ARTAMUS. 249 



their stomachs literally gorged with these industrious insects. Similar evidence I found in the 

 stomachs of three birds obtained by Mr. K. Etheridge, the Curator, at Colo \'ale, on the 8th 

 December, 1894, who informed me that apiarists in that district had in many instances lost 

 nearly all their bees through the depredations of this species."' At Burwood I saw a small flock 

 of these birds picking up something on the road side near the railway line. As they were there 

 when I repassed an hour later, I had the curiosity to look what it was they were feasting upon, 

 and found it to be a piece of boiled sausage meat, probably the remains of some carter's lunch. 



Mr. E. Tipper writes me as follows, from West Maitland, New South Wales, under date 

 iSth July, 1S96: — "Mr. James Anderson last week shot over forty Dusky Wood Swallows, 

 near Hexham, the stomachs of some few of them that were examined being full of bees 

 captured close to his apiary." 



At night, except during the breeding season, these birds have a curious habit of hanging 

 together in clusters like a swarm of bees, sometimes selecting the hollow trunk of a tree for the 

 purpose; but just as often the inner birds cling to the roughened bark at the juncture of a thick 

 forked limb. At Dobroyde I have noted this habit frequently just before dusk. 



Mr. H. L. White, of Belltrees, Scone, New South Wales, writes me as follows : — " Avtamus 

 sordidns is resident here and an early breeder, the nests being usually placed in much safer 

 positions than those of A. superciliosus. As a rule not more than a pair are to be seen together, 

 but they are distributed in fair numbers all over the Upper Hunter District. Settlement does 

 not appear to disturb the bird, which is always to be seen in local farms and gardens, where it 

 does a great amount of good by destroying grubs, moths, grasshoppers, etc. I look upon the 

 family Artamidir as being amongst our most useful native birds." 



Mr. Thos. P. Austin sends me the following notes from Cobborah Station, Cobbora, New 

 South Wales: — "A few examples of Artamus sordidns remain in this district throughout the 

 year, though they are to be seen in much greater numbers during the spring. Only once have 

 I been pri\-ileged to see these birds clustered together; so closely were they packed that 

 there appeared to be not more than from a dozen to twenty of them, but when I disturbed 

 them I could see there must have been fully fifty. This was upon a very cold day during August, 

 igo8, and just as a storm was approaching. This species was always very plentiful in the 

 Geelong District, Victoria, during the spring, and used to breed there in great numbers. Like 

 A. supeyciliosHS a.nd A. peysonatus it is a very valuable insect destroyer, but unfortunately is not 

 found in such large flocks. 



From Blackwood, South Australia, Mr. Edwin Ashby sends me the following note : — 

 " Aytainits soi'didus is more or less with us in the Adelaide Hills at all seasons, though in the 

 depth of winter it is sometimes not seen for several weeks together. At times during the winter 

 flocks of this species visit the Adelaide Plains, probably for warmth. In the autumn and spring, 

 on very cold mornings, the birds crowd together on lofty boughs of gums in great bunches, a 

 dozen or more in a bunch. They look like great nests. I have seen as many as three separate 

 bunches on a single bough." 



Dr. A. M. Morgan sends me the following note from Adelaide : — " Ayfaiiiits sordidns is found 

 in all parts of South Australia I have visited, and breeds from September until the end of 

 December. At Laura they were very familiar birds, and have built in my garden there, and 

 have attempted to breed in the trees lining the streets, but the nests were always taken by the 

 boys of the town. In South Australia the eggs are almost invariably three in number, sometimes 

 only two, and 1 do not remember ever having taken four." 



From Melbourne Mr. G. A. Keartland writes me: — " It is not generally known that Aytamus 

 sovdidus indulges in song. Whilst visiting the Werribee District with Mr. J. Gabriel we were 

 enjoying a rest under the shade of a Casuayina, when a Sordid Wood Swallow perched on the 

 * North, Insectivorous Birds of N. S. Wales, " Agric. Gaz. N. S. Wales," p. 384 (1S96). 

 E El 



