70 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



before this species puts in an appearance. Semi-cleared areas 

 with lofty trees are its usual haunts. Although when on the wing 

 it resembles the Welcome Swallow, it may be distinguished from 

 that species by its bright-coloured rump and absence of red on the 

 throat. As a general rule it flies high among and over the tree- 

 tops ; it also may frequently be seen in small flocks gliding grace- 

 fully among the trei-stems at no great height. Occasionally it 

 even descends to the ground to gather food. The range of this 

 species cannot be defined exactly as far as this island is con- 

 cerned, but there are a number of localities in various parts where 

 it is never seen. In disposition it is shy, but should nothing occur 

 to disturb it when it has taken up its abode near a habitation it 

 will become comparatively tame, but not as much so as the 

 Welcome Swallow. By the end of April every Tree-Martin has 

 disappeared. 



FAIRY MAETIN 



(Petrochelidon ariel, Gould). 



Male. — Crown of the head rust-red; nape of the neck dark blue, 

 edged with rufous ; upper back and shoulders dark blue ; lower 

 back and rump creamy- white, tinged with pale dusky-brown; 

 tail feathers dusky-brown, outer webs glossed with blue; sides of 

 face and ear coverts dusky-brown; cheeks and throat white; neck, 

 sides of body, and flanks sandy-brown ; the feathers on the throat 

 and neck have dark shafts ; breast and abdomen white ; under tail 

 coverts white, vvith a dusky tinge; " bill blackish-grey; legs and 

 feet olive-grey; iris blackish-brown" (Gould). Dimensions in 

 mm.: — Length, 116; bill, 6.5; wing, 93; tail, 48; tarsus, 10. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Young. — Crown of head, also nape, dull brick-red; upper back 

 and shoulders blackish-brown, with obscure sandy edges to the 

 feathers; lower back and rump creamy-white, faintly tinged with 

 pale sandy ; upper tail coverts blackish-grey ; tail feathers blackish- 

 brown ; greater wing coverts and quills blackish-brown ; the 

 secondaries and greater wing coverts are tipped, the former nar- 

 rowly and the latter broadly, with pale sandy; cheeks and throat 

 whitish; neck, sides of body, and flanks very pale sandy; feathers 

 on throat and neck have dark shafts as in adult ; breast and 

 abdomen creamy- white. 



Nest. — "The long, bottle-shaped nest is composed of mud or 

 clay, and, like that of the Common Martin (of Europe), is only 

 worked at in the morning and evening. These birds appear to 

 work in small companies, six or seven assisting in the formation 

 of each nest,'one remaining within and receiving the mud brought 

 by others in their mouths. In shape these nests are nearly round, 

 but vary in size from 4 to 6 or 7 inches in diameter, the spouts 

 of some being 8 or 9 inches in length. When built on the sides 

 of rocks, or in the hollows of trees, they are placed without any 



