INSESSORES. 253 



again the following August or September, the months in 

 which spring commences in Australia. 



It is a most active bird ; in fact all its actions are charac- 

 terized by great liveliness ; for even while in a state of 

 comparative repose, or when not actually in pursuit of 

 insects, it displays a constant tremulous motion of the tail, 

 by which means its presence is often betrayed when it would 

 otherwise remain unnoticed. 



As is the case with all the other members of the genus, 

 the sexes present considerable difference in their plumage, the 

 female having the throat of a bright rusty red, while the 

 throat of the male is of a rich greenish lead-colour, like the 

 upper sm'face, — a style of colouring which has suggested the 

 specific name oiplumhea. The young males during the first 

 year so closely assimilate in plumage to the female, that by 

 dissection alone can they be distinguished with certainty. 



The nest is cup-shaped, rather deep, formed of moss and 

 lichens, and neatly lined with feathers, and is generally placed 

 on the horizontal branch of a tree. I did not succeed in 

 procuring the eggs. 



The male has the whole of the upper sm'face, wings, tail, 

 and breast lead-colour, glossed with green on the head, neck, 

 and breast, and becoming gradually paler towards the ex- 

 tremity of the body and on the wings and tail; primaries 

 slaty black ; secondaries faintly margined with white ; under 

 surface of the wing, abdomen, and under tail-coverts white ; 

 bill leaden blue, except at the extreme tip, which is black ; 

 irides and feet black. 



The female has the head and back lead-colour, without the 

 greenish gloss ; wings and tail brown, fringed with bluish 

 grey, particularly the secondaries ; throat and breast rich rusty 

 red, gradually fading into the white of the lower part of the 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts ; upper mandible black ; 

 under mandible pale blue, except at the extremity, which 

 is black. 



