40 



them of flies and many other insects. A good many pairs of these 

 friendly little birds were observed at Warunda Creek busily bring- 

 ing up their families. Another representative of this family of 

 flycatchers v^^as met with in the restless flycatcher (Seisura in- 

 quieta) which ranges over the whole southern portion of Australia. 

 It is a bird possessing many very peculiar habits for it not only 

 captures its food hke other flycatchers, but it will suspend itself 

 iu the air over open patches in the scrub and this is accomplished 

 by a remarkable quick motion of the wings, and ever and anon 

 it will dart down on some insect that is seen moving upon the 

 ground, precisely like a kestrel or falcon; and it is while perform- 

 ing these movements that it uters the peculiar sounds from which 

 it has received the name of "scissors grinder." This bird is 

 found in varied situations, and seems as fond of the thick scnib 

 as it is of the open timbered land. It has a loud, clear whistle; 

 but its more singular note — like a razor grinder at work — ^is 

 uttered while hovering over the ground in search of prey. 



Sing on sweet bird, like thee 

 When with the gay the free, 



If sorrow should be mine, 



I'll not sing o'er the hours 

 Gone, faded like these bowers. 



My song shall be like thine. 



— Robins. — 



That beautiful and useful little bird the red-capped robin 

 (Petrocea goodenovii) was identified, but not seen in any num- 

 bers. These birds seem to prefer the thinly timbered country 

 during the greater part of the year, but towards the spring they 

 repair to the pine or mallee scrub, where they build a most beauti- 

 ful nest, cup-shaped, and very compact, composed of bark, and 

 decorated outside with mosses and bright-coloured lichens, and so 

 resembles the tree on which it is placed that it is with the greatest 

 difficulty it can be discovered. The male bird has a most delight- 

 ful song, but th(- female has but little voice. The next species of 

 robin which came under our notice was the very solitary bird 

 in habits, the scrub robin (Diymodes-brunneipygius). Its plain- 

 tive call was heard at times; but, being a very shy and wary bird, 

 it was seldom seen, and it was only after great length of time, 

 ^ I keeping perfectly still and repeating its call, that I managed to 

 ,AJ \ call this very interesting little bird out of the dense scrub to a 

 V\ cltar patch. After answering my whistle for some time, a male 



bird at last hopped out where I could get a good view. It seemed 

 to keep much to the ground, and pass most of its time among the 

 underwood. It appeared rarely to take wing, but depended upon 

 the quickness of foot to enable it to escape into the scrub. I did 



