INSESSORES. 279 



Sp. 165. PETROICA MULTICOLOR. 



Scarlet-breasted Robin. 



Muscicapa multicolor, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 243. 

 Red-breasted Warbler, Lewin, Birds of New Holl., pi. 17. 

 Petroica multicolor, Swains. Zool. 111., 2nd ser. pi. 36. 

 Petrceca multicolor, Cab. Mus. Hein., Theil i. p. 11. 

 Goo-ba, Aborigines of Western Australia. 

 Robin of the Colonists. 



Petroica multicolor, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii. pi. 3. 



This beautiful Robin enters the gardens of the settlers 

 in New South Wales, and is a great favourite, its attrac- 

 tiveness being much enhanced by its gay attire — the strong 

 contrasts of scarlet, jet-black, and white rendering it one of 

 the most beautiful to behold of any of the birds of Australia. 

 After a careful comparison of a large number of specimens, I 

 feel fully satisfied that the scarlet breast of this species, like 

 that of the Robin of Europe, is assumed during the first 

 autumn, and that it is never again thrown off; but, as might 

 be expected, it is much more brilliant and sparkling during 

 the breeding-season than at any other period of the year. A 

 slight difference exists in the depth of the colouring of spe- 

 cimens from the western and eastern coasts, those from the 

 former, particularly the females, having the scarlet more 

 brilliant and of greater extent than those from New South 

 Wales and Tasmania ; the difference, however, is too trivial 

 to be regarded otherwise than as indicative of a mere variety. 



Its song and call-note much resemble that of the European 

 Robin, but are more feeble, and uttered with a more inward 

 tone. 



The nest is a very compact structure of dried grasses, 

 narrow strips of bark, mosses, and lichens, all bound firmly 

 together with cobwebs and vegetable fibres, and warmly 

 lined with feathers and wool or hair ; in some instances I 

 have seen it lined entirely with opossum's hair ; it is gene- 



