OF VICTORIA. 65 



BLACK AND WHITE FAN TAIL 



(Shepherd's Companion, Willie Wagtail). 



Bhipidiira tricolor, Yieill. 



Rip-i-dura trikul-or. 

 Rhijiis, a fan ; owra, tail ; tres, three ; color, colour. 



Rhipidura motacilloides, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., 

 vol. ii., pi. 86. 



Geographical Distribution.— Areas 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Upper surface and throat jet black ; abdomen 

 white ; tail larger than wing ; rictal bristles present. 



This is perhaps the commonesfc of fan-tails. Wherever you 

 go, across plains scantily timbered and fairly watered, or 

 along well-watered country, you will be sure to meet this 

 species. The preference shown is for the drier rather than 

 for the wetter country, for while the Rufous-fronted species 

 keeps principally to the mountain, and the White- 

 shafted within fairly well timbered land, the Black and 

 White Fantail is a companion of the sheep and their 

 shepherd in grazing districts. The natives of south-western 

 Australia tell me the bird is known to them as Chid-e, Chid-e, 

 while other notes convey to us an expression like " sweet- 

 pretty-creature." It is one of the few birds that sing, or 

 attempt to do so, during the night. The mate to the sitting 

 bird considers it a duty to periodically whistle through the 

 xiark hours, and many a time while camped for the night 

 I have heard this solitary bar of notes through all the hours 

 up to 3 a.m. Its flight is made of zigzag movements, very 

 low and of short duration. To secure food it is very fond 

 of accompanying animals, and one reason for seeing it near 

 the head of a cow or horse seems to be a desire to get the 

 insects that are attracted by the warm air expelled through 



