THE WHITE-SHAFTED EATST-TAII. 



353 



overtaking the large winged insects on 

 which it loves to feed ; and while engaged 

 in these aerial manoeuvres it constantly 

 spreads or closes its tail. Except im- 

 mediately after moulting, the long scissor- 

 like feathers of the tail are seldom in a 

 perfect state, as the bird is very vivacious 

 in its movements, and in its quick glancing 

 flight among the branches is apt to fray 

 the beautiful plumes against the boughs, 

 and often rubs the webs entirely away, 

 leaving the long shafts protruding, clothed 

 only with little ragged fragments of web. 

 The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is quite as 

 brave a bird as the preceding species, and 

 is frequently seen to attack and defeat birds 

 that are far superior in size and bodily 

 strength, but inferior in dashing courage. 

 The colouring of this bird is briefly as 

 follows : The top of the head is velvety 

 black when the bird is at rest ; but when 

 it becomes excited, it raises the feathers of 

 its head into a kind of crest, and displays 

 a bright orange spot, caused by the orange 

 hue which tinges the basal parts of each 

 feather. The neck, back, and upper parts 

 of the body are dark grey, deepening 

 gradually towards the tail, which is jetty 

 black with the exception of the white 

 outer web of the exterior quill-feathers. 

 The under portions of the bird are white. 

 The total length of this bird is about 

 fourteen inches, of which the tail occupies 

 ten, so that the dimensions of the bird 

 itself are really small. 



We now arrive at the typical Fly- 

 catchers, named, in allusion to their insect- 

 eating habits, the Muscicapine birds. 



This group includes many curious and 

 interesting species, one of the most re- 

 markable being the White-shafted Fan- 

 tail of Australia. Beyond elegance of 

 form and pleasing arrangement of rather 

 sombre colouring, this bird possesses no 

 great external attractions ; but for the sin- 

 gular form of its nest, and the eccentricity 

 of some of its habits, it is well worthy 

 a short memoir. It is a native of the 

 southern and western portions of Australia 

 as well as of Van Diemen's Laud, and seems 

 to be a permanent resident, merely shifting 

 its quarters to different portions of the 

 same country according to the season of 

 year. It is by no means a gregarious 

 bird, being seldom seen associated with 

 any other companions except its mate. 

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FORK TAILED FLYCATCnEK— JlWniliis tyranmis.- 



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