22 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



tail coverts white ; bill black ; legs deep brown. Length of 

 wing, 3 "9 inches ; tail, 2.9 inches. 



Phases G a7id H. 

 Adults, $ and ?, are described in the British Museum Cata- 

 logue of Birds, vol. VIII., 1883, by Dr. Hans Gadow. 



Microeca fascinans, Latham. 



This species shows at least tive phases in the development of 

 its plumage, two of which are strongly contrasted immediately 

 before and after the first moult. The nestling A, very difierent 

 from the parents, bears a small distinguishing tail, in this respect 

 resembling the adult. Specimen B, a few weeks out of the nest, 

 presents much the same appearance as the nestling, days before 

 it leaves the nest. The first moult does away with the whole 

 mottled plumage, excepting the winglets, and the dress becomes 

 dull and uniform. It still remains darker than in the following 

 phases. C is an immature bird, yet, though younger than D, it 

 presents higher developed tail quills and winglets, by carrying 

 more white upon them. As a set-ofi" against this prematurity are 

 the brown base to forehead, and brownish edges to wing quills, 

 which, along with other parts, indicate a younger stage than D. 

 The specimens D and E are what appear to be matured birds. 

 While D is greyer than C, E is greyer than D ; the deep brown 

 of A giving way regularly through all the stages to a browni.sh- 

 grey in E. Specimen E has its centre tail quills tipped with 

 white, being the most highly developed stage of all. 



Phase A. 



Nestling, sk., 2-11-94. Box Hill, Victoria. 



The whole plumage, except wings, abdomen and under tail 

 coverts, is mottled, owing to the exposed end of each feather 

 having a white cuneate mark upon a deep brown feather. The 

 white predominates upon the neck, and the dark brown upon the 

 head. The breast presents a blotchy appearance, because of 

 faintness of white marks. Wings brown ; primaries tipped with 

 a brownish-white ; secondaries edged with a pale tawny ; coverts 

 bearing the wedge-shaped marks of the back ; under wing and 

 tail coverts chalky white \ a small amount of lustre on the 



