68 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. 



[lo Jan., 1912. 



INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS OF VICTORIA. 



FRONTAL SHRIKE TIT. 



{Falcunculus jrontatus, Gould.) 



C. French, Junr., Acting Government Entomologist. 



The Frontal Shrike Tit, a very handsome bird, is fairly plentiful in 

 most localities a few miles from Melbourne. Thev are usually seen in 

 pairs, generally amongst the topmost branches of eucalypts and other 

 trees. 



FRONTAL SHRIKE TIT. 



{Falcunculus jrontatus, Gould.) 



The male has a beautiful dark coloured crest, and a black throat ; but 

 the throat of the female is green. The bill of this bird, being short and 

 verv strong, is admirably adapted for destroying the hard wing-cases, 

 &:c., of the destructive insects which hibernate under the bark and in 

 the crevices of the trees. They also break open hard galls and scales 

 and eat the insects contained therein. They are very active and seem 

 to devote most of their time hunting for insects, and they do a con- 

 siderable amount of good in keeping the strawberry cockchafer, cherry 

 green beetle, codlin moth, longicorns, wire worms, and other pests in 

 check. Remains of these insects have been found in stomachs of the 

 Frontal Shrike Tit. . 



The nests are very beautiful structures. In form, they are cup- 

 shaped, being slightly contracted at the rim. The 01.; side is generally 



