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This bird has a peculiar habit of 

 spreading and closing its tail when 

 perched, and usually flies with the tail 

 spread wide. 



Distribution. — South China, as far 

 north as the Yellow River. It is 

 a resident in the Yangtse Valley, 

 keeping largely to the hills with 

 running water. 



Nest and Eggs, — The nest is built on 

 the bank of a stream, a ledge of rocks, 

 or even a stump, concealed by over- 

 hanging ferns or foliage. It is a cup 

 of moss, lined with fine grass, roots, 

 and dead leaves. The eggs are smooth 

 grayish white speckled with red and 

 lilac spots. 



Notes. — This bird haunts the moun- 

 tain streams, taking its food of insects 

 mollusks, and worms, mostly from the 

 water, though it sometimes frequents 

 Chinese farmyards, and will even feed 

 from the filthy cess pools. 



THE LITTLE FORKTAIL. 



MICEOCICHLA SCOULERI, (viGORS). 



Description. — Length five and one 

 half inches. Bill black. Tarsus white. 

 Iris dark brown. Forehead white ; 

 rest of the upper plumage black, 

 with the exception of the white 

 lower back, and the rump, 

 which is white with a black band ; 

 throat and upper breast black ; rest of 

 the under parts white, the flanks 

 mottled black ; two outer pairs of tail 

 quills white, others white at base, with 

 black tips, the black increasing in area 

 toward the central feathers. This 

 species is readily identified by it's short, 

 almost square tail. 



