OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 71 



Nest. — Similar to R. alhiscafa, described above, and, judg- 

 ing by one specimen alone, it is a little larger. 



Eggs. — Two or three to a clutch ; ground colour cream ; 

 the faint spots form a zone of pale brown and lilac-brown. 

 Length, 0,75 inch ; breadth, 0.55 inch. 



BLACK AND WHITE FANTAIL 



(Shepherd's Companion, Willie Wagtail), 



Bhipidura tricolor, Vieill. 



Khi-pid'u-ra Irikul-or. 

 Rhipis, a fan ; oura, tail ; tri, triple ; color, colour. 



Rhipidura motacilloides, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. ii., 



pi. 86. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Upper surface and throat jet black ; abdomen 

 white ; tail larger than wing ; rictal bristles present. 



This is, perhaps, the commonest of Fantails. W^herever you 

 go, across plains scantily timbered and fairly watered, or 

 along well-watered country, you will be sure to meet this 

 species. The preference shown is for the drier rather than for 

 the wetter country, for while the E,uf ous-fronted species keeps 

 principally to the mountains, and the White-shafted within 

 fairly well timbered land, the Black and White Fantail is a 

 companion of the sheep and their shepherd in grazing 

 districts. 



The natives of south-western Australia tell me the bird is 

 known to them as Chid-e Chid-e — an imitation of its notes — 

 while other notes convey to us an expression Hke " Sweet 

 pretty creature." 



It is one of the few birds that sing, or attempt to do so, 

 during the night. The mate of the sitting bird considers it a 



