OF VICTORIA. 31 



WHITE-BROWED WOOD- 

 SWALLOW 



(Mautin, Summer-bird), 



Artamiis siiperciliosus, Gld. 



Ar'ta-mus sitper-sil'i'osus. 

 Artamos, a butcher ; super, over; cilium, eyelid, 



Artamus suPERCiLioscs, Goultl, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. ii., 



pi. 32. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 3, 4, 6. 



Key to the Species. — Under surface of body vinaceous chestnut ; 

 a broad white eyebrow ; bill long and pointed, the culmen 

 exceeding the length of the hind toe and claw. 



The annual arrival of the White-browed Wood-Swallow in 

 Victoria is noticed between the latter end of October and 

 the early part of December, varying as the grasshoppers are 

 early or late in appearing. On so common an insectivorous 

 bird very little more than a general notice has been given 

 hitherto, so that I reproduce here from the Victorian 

 Naturalist a portion of a series of observations made by 

 myself in 1895. Reference is also made to A. personatus, 

 both species being flocked together. 



Previous to settlement for the season they show con- 

 siderable knowledge or instinct, and generally seem to 

 choose a locality where for the season insect life is specially 

 abundant. At the same time it is noticeable that a certain 

 number are generally associated with a distinct area. Hawk- 

 ing singly, in pairs, or in a flock, constantly assembling 

 upon the grassed ground, they raid. In the latter case they 

 move by jump motion. Often does a single bird (but never 

 a silent one) choose a pinnacle, some twenty feet high, 



