74 BIRDS OF TASMANIA, 



on the wing. In some localities the Wood- Swallow has a bad 

 reputation as a destroyer of bees. Doubtless some are destroyed, 

 but I am of opinion more false bees or ' ' drone-flies ' ' are 

 destroyed than honey-bees. The movements of this bird when on 

 the wing are graceful in the extreme. Its broad pinions are 

 eminently suited for sailing over and among the trees of its haunts. 

 Occasionally it ascends to a great height, until it becomes a tiny 

 speck in the sky. Even when almost out of sight in the air, its 

 not unpleasant reedy notes can be distinctly heard. When at rest 

 it has the curious habit of every now and then flicking its tail 

 with a quick movement from side to side. 



FAMILY-PLOCEID/E (1 species). 



Sub- Family Viduinae. 

 *FIRE-TAILED FINCH 



(Zonceginthus bellus, Lath.) 



Male. Narrow frontal band, lores, and feathers round the eyes 

 black ; upper surface brown, vermiculated with very fine blackish 

 cross lines, those on the head, mantle, sides of face, ear coverts, 

 and sides of neck so fine as to be almost invisible, back, scapulars, 

 and wing coverts more distinct ; lower rump and upper tail coverts 

 bright crimson; terminal half of centre tail feathers black, basal 

 half barred with light brown, fringes dull crimson ; rest of feathers 

 blackish, barred with light brow r n on outer webs; greater w T ing 

 coverts and secondaries distinctly barred with black; primaries 

 blackish-brown, outer webs light brown ; under surface silvery- 

 grey, distinctly vermiculated with black ; cross bars fine on throat 

 and fore-neck; abdomen and under tail coverts black; bill crimson, 

 base of upper mandible paler; legs and feet very pale brown. 

 Dimensions in mm.: Length, 122; bill, 10; wing, 57; tail, 47; 

 tarsus, 17. 



Female. Similar to male. 



Young. "Much browner and more dusky than the adults; 

 the head uniform brown ; the black on the lores and base of forehead 

 scarcely indicated ; under surface of body browner, with indistinct 

 vermiculations of blackish cross lines, but no distinct cross barring 

 as in the adult; bill dusky " (B. M. Cat.) 



Nest. A large bottle-shaped structure with a side entrance, 

 constructed of grass chiefly, lined with a little fur and a few 

 feathers, usually situated in a thick-foliaged tree, such as a musk 

 or tea-tree. 



Eggs. Clutch four to seven; somewhat elongated oval in 

 shape ; texture fine ; surface without gloss ; colour pure white. 

 Dimensions in mm. of a clutch: (1) 18 x 12.5, (2) 18 x 12, (3) 

 17 x 12.75, (4) 17.5 x 12.5, (5) 18 x 12, (6) 17.5 x 12.5. 



Breeding Season. September to January. 



