72 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



Female. Head, neck, back, tail, and wings more distinctly 

 tawny-buff than male ; centres of feathers on fore-neck, chest, and 

 sides of body lighter and narrower than in male. Dimensions, in 

 mm. : Length, 173; bill, 13; wing, 85; tail, 65; tarsus, 26. 



Young. Upper surface more tawny-buff than female; under 

 surface white to creamy-buff ; markings on chest and sides of body 

 somewhat indistinct; penultimate feathers of tail with less white 

 than in adults. 



Nest. Circular and moderately deep; constructed of dead 

 grass, and placed either in a slight depression under the shelter of a 

 tuft of grass or a large stone in open grass lands, or else in the 

 centre of a tuft of band-grass. When built in the first-mentioned 

 situation the rim of the nest is usually on a level with the ground. 

 In the second situation I have on occasions found a " colony " of 

 nests in a small area. 



Eggs. Clutch three to four; oval in shape; texture fine; sur- 

 face more or less glossy ; usual ground colour greyish, freckled and 

 marked all over, some specimens more heavily than others, with 

 umber and dull grey. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : (1) 24 x 

 17, (2) 23 x 16, (3) 22.5 x 16.5, (4) 23 x 17. 



Breeding Season. August to January. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, King and a number of 

 other islands in Bass Strait; also the whole of the mainland. 



Observations. Some observers have expressed the opinion that 

 this species is migratory. This is incorrect; but at the same time 

 the bird is nomadic in its habits. There are a number of districts 

 from which it entirely disappears during the autumn and winter 

 months, and others where it is most plentiful during these months. 

 Doubtless the food question plays an important part in its distri- 

 bution during the various seasons of the year. In addition to 

 open, grassy tracts, cultivated fields are much favoured by this 

 species, for it is there that the bulk of its food is obtained. Its 

 flight is of an undulatory character ; occasionally it will soar to a 

 considerable height and trill its pretty little song, reminding one 

 strongly of the English Lark. When on the wing its tail is spread, 

 displaying the white webs on the outer feathers. Its running 

 powers are great, and are frequently used, save when hard pressed 

 or when wishing to pass from place to place. During the breeding 

 season it goes about in pairs, at other times in small flocks. 



FAMILY-ARTAMID/E (1 species). 



*WOOD- SWALLOW 



(Artamus sordidus, Lath.) 



Male. Whole of upper surface chocolate-brown, lighter on 

 head and neck, darker on lower back and rump ; tail feathers 

 black, tipped with white, except the two centre ones, which are 



