OF VICTORIA. 21 



later are precipitated, sometimes when empty, at others 

 when containing the sitting birds. The fox will jump or 

 scramble up the distance and grasp in its mouth nest and 

 bird. It seems most unfortunate this scourge should have 

 got among our terrestrial fauna, of which that beautiful 

 form the Menura has not suffered least. 



Nest. — Open, made of mud, and cup-like, the inner lining 

 being of feathers or grasses. 



Eygs. — Ground colour white, much spotted with ruddy- 

 brown or faint lilac. Clutch, 4 to 5 eggs. Length, 0*75 

 inch ; breadth, 0*5 inch. 



FAIRY MARTIN 



(Bottle Swallow), 



Petroclielidon ariel, Glcl. 



Pet-rd-kel' i-do)i ; d'ri-el. 

 Petros, a rock ; chelidon, a swallow ; ariel, a sprite. 



CoLLOCALiA ARIEL, Gould, '* Birds of Australia," foL, vol. ii., pi. 15. 

 Geographical Distribution — Areas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Under surface whitish ; throat with tiny 

 black streaks ; entire head rufous ; rump creamy-white ; tail 

 forked ; nostrils without any superior membrane, round and 

 exposed. 



This fairy-like swallow arrives in Victoria towards the end 

 of August and leaves again after the summer. If the 

 winter is mild many flocks will stay throughout the year. 

 Although fond of plenty of water, a company will associate 

 their nests in an almost dry creek bed and live in the 

 vicinity of it. From here they daily forage and do well. 

 The generic name originally given was at the time specially 



