THE BLACK FANTAIL 87 



at frequent intervals. So earnest are the workers, that for hours 

 together they scarcely rest. Sometimes, by a sudden flutter, they 

 obtain a few insects, or the creek is visited for water. The male 

 now and then finds time for a brief twitter, moving his head 

 from side to side, as if criticising or admiring the results of their 

 united efforts, but both are quickly at work again." 



FantaiLs have been known to frequent houses, clearing the roofs 

 of flies, catching them on the wing, or picking them off the 

 curtains, ceilings, and other places. 



The young males, like those of many other species, are low- 

 voiced at first, but improve by perseverance. Mr. Potts, from 

 whom the above description has been taken, states that the 

 f antail is one of the latest birds to retire to roost, it being, almost 

 dark when the last feeble twitter sounds through the trees. 



A very interesting feature in connection with these birds is 

 the construction of union nests. It is well known that the pied 

 and the black fantails pair together, and that the union is 

 fruitful. But the young, it is stated, never resemble partly one 

 parent and partly the other, as is commonly the case with hybrids. 

 Sometimes the young in a union nest are all pied, and sometimes 

 there are several black ones. The pied are more numerous than 

 the black, but all, apparently, are pure-bred. 



The Black Fantail. — Tiwakav^aka. 



Rliipid lira fuliginosa. 



Head and neck greyish black, with a white spot over each ear. Rest 

 of the body dark chocolate brown. Quills dark brown. Tail black. 

 Eye black. Length of the wing, 0.3 in.; of the tarsus, 0.7 in. In the 

 young birds the white spot over the ear is absent. Egg — The same 

 as in the last species. Found in both islands, but very rare in the 

 North. 



Fmnily Sturnidae. 

 Medium-sized birds, with an acute conical bill, which is longer 

 than the head, and not notched at the tip ; when open, the line of 

 commissure is seen to be angulated. There are no mouth bristles. 



