^"^'i' 2*0 '^] ^'^ SouiiF AND [NIacphersox, The Bird!; of Sydney. ^y 



year, a good many appear to arrive from the nortlx in September, 

 and many stay in and around the city to breed and make the air 

 ring with their dehghtful singing as does no other bird. Ten 

 pairs were noted in Ashton and Taronga Parks in October. They 

 are very tame, and, having selected their nesting-site, they 

 remain in the vicinity, within an area of a hundred yards, until 

 the autumn. The female attends strictly to the business of 

 nidification, and is very seldom seen. She leaves the nest every 

 afternoon on a feeding trip, and the intent way in which she goes 

 about this is most marked. The young are on the wing in 

 .January, and are chiefly attended to by the male. The old birds 

 moult in March, and this year most left about the 23rd of April, 

 though some stayed the winter through. 



The friendly little White-shafted Fantails {Rhipidiira albiscapa) 

 are resident with us, though they change their habitat somewhat, 

 coming more into the open gardens in the winter. Five birds 

 were noted in Ashton Park in October. 



The active Rufous-fronted Fantail {Rhipidiira nififrons) only 

 pays fleeting visits to our parks and suburban gardens during its 

 migration. It selects a quiet spot, remains a day or two, and 

 then goes off again on its journey, following the same route 

 probably every year, for we have noted a bird in the same spot, 

 at the same time of the year, for three years in succession. 



The familiar "Willie Wagtail" — Black-and- White Fantail 

 {Rhipidiira motacilloides) — delights to dwell near human habita- 

 tions, and will be found in many suburban gardens, successfully 

 holding its own against the over-numerous household cats. They 

 sometimes take up their quarters in odd corners of the city where 

 there is a tree and a little open ground, and are not much disturbed 

 by heavy traffic. 



During its migrations the Restless Flycatcher {Seisiira inquicta) 

 is often seen in the suburbs, generally over the roads and open 

 spaces. It sometimes sits on telegraph wires over roads crowded 

 with traffic. 



The Leaden Flycatcher {Myiagra pliimhea) is a rare visitor to 

 Sydney. One pair stayed this season in Ashton Park, and during 

 misty or wet weather were sometimes seen in the more open spaces 

 in the suburb of IVfosman. Its actions are more decided and its 

 flight stronger than that of most others of the family. Its note 

 is clear and distinct, consisting of a rather loud whistle followed 

 by a wheezing, crackhng note. 



The beautiful White-shouldered Caterpillar-cater {Campephaga 

 humeralis) can often be seen in the spring. One pair nested this 

 season in a private garden, building in the fork of a horizontal 

 eucalypt. It was noted that the male did a good deal of tlie 

 incubation, and was fed on the nest by the female. 



The Coachwhip-Bird {Psophodes crepitans) will stay in its par- 

 ticular hunting-ground even after such is surrounded by houses. 

 A pair lives in Ashton Park, and sometimes ventures into adjoining 

 gardens in Mosman, and in tliis the male is much more venture- 



