BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 23 



of abdomen washed with light scarlet; rest of under surface, except 

 under tail coverts, pale brown ; under tail coverts dull white. 



Young. — Both sexes resemble adult female, save that the 

 under surface is uniform pale grey. 



Nest. — Cup-shaped; soft shredded bark, soft grass, and a 

 little moss are its chief constituents ; pieces of lichen are frequently 

 stuck on the outside for protective mimicry ; the inside hning is 

 usually fur. The forked branches of a tree or sapling in lightly 

 wooded tracts is a favourite situation. 



Eggs. — Clutch three to four; stout oval in shape; shell fine and 

 surface somewhat glossy ; ground colour hght greenish- white, 

 rather heavily spotted and freckled with umber and a Uttle dull 

 grey. In the region of the upper quarter the spots form more or 

 less of a belt. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch: — (1) 17 x 13.5, 

 (2) 17.5 X 13, (3) 16.5 x 13.5. 



Breeding Season. — October to December. 



Geograpliical Distribution. — Tasmania, New South Wales, 

 South Australia, and South Queensland. 



Observations. — The chief features that distinguish this Robin 

 from the Flame-breasted species are that this has the white mark 

 on the forehead large and the throat black. 



The range of this species, as well as its general habits, are 

 practically similar to those of the Flame-breasted Robin. It is, 

 however, less of a ncmad than its congener. During the nest- 

 ing season it is always to be seen in pairs, and it is at that season 

 that its sweet little song is to be heard at its best. At other 

 seasons it consorts in small flocks and mingles with both the Flame- 

 breasted and Dusky Robins. The colour of the breast of the female 

 varies froixi light to bright red. Somewhat contrary to what occiu's 

 with some other birds, the colouration of the female is as bright 

 in the depth of winter as in the height of the breeding season. The 

 amount of colouration on the breast and abdomen of the male also 

 varies, being sometimes merely a broad band of colour on the chest 

 and upper part of the abdomen, while the rest of the under surface 

 is dusky white. 



Like the other Robins, its food is procured from off and out of 

 the ground. During winter it often frequents bush homesteads, 

 and will readily pick up any food thrown out to it. 



The note of the female is a sharp little " Chip, chip," uttered 

 with a rapid upward flirt of the wings and tail. 



*FLAME-BREASTED ROBIN 



{Petroeca phoenicea, Gould). 



Male. — Whole of the upper surface greyish-black; white spot 



on forehead small ; the median and greater wing coverts, also outer 



webs of inner secondaries, white; tail blackish, with two outer 



feathers on either side pearly-white ; sides of the face and chin 



