20 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



tail-like ai^pendage extends beneath the twig on which the nest 

 is i)laced. When a stream is conveniently handy the nest is placed 

 on a twig overhanging it. The materials mostly employed in its 

 construction are fine dry grass, shreds of fine bark, and long, 

 fibrous green moss, the whole being covered exteriorly with matted 

 spider's web, giving it a dirty-grey appearance ; the interior lining 

 consists of very fine rootlets, grass, or the long hair from the bases 

 of fern fronds. 



Eggs. — Clutch three usually, four rarely; roundish oval in 

 shape ; texture fine ; surface faintly glossy ; colour dirty or buffy 

 white, somewhat heavily spotted and blotched with reddish-brown 

 and grey, especially in the vicinity of the apex, where the spots 

 form a confluent band. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch: — (1) 14 

 X 10, (2) 14.75 X 10, (3) 15 x 10.25. 



Breeding Season. — September to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, King and several other 

 islands in Bass Strait. 



Ohservations. — The bump of inquisitiveness seems to be largely 

 developed in this small bird, for it has the habit of following one 

 for hundreds of yards through the bush, just keeping out of reach, 

 and uttering a broken Httle song the whole of the time. Its flight is 

 weak; its long tail, which is opened fan-wise when flying, seeming 

 too heavy. The name" Cranky Fan," by which it is known to most 

 people, is derived from its curious head-over-heels flight when 

 flitting about the tree-tops or on the edge of scrub. The song is a 

 sweet little run of notes, to be heard to the best advantage during 

 the nesting season. If this little songster can be heard to the 

 accompaniment of a softly babbling stream the effect is greatly 

 enhanced. Almost anywhere in the northern part of the island 

 this species is plentiful, and I am informed the same can be said 

 for the southern. 



Much discussion has taken place at various times concerning 

 the utility or otherwise of the wine-glass stem constructed by the 

 members of the genus Rhipidnra to the bottoms of their nests. 

 Taking everything into consideration, I am quite of Col. Legge's 

 opinion that the stem is placed for the practical purpose of 

 balancing the nest during rough weather. No doubt it is a survival 

 from some very early period, as one often finds a nest in a sheltered 

 situation where no boisterous winds could possibly affect it. 



*LEADEN FLYCATCHEK 



(Myiagra ruhecida, Latham). 



Male. — Head greyish-lead, glossed with steel-green; back and 

 tail also greyish-lead, but very faintly glossed with steel-green ; 

 wings blackish, secoridar}^ quills edged with ashy-white; neck, 

 throat, and chest blackish, strongly glossed with dull green; rest 

 of under surface white, or dull white; bill dark lead, tipped with 



