OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 



29 



" an odour so powerful that we are obliged when picking fruit 

 to keep to windward of greatly infested trees, and leave them 

 to the care of hellebore and Summer-birds." 



The ordinary note of the bird is a quick, rasping one, that 

 jars somewhat on the ears of the listener. During spring, 

 however, the male bird feels called upon to lay aside its croak 

 at special moments, and courts the members of the gentler sex 

 by pouring forth a bar of melody, which, though superior to 



Nest and Eggs of Masked Wood-Swallow. 



its usual efforts in this direction, still falls feebly and brokenly 

 on the ear of one who would naturally expect a better result 

 from so great an effort. Nevertheless, it is a decided advance, 

 and evidently is effective in charming the member for whose 

 benefit the effort was made. The bird reverts to its usual 

 note at a very early period after courtship. 



In 1895 I noticed that this species did not build as early as 

 in the following year, and, moreover, that in the majority of 



