370 THE cinei;eous wood swallow. 



particularly such as are surrouiuled by paddocks and open pasturcdands skirted liy large 

 trees. It was in such situations as these, in Van Diemen's Land, at the commencement of 

 sprinrj, that I first had the opportunity of observing this species ; it is there very numerous 

 on all the cleai'ed estates on the soutli side of the Derwent, about ei.ght or ten being seen 

 on a single tree, and half as many crowding one agaiust another on the same dead branch, 

 but never in such numbers as to deserve the appellation of flocks. Each bird appeared to 

 act independently of the other ; each, as the desire for food prompted it, sallying fortli 

 from the branch to capture a passing insect, or to soar around the tree, and i-eturn again 

 to the same spot. On alighting, it repeatedly throws up and closes one wing at a time, 

 and spreads its tail obliquely prior to settling. 



At other times a few were seen perched on the fence surrounding the paddock, on 

 which they frequently descended, like starlings, in search of coleoptera and other 

 insects. 



It is not, however, in this state of comimrative quiescence that this gi-aceful bird is seen 

 to the best advantage ; neither is it that Ivind of existence for which its form is especially 

 adapted ; for, although its structure is more equally suited for terrestrial, arboreal, and 

 aerial habits than of any other species I have examined, the form of the wing at once 

 points out the air as its peculiar province. Here it is that, when engaged in pursuit of 

 the insects which the serene and warm weather has enticed from their lurking-places 

 among the foliage to sport in higher regions, this beautiful species in its aerial flights 

 displays its greatest beauty, while soaring above in a variety of easy positions, with its 

 white-tipped tail widely spread. 



It was very numerous in the town of Perth until about the middle of April, when I 

 missed it suddenly, nor did I observe it again until near the end of IMay, when I saw it in 

 countless numbers flying, in company with the common swallows and martins, over a lake 

 about ten miles north of the town ; so numerous, in fact, were they, that they darkened 

 the water as they flew over it. Its voice greatly resembles that of the common swallow 

 in character, but is much louder." 



This Wood Swallow is remarkable for a habit which is perhaps unique among birds, 

 and hitherto has only been oliserved in certain insects. A large flock of these birds will 

 settle upon the branches of a tree, and gather together in a large cluster, precisely like 

 bees when they swarm. Four or five birds suspend themselves to the under side of the 

 bough, others come and cling to them, and in a short time the whole flock is hanging to 

 the bough like a large swarm of bees. Mr. Gilbert, who first noticed this curious habit, 

 states that he has seen the swarms as large as an ordinary bushel measure. 



The nest of the Wood Swallow is cup-shaped and rather shallow, and is made of very 

 slender twigs bound and lined with delicate fibrous roots. The locality in which the nest 

 is placed is extremely variable, the bird seeming to be wonderfully capricious in its choice 

 of a fit spot whereon to fix its residence. Sometimes it is placed in a low forked branch, 

 at another time it will be buried in thick massy foliage, while it is sometimes found fixed 

 agaiust the trunk of a tree, resting on some protuberance of the bark, or looped within 

 some conical cavity. The eggs are about four in number, and are gi-eyish white, speckled 

 and mottled very variably with grey and white. 



The colour of this species is very simple, the general tint lieing black, the abdomen 

 white, and the tail-feathers, excepting the two central, which retain their jetty hue 

 throughout, tipped with the same coloui-. 



The largest of the Australian sjiecies, the Cineeeous Wood Swallow {'Artamus 

 ci'nereus), is found both at Timor and the eastern and western coasts of Australia, thus 

 having a very large range. This bird, although not at all uncommon, seems to be rather 

 local, preferring certain spots for its residence, and keeping itself witliin some peculiar 

 boundary of its own choosing. 



It inhabits the banks of the Swan Eiver and parts of the interior, and varies in 

 its habits with the locality in which it happens to reside. Wherever the grass-tree 

 {Xanthnrhw.a) grows, there may be found the Cinercoiis Wood Swallow, feeding with 

 the greatest avicUty upon the seeds, and absolutely crowding each other upon the upright 



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