32 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



upon the upper portion or a tree, and, settling itself to the 

 business of the evening, leaves its headquarters in direct 

 pursuit of a dipterous or other winged insect. Returning 

 it essays another cliase, continuing to repeat the same for 

 a considerable time, soaring downwards and winging its 

 active upward way by a series of rapid flaps. Previous 

 to entering upon the seiious portion of life — nesting — 

 the birds assemble in flocks amongst the lower portions 

 of the higher leafy vegetation, causing a vocal din 

 such as one would not expect from a group of birds so 

 graceful in their movements. The harsh, sharp, and 

 powerful chirps of a hundred birds, continuously repeated, 

 are not as pleasant (at all events somewhat modified) as in 

 the sobered parents of 21 days later. I remember a large 

 flock of the swallows taking possession of a cluster of 

 timber in which were a Black Fan tail, its mate, nest, and 

 eggs. Only occasionally could the little bird be heard. It 

 tried and generally succeeded, after they had retired for 

 the night. 



The second of a weekly visit showed their desire for 

 nest-building had in part set in, and the constructions were 

 completed in one or two days. Some were rapid in work, 

 while others appeared to play in comparison. 



A clutch of eggs was observed on 8th November, with 

 the birds still in flocks on the 17th of the same month. 

 With this species both sexes incubate. The young of 

 others were on the wing by the 23rd, but before leaving 

 the nests a relic of inheritance was distinctly noticeable in 

 the horizontal and perpendicular motions of the short- 

 pliimaged tail. It is in perpetual daily motion, and agrees 

 with the day movements of those of the parents. The 

 fledgling, when taken from the nest, announced itself by 

 two calls, one imitative of the general note of the mother, 



