BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 73 



entirely black, only cuter extremity of inner webs of outer feathers 

 tipped with white; wings slate; external webs of second and third 

 primaries and extreme fringe of web of fourth white ; under surface 

 chocolate-brown, slightly ruf escent on abdomen and flanks ; under 

 wing coverts white; bill blue, tipped with black; legs and feet 

 black; iris brown. Dimensions in mm.: Length, 178; bill, 16; 

 wing,. 130; tail, 75; tarsus, 17. 



Female. Similar to male. Dimensions in mm. : Length, 170; 

 bill, 15; wing, 125; tail, 73; tarsus, 17.5. 



Young. Upper surface as in adults, but the feathers streaked 

 with soiled- whffce ; under surface lighter than adults ; feathers more 

 obscurely streaked than on upper surface; scapulars tipped with 

 greyish-white ; extreme tips of primaries edged with soiled-white. 



Nest. Open and somewhat shallow; constructed of fine twigs, 

 and generally lined with fine rootlets. A low banksia is a favourite 

 nesting tree, but other low trees and bushes are also chosen. 



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

 surface fairly glossy; colour yellowish or dull white (eggs of both 

 colours sometimes appear in the same clutch) spotted and 

 blotched with umber and smoky-grey ; the markings usually form 

 a band round the centre or else the stouter end of the eggs. 

 Yellowish-white eggs are frequently more heavily spotted all over 

 than the dull white ones ; also a much greater number of spots 

 appear as though beneath the surface. Dimensions in mm. of a 

 clutch : (1) 21 x 15.75, (2) 21.5 x 15, (3) 22 x 16. 



Breeding Season. September or October to the end of the 

 y -ar. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, King and several other 

 islands in Bass Strait; also practically the whole of the main- 

 land. 



Observations. In some districts this species is fairly plentiful, 

 but there are great areas in which it is hardly if ever seen. 

 Almost any class of country, as long as there is a fair quantity 

 of standing timber, is suitable for it. Mr. A. J. Campbell, in his 

 " Nests and Eggs," states that he was always under the impres- 

 sion this species was stationary in Tasmania; Gould states to the 

 contrary; and I, from long-extended observations, feel sure that 

 the species is strictly migratory. It is quite possible that some 

 individuals remain all the winter. I have never yet either heard 

 of or seen a single specimen during the winter months. The date 

 of arrival varies considerably, much depending on the climatic con- 

 ditions. Some years it arrives early in August, and others not 

 until mid- September. From the end of March to fhe middle of 

 April migration is proceeding ; by the end of the latter month there 

 is hardly one to be heard or seen. This species has the peculiar 

 habit of occasionally hanging in clusters, like a swarm of bees, on 

 the under side of a bough. 



Its food consists of insects, most of which are captured while 



