670 The Sparrow-like Birds 



four or five eggs are pinkish white closely spotted with brownish red. Our 

 illustration shows the related Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher (T. mutatd). 



Fan-tailed Flycatchers. Although there are many others of more or less 

 interest, we shall have space to mention only the Fan tails (Rhipidura), which 

 are so named from the ample, well-graduated tail. They are very numerous, 

 there being fully one hundred species, and are characterized by a very large 

 bill which is about as long as broad, numerous long rictal bristles, and, as stated 

 above, by the large fan-shaped tail; the sexes are nearly or quite alike in plu- 

 mage. The Fantails inhabit the Oriental region, the Malay Archipelago, and the 

 Australian region, including Tasmania, and all are practically resident where 

 found. They are very active, lively little birds, being constantly on the move, 

 and are often seen with outspread tail, "dancing from branch to branch" or 

 tumbling in the air as they dart out to capture a passing insect. They all con- 

 struct small, beautifully cup-shaped nests of fine grasses coated with cobwebs 

 and usually placed on a large limb or in a forking branch. 



Indian White-browed Fantail. Of the four Indian species, the best-known 

 is the White-browed Fantail (R. albifrontata), so named from a broad band of 

 white on the forehead and over the eye, the upper parts being ashy brown, 

 with the crown, sides of the head, chin, throat, and the sides of the body black, 

 while the remainder of the lower parts are white; the length is about seven 

 inches. It is common throughout the whole empire, ascending the Himalayas 

 to 5000 feet and frequenting groves, especially of the mango. It nests from 

 February to August, constructing the usual cup-shaped nest and laying usually 

 three eggs, which are white or cream-colored spotted with grayish brown; two 

 or more broods are reared in a season. With the general plumage of a dark 

 sooty brown, relieved by a black crown, white eye stripe, and whitish throat, is 

 the White-throated Fantail (R. albicollis), which Mr. Gould says is generally 

 found in pairs, though occasionally four or five are seen together. It is one of 

 the tamest birds imaginable, allowing a near approach without evincing the 

 slightest timidity, even entering houses in pursuit of gnats and other insects. 

 It inhabits alike, he says, the topmost branches of the higher trees, those of 

 more moderate growth, and the gloomy foliaged dells in the neighborhood of 

 rivulets; from these retreats it darts^out a short distance to capture insects, and 

 in most instances returns to the same branch it had left. When in the air it 

 often assumes a number of lively and beautiful positions, at one moment mount- 

 ing almost perpendicularly, constantly spreading out its tail to the full extent, 

 and frequently tumbling completely over in the descent. They construct, ac- 

 cording to Campbell, a neatly and marvelously made nest which is wine-glass 

 shaped with the base of the stalk broken off, and saddled on a naked horizontal 

 twig with the tail-like appendage extending below the twig; it is composed of 

 fine grass and shreds of bark matted with cobwebs and lined with softer grass, 

 and occasionally horse-hair. The two or three eggs are yellowish white, mottled 

 and spotted with rufous and gray. 



Black-and-white Fantail. With a brief description of the Black-and-white 

 Fantail (R. tricolor), also of Australia, we must close the account of this inter- 



