354 



NEST OF THE WHITE-SHAFTED FAN-TAIL. 



In its habits it is brisk, cheerful, and lively, mounting high into the air with a few 

 rapid strokes of the wings, and then descending upon some convenient bank in a headlong, 

 reckless style, after turning completely over in the air after the fashion of the tumbler 

 pigeons. While descending it spreads its wings and tail widely, the latter organ being so 

 broad as to resemble a feather fan. It is daring and confiding in its nature, permitting the 

 close approach of human beings, haunting the neighbourhood of human habitations, and 

 even boldly entering houses in chase of flies and other insects. Its song is not powerful 



or varied, but is full and pleasing, 

 consisting of a soft and sweet 

 twittering sound. 



During the breeding season it 

 becomes suddenly shy, wary, and 

 restless, and should it perceive an 

 enemy in too close proximity to 

 its nest, puts in practice a series 

 of rather transparent wiles in 

 order to induce the intruder on its 

 domestic joys to leave the vicinity. 

 For this purpose it feigns lame- 

 ness, and flutters before the sup- 

 posed foe in a manner that is 

 intended to induce a belief in 

 its easy capture, and to lure him 

 from the cherished spot where 

 all its loves and hopes are con- 

 centrated. 



The nest is of a most remark- 

 able shape, as may be seen in the 

 illustration, being notable for a 

 long and apparently useless tail 

 that hangs far below the branch 

 to which it is attached, and which, 

 owing to its narrow dimensions 

 and slight weight, can be of no 

 service in preserving the balance 

 of the structure. I would offer a 

 suggestion that this singular form 

 may have reference to the electri- 

 cal conditions of the atmosphere, 

 and serve as a conductor whereby 

 the superabundant electricity is 

 carried off from the eggs or young 

 birds, which are placed in an open 

 and undefended nest, and con- 

 veyed harmlessly to the ground. 

 The materials of which the nest 

 is made are the inner bark of 

 the gum-tree, mixed with moss 

 and the down of the tree fern, and 

 woven together with spiders' webs. 



The position of the nest is invariably at a low elevation, and it is found either hanging 

 from a branch near the water at no great height from its surface, or suspended from some 

 low branch in a forest. The eggs are two in number, and their colour is greyish-white, 

 covered with olive-brown blotches. There are generally two broods in the year, and a 

 third brood is sometimes known to be successfully reared. 



In its colouring the White-shafted Fantail is a dusky olive-black above, and there is 

 a white dash above the eye, and another curved white streak below the eye. The throat, 



WHITE-SHAFTED FAN-TAIL. Ithipidura alliseapa 



