I 62 D'OmbraiN, Some Birds of the Caster ton District. fi^^f April 



at it the bird rose out of the water and flew about 80 yards, 

 alighting in the water. On throwing at it once more it again 

 flew, and then tried diving, as if it had decided to trust no more 

 to its small wings. 



Flycatchers — Black-and-White {Rhipidura tricolor). Rest- 

 less [Sisura inquieta), and Brown {Micrccca fascinans). — Has any 

 naturalist ever noticed that these birds are as capable of infinite 

 change of mind as the ladies ? That they do alter their intentions 

 very frequently the following notes will show : — 



Qth September, 1903. — Pair of Black-and-White Fantails seen 

 building. Six days later the birds had pulled the nest to pieces, 

 but had not selected a site for new nest apparently. Later the 

 nest was found with three eggs in it. 



loth September, 1903. — Pair of Restless Flycatchers seen 

 building. On 27th nest appeared to have been finished and 

 deserted, for the birds were building again in another tree. This 

 nest was now about half-built. On 9th October there was no 

 sign of the second nest. On 23rd October the nest was found a 

 third time, with three eggs in it. It was in the same tree as the 

 one that contained the second attempt. 



October, 1903. — Restless Flycatchers seen building. On next 

 v^isit (17th October), first nest pulled to pieces and another built. 

 Bird sitting on the nest. 



30th September, 1903. — Restless Flycatcher starting to Innld 

 in tea-tree. loth October, nest destroyed, and birds building in 

 a red gum tree. 



Brown Flycatcher. — 27/9/03.- — Birds stiU adding cobweb to the 

 nest, which contained two eggs advanced in incubation. 



The above-mentioned nests were not in the haunts of those who 

 would interfere with them ; consequently the birds either were 

 dissatisfied with their surroundings or are, as I said, fond of change. 



Whilst on the subject of nest-building it may be of interest to 

 record the following fact about a Crow (or Raven) whilst building. 

 The bird was observed collecting twigs for the structure. It was 

 noticed that although dead wood was plentiful upon the ground 

 the Crow would have none of it, but was busy breaking off the 

 ends of the smaUer branches of a dead tree. During the work it 

 came upon some which it could not manage to snap off with its 

 beak. Crows are proverbially knowing, and this one was no ex- 

 ception, for, finding the twig too tough for its bill, the bird 

 deliberately got out on the extreme end of the twig and swayed 

 up and down till it broke off. 



Bl.ack Duck {Anas superciliosa). — The difficulty of fixing a close 

 season for game is made apparent by the following dates of breed- 

 ing : — 6th September, 1903. — Two broods seen. One about four 

 or five days old ; the other nearly fully fledged, nth September. — 

 Nest with three eggs. 4th October. — Two nests, one with thirteen 

 eggs, other eleven. 25th January, 1904. — Brood of nine ducklings 

 about two weeks old. 



