82 MORE REMARKS ON FLORA AND FAUNA 



contrasted that the arrangement of colours are more like 

 the effect of art than the work of nature. The breast is 

 vivid scarlet, gradually shading to rose-pink on the 

 abdomen. The back, wings, and tail are deep black with 

 white stripes and markings, and the top of the head is 

 also bright white. The colours are very distinctly marked, 

 and separated from each other with decided lines ; and 

 this fact, with the bird's restless and amusing habits, 

 draw the attention of the traveller to it. Like the 

 European robin, it is fond of visiting the neighbourhood 

 of houses, and if encouraged and fed, it will become so 

 tame that it will hop close to the feet of the squatter and 

 his family. Like the English red-breast it is protected by 

 the common consent of the people. 



Another remarkably pretty little passere is the pheasant- 

 tailed finch {Stipiturus malacurus). The tail feathers of 

 this tiny creature resemble those of the lyre-bird in being 

 incompletely webbed. They are, in fact, mere skeleton 

 feathers. The two central ones are more than twice the 

 length of the bird, and when it runs quickly among the 

 scrub, or through the bushes, it looks like a mouse. It is 

 very quick in its movements on the ground or amongst 

 the branches of shrubs ; but it flies weakly with undulating, 

 jerky movements. It has a soft, pleasing note that can 

 scarcely be called a song, and though it is tame in the 

 bush, and will permit a close approach to it, it seldom goes 

 near the homesteads of the squatters. 



Yet another very common finch in most parts of New 

 South Wales and Victoria is the black fan-tail {Rhipidura 

 motacilloides)^ with very similar habits to the last species. 

 It runs about the ground looking more like a mouse than 

 a bird when in motion, stops suddenly and shakes its tail 

 to and fro rapidly with a lateral motion, then on again 

 till a fly attracts its attention or comes near enough to 

 be captured, when it gives a little hop, captures its prey, 

 and resumes its amusing run. It has a lively chirp and 

 several call-notes, but no song. 



All these finches lay light-coloured spotted eggs, the 

 nests being built of fibres, grass, hair, and moss, lined with 



