74 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



RESTLESS FLY-CATCHER 



(Scissors Grinder), 



Sisura iiiqiiieta, Lath. 



iSl-SiVrii in-qai- eta. 

 /SV/"ew, to shake; owra, tail ; inquietus, ve^iX&a^. 

 Seisura inquieta, Gould, " Birds of Australia," foL, vol. ii., pi. 87. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 2, o, 4, 6, 7, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Under surface white, no black on throat ; at 

 times a rufous tint on breast; upper surface shining bluish-black. 

 Wing, 4 inches; tail, 3 inches. 



There are generally to be found two '' Black and White Fan- 

 tails" associated in the same district, the only point of 

 physical difference being that on.e has a black throat and the 

 other a white one. Beyond this, the question of vocal 

 differences conies in for consideration. 



While this species has a scraping note, which gives it the 

 name of "Scissors Grinder," Rhipidura tricolor has a series of 

 of notes like " Sweet pretty creature" uttered at lengthened 

 periods. There are also other calls, which may be heard 

 principally in the spring season, and in the stronghold of its 

 habitat. 



Mr. Gilbert speaks of its vocal powers in the following 

 way : — " The general note is a loud, harsh cry, several times 

 repeated. It also utters a loud, clear whistle, but its most 

 singular note is that from which it has obtained its colonial 

 name, and which is only emitted while the bird is in a 

 hovering position at a few feet above the ground. This 

 noise so exactly resembles a grinder at work that a person, 

 unaware of its being produced by a bird, might easily be 

 misled. Its mode of flight is one of the most graceful and 

 easy imaginable ; it rarely mounts high in flying from tree to 

 tree, but moves horizontally, with its tail but little spread, 



