282 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 167. PETROICA PHCENICEA, Gould. 



Flame-breasted Robin. 



Petroica phcenicea, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part iv. p. 105. 

 Petrceca phcenicea, Cab. Mus. Heiu., Theil i. p. 11. 

 Muscicapa erythrogaster, var.. Lath. 



Petroica phcenicea, Grould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iii. pi. 6. 



Tasmania and the south-eastern portion of the Austi-ahan 

 continent constitute the natural habitat of this species ; in 

 the former country it is very common, but in New South 

 Wales and South Australia it is not so numerous, and is very 

 local. It is far less arboreal than the Petroica multicolor, 

 giving a decided preference to open wastes and cleared lands 

 rather than to the woods : in many of its actions it much re- 

 sembles the Wheatears and other true Saxicoline birds, often 

 selecting a large stone, clod of earth or other substance, on 

 which to perch and show off its flame-coloured breast to the 

 greatest advantage. As the season of nidification approaches, 

 it retires to the forests for the purpose of breeding, and builds 

 its cup-shaped nest in the hole of a tree, in the cleft of a rock, 

 or any similar situation. It is a very familiar species, seeking 

 rather than shunning the presence of man, and readily taking 

 up its abode in his gardens, orchards, and other cultivated 

 grounds ; I have even taken its nest from a shelving bank in 

 the streets of Hobart Town. 



It has a pretty, cheerful song, uttered somewhat low and 

 inwardly ; the male generally sings over or near the female 

 while she is sitting upon her eggs. 



The nest, which is thick and warm, is formed of narrow 

 strips and thread-like fibres of soft bark, matted together with 

 cobwebs and sometimes wool, and lined with hair and fea- 

 thers, or occasionally with fine hair-like grasses. The general 

 colour of the eggs is greenish white, spotted and freckled with 

 purplish and chestnut-brown : much variety occurs in these 

 markings, some assuming the form of large, bold irregular 



