OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 45 



the advent of spring dons its brilliant blue again. It takes a 

 Robin at least three years to develop a thoroughly brilliant 

 red. 



A beautiful sight may be seen by the wanderer through our 

 paddocks on a bright winter day in July ; he often comes 

 across a company of 30 to 40 male Robins flitting about from 

 fence to bush, or starting from the ground as he approaches. 

 To witness such a sight is one of the many joys which face 

 the lot of the enthusiastic ornithologist. The breeding season 

 lasts from August to December, two or three broods being 

 reared each season. 



The male "flame-breast" (P. phoenicea) essays a little 

 musical performance in the early spring, as though to announce 

 the passing of the cold, and call forth the dormant life of the 

 earth. How welcome these notes are at this time to the 

 expectant farmer ! 



The song of this bird is a set bar containing about seven 

 notes, very sweet and varied, and occupying perhaps two and 

 a half seconds in production. Early bird- voices, like that of 

 the " flame-breast," because of their rarity, are particularly 

 amenable to study, for the full burst of song that fills our 

 woods later, in the incoming spring, raise a complete medley, 

 delightful yet somewhat confusing. The males then appear 

 to vie with one another in producing the loudest notes. 



The throat of the Flame-breasted Robin is red ; that of the 

 Scarlet-breasted, black. 



Nest. — Cu23-shaped ; neatly and compactly made of bark, 

 ornamented exteriorly with mosses and lichens, and lined 

 interiorly with dry grasses, feathers, &c. It is placed on 

 a horizontal branch, but may be put in a fork near the 

 ground. 



Eggs. — Three or four for a sitting. Ground colour pale 

 green or creamy- white, both spotted with greyish, blue-grey, 

 and brown. Length, 0.75 inch; breadth, 0.6 inch. 



