496 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



of the northern parts of Tasmania, and all the islands in Bass's 

 Straits. 



Its flight is very rapid, and it frequently mounts high in the 

 air, and flies off" to a distance with an horizontal and even 

 motion. It is an exceedingly active bird among the branches, 

 clinging about and around the flowers of the Eucalypti in 

 search of food in every variety of position. 



The site generally chosen for its nest, as observed at Swan 

 River, is some low bush or scrubby plant, in which it is often 

 placed near the ground ; it is of a deep cup-shaped and 

 compact form, constructed of dried grasses, and frequently 

 lined with Zamia wool, or buds of the Banksia cones ; some- 

 times, however, sheep's wool is employed to impart warmth 

 and softness ; the materials, in fact, depend entirely upon 

 the nature of those that the locality may furnish, while in the 

 form of the nest little or no variation occurs. The eggs are 

 large for the size of the bird, and are often of a lengthened 

 form ; and sometimes quite wdiite, without the least trace 

 of spots, but they are generally blotched with marks of chest- 

 nut-red ; occasionally this colour is very faint, and spread 

 over the surface of the shell as if stained with it ; in other 

 instances the marks are very bold and decided, forming a 

 strong contrast to the whiteness of the other part of the 

 surface : the medium length of the eggs is ten lines and a 

 half, and breadth seven lines ; they are usually two in number, 

 but the bird very frequently lays only one. The breeding- 

 season lasts from August to February. 



The song is rather remarkable, commencing with a single 

 note slowly draAvn out, and followed by a quick repetition of 

 a double note, repeated six or eight times in succession ; it is 

 mostly uttered when the bird is perched on the topmost 

 branch of a tree. 



The sexes present the usual diff'erence in size, the female 

 being somewhat less than her mate ; but in the colour and 

 disposition of the markings they are alike. 



