OF VICTORIA. 61 



for the times of laying of eggs. They were deposited on 

 each successive day. 



J^est. — Suspended, dome-shaped, and bearing a side 

 entrance near the top that has an arch. It is made of soft 

 bark, grass, with spiders' cocoons to decorate or cement it, 

 and lined with feathers, hair, or available soft plant tissue. 



Eggs. — Three to a clutch ; white, with a prominent zone 

 of dull red spots near the broad end. Length, 0-75 inch; 

 breadth, 0*5 inch. 



WHITE-SHAFTED FAN-TAIL, 



Kliipidiira albiscapa, Gld. 



Rip-i-dura alhi-sca pa. 

 BhipiSy a fan ; oura, tail ; albus, white ; scapo, shaft. 



RiiiPiDUEA ALBISCAPA, Gould, " Birds of AustraHa," fol., vol. iii., 



pi. 83. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 2^ 3, 4, 6, 7, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Tail longer than wing; the feathers of tail 

 with white shafts except the two centre ones, which are brown ; 

 under surface ochreous huff, the breast uniform ; throat white, 

 with a black or grey patch on lower portion. 



In southern and eastern Victoria this is the most common 

 fly-catcher, and no matter which creek you intend to 

 follow you will certainly meet the '' White-shafter." Like 

 R. rufifrons it is a water-loving bird, though it never goes 

 into it, and while one may be found on creek sides in 

 tolerably open country, the other prefers the mountains 

 and solitude. As you rest among the bushes the bird will 

 astonish you by the absolute trust it places in a stranger. 

 Why ! it will even attempt to alight on the gun while you 



