132 MATESHIP WITH BIRDS 



ter. Perhaps the Red-cap is the more widely distri- 

 buted. Certainly it leaves Tasmania out of its orbit, 

 but it is found in many of the drier out-back por- 

 tions of the mainland, where other Robins seldom, 

 if ever, venture. And, in Springtime, the nests of 

 both of these species have been freely found in 

 various parts of the eastern States. 



Not so in the case of the Flame-breast. Its nest 

 has rarely been found outside of Tasmania. Indeed, 

 the showy bird itself has not often been seen in Aus- 

 tralia proper other than in the cooler months. To- 

 wards the end of April of each year the females of 

 the species unobtrusive brownish birds, with a 

 touch of white in the wings arrive unostenta- 

 tiously in the open areas, and, within a week or so, 

 their gaily-dressed lords follow. No one ever sees 

 them actually arrive. No one ever sees them recom- 

 mence their journey. Nevertheless, flocks of Flame- 

 breasts have been observed, several times, en route 

 from the mainland to Tasmania, and so the belief 

 has become established that, on some obscure 

 prompting, these little creatures (whose wings are 

 not made for long distances) journey annually back- 

 wards and forwards over Bass Strait, and do not, 

 as John Gould had it, "retire to the forest to breed." 



To some extent, however, this theory is discounted 

 by the fact that a fair number of Flame-breasts are 

 to be found in Tasmania all the year round. At the 

 present stage, then, the indications are that this one 

 species of Robin does actually undertake this annual 

 "sea trip," but that, in each Springtime, a certain 

 number of Flame-breasts elect to nest on the main- 



