152 



Chisholm, Two Singing Species of Gerygone. 



[Emu 

 isl Jan. 



small Acacia in company with a pair of Rufous Whistlers [Pachy- 

 cephala riifiventris), a pair of White-shafted Fantails {Rhipidma 

 albiscapa), and several White-throated Honey-eaters (Melithreptus 

 albogiilaris). It was a prett}^ sight. 



It is an anomalous fact that the recently " discovered " member 

 of the genus, G. cantator, is one of the commonest birds about 

 Brisbane. Originally, of course, this small grey melodist figured 

 as G. fiisca, but, whereas the latter bird keeps chiefly to the 

 scrubs, the Singing Fly-eater's merry voice rarely resounds away 



Nest of the Singing Fly-eater in situ. 



PHOTO. BY A H. CHISHOLM, R.A.O.L'. 



from the fig-trees and other native vegetation of the city, or the 

 mangroves of the watercourses of the Southern Queensland 

 seaboard. In my experience, it is very seldom indeed that G. 

 cantator frequents the open forest country favoured by its White- 

 throated relative ; only once, in fact, have I met the two species 

 in company. And it is a curious thing that the notes of the grey 

 bird seem to vary, in a remarkable degree, according to locality. 

 Not only do the songs of the representatives of the species living 

 along country creeks differ from those of the city birds, but it 

 seems to me that there is quite a distinct difference between the 

 warbling of the Fly-eaters at East Brisbane and those stationed 



