38 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



SCARLET-BREASTED ROBIN, 



Petrceca leggii, Sharpe. 



Pet-re-ka legg-e-e. 

 Petros, a rock ; Legge, a celebrated ornithologist. 



Petroica multicoloe, Gould, "Birds of Aufetralia," fol., vol. iii., 



pi. 3. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 



Key to the Species. — il/a^e— Upper surface black ; white frontal 

 trark very large ; throat black ; breast scarlet. 



i^emo/e— Throat and back grey ; a flush of red on breast. 



Thkke are seven f^pecies of red-breasted robins in Aus- 

 tralia. Some are scarlet, others are pink, rose, and flame- 

 breasted. While the " red-cap" shows a decided preference 

 for the dry timber, the "flame-breast" prefers the moist 

 timbered lands. The wildest hills of Victoria hold the 

 Pink-breasted species, as well as the Rose-breasted species. 



The "flame-breast" and the "scarlet-breast" are the 

 birds that visit the outskirts of the towns in autumn and 

 winter. They enliven us with their sweet, though hard, 

 notes, and beautify the fields while they stay. Where they 

 go in spring and summer has been as great a mystery as 

 where the Pelican lays its eggs, but now we know they 

 keep on their bright colours and simply retire to the forests 

 to nest. The " flame-breast " goes away earlier and 

 deeper into the woods than the " scarlet-breast." While 

 comparing this gorgeous bird with the conspicuous Blue 

 Wren it is interesting to note that the male robin is always 

 in red, while the wren moults its blue and goes through the 

 winter in a modest brown dress, and with spring dons the 

 blue again. It takes a robin at least three years to secure 

 a thoroughly brilliant red. To see 35 male robins of one 



