284 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



loves to dwell in the open parts of the country rather than in 

 the thick brushes. 1 have always found it most numerous on 

 such flats as were studded here and there with large trees, 

 among the lower branches of which, as well as on the ground 

 immediately beneath them, it might be observed darting 

 about for insects in the most bold and active manner ; the 

 jet-black colouring of its upper surface, contrasted with the 

 whiteness of the other parts, rendering it very conspicuous, 

 particularly when its wings and tail are displayed to their full 

 extent. 



Its food consists solely of insects of various kinds, particu- 

 larly coleoptera and their larvae. 



The breeding-season commences in September, and con- 

 tinues during the four following months ; in this period two 

 broods at least are reared. The nest, which is rather small and 

 shallow, is formed of dried grasses, strips of bark, and fibrous 

 roots, bound together and partly smoothed over with cobwebs, 

 the inside being lined with fine wire-like fibres, and generally 

 a little wool at the bottom ; it is placed on the dried branch 

 of a small tree, resting against the trunk, or in the fork of a 

 fallen branch within two or three feet of the ground. The 

 eggs, which are three in number and of a rather lengthened 

 form, are light olive-green without any spots or markings, but 

 occasionally washed with brown, particularly at the larger 

 end ; their medium length is ten lines and a half, and breadth 

 seven lines and a half. 



The male has the head, throat, neck, back, rump, upper 

 tail- coverts, and the two centre tail-feathers deep velvety 

 black ; the next tail-feather on each side black on the inner 

 web, white on the outer web, and largely tipped with black, 

 the remainder of the tail-feathers white, largely tipped with 

 black ; feathers covering the insertion of the wing white ; 

 wings dull black, the secondaries edged with white ; an 

 oblique band of white across all but the two first primaries 

 near their base ; under surface of the shoulder, breast, abdo- 



