244 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 139. SAULOPROCTA MOTACILLOIDES. 

 Black Fantail. 



I'ihipidura motacillu'ides, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 248. 



Sauloprocta motacillo'ides, Cab. Mus. Hein. Theil i. p. 57. 

 n 



Wil-la-ring, Aborigines of the lowland, and 



II I 

 Jit-te-jit-te, Aborigines of the mountain districts of Westeni Australia. 



Wagtail Flycatcher of the Colonists of Swan River. 



Rhipidm-a motacilloides, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii. 

 pi. 86. 



With the exception of Tasmania, tliis bird has been found 

 in every part of Southern Australia yet visited by Europeans. 



At the same time that it is one of the most widely diffused, 

 it is also one of the most tame and familiar of the Australian 

 birds, and consequently a general favourite ; it is constantly 

 about the houses, gardens, and stock-yards of the settlers, 

 often running along the backs and close to the noses of the 

 cattle in order to secure the insects which are roused and 

 attracted by the heat from their nostrils, along the roofs of the 

 buildings, the tops of pailings, gates, &c. ; constructing its 

 pretty nest beneath the verandah, and even entering the rooms 

 to capture its insect prey. It passes much of its time on the 

 ground, over which it runs and darts with the utmost celerity, 

 and when skirting the stream with tail erect and shaking from 

 side to side, it presents an appearance very similar to that of 

 the Pied Wagtails ; the movements of the tails of the two 

 birds, however, are very different, that of the European being 

 perpendicular, while that of the Australian is a kind of lateral 

 swing. 



Its song, which consists of a few loud and shrill notes, is 

 continually poured forth throughout the entire night, espe- 

 cially if it be moonlight. 



Its flight is at times gracefully undulating ; at others it con- 

 sists of a series of sudden zigzag starts, but is always of very 



