OF VIGTORIA. 39 



species close together in a field is a sight worth a deal of 

 trouble to see. This occurs in July, before the breeding 

 season in August and the following four months. Two or 

 three broods are reared in a season. The male " flame- 

 breast " (P. phoenicea) is a little musical. It has a set bar 

 containing some seven notes, very sweet, varying, and 

 occupying about two and a half seconds in production. 

 After the passing of cold months — as May, June, and July 

 — the first of bird-voices is decidedly welcome. The time 

 to study such is at this period of the year, for with the 

 incoming of spring they seem to vie with one another — the 

 males do. The throat of the Flame-bieasted Robin is red, 

 while that of the Scarlet-breasted species is black. 



JVest. — Cup-shaped, neatly and compactly made of bark, 

 ornamented exteriorly with mosses and lichens, and lined 

 interiorly with dry grasses, feathers, &c. It is placed on a 

 horizontal branch, but may be put in a fork near the 

 ground. 



■Eggs. — Three or four for a sitting. Ground colour pale 

 green or creamy-white, both spotted with greyish, blue- 

 grey, and brown. Length, 075 inch ; breadth, 0'6 inch. 



