OF VICTORIA. 69 



the graceful hovering motion. The object of this appears 

 to be to attract the notice of the insects beneath, for it 

 invariably terminates in the bird descending to tlie ground, 

 picking up something, flying into a tree close by, and utter- 

 ing its shrill and distinct whistle." 



Nest. — In many respects it is like that of the last 

 described {R. tricolor), differing principally in so far as 

 less cobweb is used to encircle it. Cup-like and rounded j 

 diameter, 2*5 inches. 



Egyii. — C\wtc\\ two to three eggs ; dull white, marked by 

 spots of reddish and lilac-drab, the latter as if beneath the 

 surface ; much bulged in appearance. Length, 085 inch ; 

 breadtli, 07 inch. 



BROWN FLY-CATCHER 



(Stump-bihd, Pkter-Peteu), 



Micrwcji fasciiiaiis, Lath. 



Mlkrthi fas i-nans. 

 Mikros, small ; oikos, house : fasc'mo, to charm. 



MiCRCECA MACROPTEKA, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. ii., 



pi. 93. 

 Geographical Distribution.— Areas ?, 3, 4, 6, 7. 



Key to the Species. — General appearance brown ; abdomen and 

 under tail coverts white ; outer tail feathers entirely pure 

 white ; axillaries light brown ; wings very long (3^ inches) ; 

 distance between wing and tip of tail not exceeding length of 

 tarsus ; bristles at rictus. 



If you watch this bird for a few minutes you will unmis- 

 takably say it is a fly-catcher, and you are not likely to 

 confuse it with another brownish fly-catcher in Victoria, 



