1 50 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



the country, in all of which it is apparently a stationary 

 species. It is a bird possessing many peculiar and very 

 singular habits. It not only captures its prey after the 

 usual manner of the otlier Flycatchers, but it frequently 

 sallies forth into the open glades of the forest and the 

 cleared lands, and procures it by posing itself in the air 

 with a remarkably quick motion of the wings, precisely 

 after the manner of the English Kestrel ( Tinnunculus 

 alaudarius\ every now and then making perpendicular 

 descents to the ground to capture any insect that may 

 attract its notice. It is while performing these singular 

 movements that it produces the remarkable sound which 

 has procured for it from the colonists of New South 

 Wales the appellation of the " Grinder." The singular 

 habits of this species appear to have attracted the notice 

 of all who have ]mid any attention to the natural history 

 of New South Wales. Mr. Caley observes — " It is very 

 curious in its actions. In alighting on the stump of a 

 tree it makes several semicircular motions, spreading out 

 its tail at the time, and making a loud noise somewhat 

 like that caused by a razor grinder at work. I have seen 

 it frequently alight on the ridge of my house and perform 

 the same evolutions." To this I may add the following 

 account of the actions and manners of this species as 

 observed by Gilbert in Western Australia: — " This bird 

 is found in pairs in every variety of situation. Its general 

 note is a loud harsh cry, several times repeated ; it also 

 utters a loud clear whistle ; but its most singular note is 

 that from which it has obtained its colonial name, and 

 which is only emitted while the bird is in a hovering 

 position at a few feet from the ground. This noise so 

 exactly resembles a grinder at work that a person unaware 

 of its being produced by a bird might easily be misled." 



It may here be mentioned that mounted specimens of 

 the birds shown in our plates, together with the nests 

 and eggs of same, may be seen in the Museum of 

 Economic Entomology and Ornithology which is attached 

 to the office of the Government Entomologist. 



