.s of .\ustralia, fol., supp., pi. H- 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 138. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia, Hand- 

 book, vol. i., p. 478 (1865), also fol., supp. (1S69); Ramsay: 

 Proc. Zool. Soc, p. 594 (1875) ; North : Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. 

 Wales, vol. ii., and ser., p. 443 (1S87) ; Le Souef : Ibis, p. 52 

 (i8g8|. 



Gcdijrajjhiciii Distribution. — Northern Territory, North Queen.sland 

 and New South Wales (casual) ; also New Guinea, including the islands 

 from the Solomons to the Aru Group, as well as the Moluccas. 



JVent.- — Averaging two feet in length by one foot in breadth ; is of a 

 somewhat oval form, slightly compressed, rounded below and above, 

 tapering to a neck, by the end of which it is suspended ; the opening is 

 situated in the centre of the widest part ; it is almost entirely composed 

 of portions of the stem of the long tendrils of a climbing plant 

 (Cissus), matted and woven together, and lined vsdth finer pieces of the 



