OF VICTORIA. 35 



WOOD-SWALLOW, 



Artamus sordidiis, Lath. 



Ar'td-mus sor'did-us. 

 Artamos, a butcher ; sordidus, greyish-brown. 



Artamus sordidus, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. ii., 



pi. 27. 



Geographical Distributiok. — Areas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Under surface of body dull brown j chin 

 scarcely any darker ; back and rump brown ; two or three 

 quills of wing edged with white ; bill long and pointed, the 

 culmeu exceeding the length of the hind toe and claw. 



This, the common Wood-Swallow of Yictoria, is to be 

 found throughout the year in the colony. The other 

 members upon our list are migratory in one sense of 

 the word, leaving before, and returning after, the winter 

 season. The birds have the peculiar habit of closely 

 hanging like a hive of bees. There are eight or nine 

 species of this insectivorous genus, of which five generally 

 migrate, sometimes six. Artamus sordidus is a particularly 

 pleasing bird when on the wing, its graceful soar making it 

 a general favourite in all parts. Like the other members 

 it displays no fear of man, and hunts the haunts of tlie 

 garden for insect food with the greatest of confidence. 

 The nesting season is September to December, and as to 

 what kind of timber it will place the nest in it is not at 

 all particular. Some birds consider this important. The 

 disposition of either sex is very gentle, and much can be 

 done with them as described with the rarer Masked 

 species. 



A fourth, the most beautiful form, is found along the 



