48 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



HOODED ROBIN 



(BlA( K AND WhITK KoHIX). 



Petrwca bicolor, Vigr, and Hors. 



Pet-re'ka bl'kid-or. 

 Petron, a rock ; oikos, a home ; bi, two ; color, colour. 

 Petroica bicolor, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. iii., pi. 7. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas '^, 4, G, 9. 



Key to the 8i'Ecies. — Under surface white; insertion of wing white; 

 base of tail white. Male has a black throat, the female an ashy 

 one. Bill about equal in height and breadth at the nostrils. 



Young. — Dark brown above, hghtcr below ; wings and tail like 

 female. 



The relationship this bird bears to the familiar red-breast is 

 not generally recognized because of the wide difference in 

 colouration. Yet a critical comparison of the two species 

 indicates beyond a doubt their close affinity. The construc- 

 tion of head and bill, disposition of tail and \a ing feathers, 

 and style of legs and feet are the same in each case ; hence in 

 essentials the two species agree. 



The former scientific name applied to the Hooded Robin 

 {Mdanodryas bicolor, meaning " Black and White Nymph of 

 the Woods"), is very apropos so far as external appearances 

 and habits go, for it is a denizen of the light timber, seldom 

 venturing to leave the covert suited to its nature. This name 

 unfortunately led to some misunderstanding, by reason of the 

 presence of another " Nymph " in the north-west of the 

 continent, which differs only slightly from our present subj ect. 

 The classical name, Petroeca bicolor, is now registered through- 

 out the scientific world, and by this name only is it correctly 

 known. 



The Hooded Robin is an active insect-hunter, darting from 

 bush to bush in search of coleopterous and other insects or 

 their larva3. 



