22 SOME USEFUL AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



We have a second species of swallow, the White- backed Swallow (Chera- 

 monca leucostereum), which is non-migratory and seldom goes in flocks of more 

 than ten or twenty. It hawks for insects much higher in the air than th& 

 Welcome Swallow, though sometimes it flies with the latter. It also has- 

 very distinct nesting habits, drilling small holes into sandy banks, and 

 excavating a small chamber at the end. This it lines with leaves and grass,, 

 before depositing its eggs. 



The Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon anel Gould). 



Gould's Handbook, vol. I, p. 113, No. 56 ; Leach's Bird Book, p. 121, No. 241. 



Like the Welcome Swallow, this beautiful little bird is migratory. It 

 arrives in the south about August, rears two broods, and leaves for the north 

 in February or March. A remarkable characteristic of this little martin is- 

 its habit of shunning the coast, and not nesting about the coastal towns. 

 The nearest point to Sydney at which I have seen the nests of these 

 birds is the old church at Richmond, which always has a fine community of 

 nests. They are also plentiful about Maitland. 



The nests are often packed so close together, under the shelter of over- 

 hanging rocks or the eaves of houses, that they lose their regular shape and are- 

 built into each other, but the regular spout-like neck always projects outward. 

 On account of the shape of their nests the birds are often called Bottle-nest 

 Swallows. Sometimes the nests are built in the cavities of hollow or decayed 

 trees, or under the high river banks. It is remarkable what a large amount 

 of clay is used by such a small bird to construct each nest. According to 

 Gould, a number of birds often work together in building, some bringing the 

 supplies of clay pellets, others receiving them and moulding the nest. The 

 nest is deeply lined with feathers and other soft material, and contains four or 

 five eggs some pure-white, and others spotted with red. The nests of this- 

 bird often contain a small circular or oval flattened tick, related to the fowl 

 tick, Argus lagenoplastes. 



The Tree Swallow, which Gould placed in the genus Hylochelidon, is now 

 placed in the same genus as the Fairy Martin, and known as Petrochelidon 

 nigricans. It is a very common visitor as far south as Hobart in the summer 

 months ; it " nests " in holes in trees, making actually no nest, but placing, 

 its eggs on the soft decayed wood. 



The Jacky- winter (Micrceca fascinans Latham). 



Gould's Handbook, vol. I, p. 258, No. 149 ; Leach's Bird Book, p. 121, No 242. 

 This popular name sticks to this little bird, although his more accurate 

 designation would be the Brown Flycatcher. He is one of the most active 

 little flycatchers, darting from a twig or post to snap up any small moth, beetle, 

 or other insect flying carelessly by, or picking up some small creature 

 incautiously showing itself on the ground. His purpose accomplished, lie flies. 



