INSECT-DESTROYING BIRDS. 151 



CHAPTER LXVIII. 



THE WHITE-SHAFTED FANTAIL. 



(^Rhipidura albiscapa, Gould.) 



A well-known favorite, commonly to be seen almost 

 anywhere in the country around Melbourne. It is easily 

 known by its quick movements and its habit of spreading 

 out its tail whilst hopping about the twigs in search of 

 insects, although, as a rule, most of the insects taken by 

 it are captured whilst on the wing. Of this bird Mr. 

 North says — " This lively and interesting little bird is 

 plentifully distributed throughout Queensland, New 

 South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, and 

 although it has nothing to recommend it in the sombre 

 tints of its plumage the remarkable shape of its nest 

 attaches to it an interest that renders it one of the most 

 conspicuous of the smaller birds of the Australian 

 bush." 



A nest of this species now before me is funnel shaped, 

 or like a wine-glass with the base broken off. It is com- 

 posed of strips of very fine bark closely interwoven and 

 securely held together on the outside with spider's web, 

 which is neatly wound round the exterior portion of the 

 nest proper, the thin branch on which it is placed and the 

 upper portion of the stem-like appendage which extends 

 below the branch from the bottom of the nest. The 

 lower portion of the stem is ragged at the end, and just 

 sufficient web is placed around it to hold together the fine 

 shreds of bark of which it is composed. 



The interior of the nest is lined entirely Avitli fine 

 fibrous roots, and the rim of the nest is very thin; exter- 

 nal diameter, 1 J inch ; depth. If inch ; length of stem 

 below the nest, 2 inches ; thickness near the end, J of an 

 inch ; internal diameter, 1 J inch ; depth, 1^ inch. 



