208 Cheney, Birds of Wangarafta District, Victoria. [isf a^hi 



cunningly hid in some long grass, but its enemies soon discovered it 

 and scolded it so fiercely that it had perforce to go. 



Chalcococcyx plagosus. Bronze-Cuckoo. — The Bronze-Cuckoo's 

 call was usually heard about the first week in August, a day or two 

 after that of the Pallid Cuckoo. I have not found its egg in the 

 district. 



Hirundo neoxena. Welcome Swallow. — These birds I observed 

 wintering on the Ovens River during June. Ten miles further north 

 they were not seen until the end of September, when they returned 

 to breed, rearing from four to five broods of young ones. 



Petrochelidon nigricans. Tree-Martin. — Saw these only i-arely ; 

 they were not reported for 1914. 



Petrochelidon ariel. Fairy Martin. — In October the Fairy Martins 

 began to repair their nests, and they hatched the first brood about 

 the second week in November. There were always a few cup-shaped 

 nests that were half-finished editions of the others. 



Microeca fascinans. Australian Brown Flycatcher. — Very late 

 nesters last season, when they waited until November. We had very 

 little rain until December, but the birds took advantage of the 

 showers. 



Petroica leggii. Scarlet-breasted Robin. — A few pairs of these 

 Robins remained in the orchards for the whole of the summer of 

 IQ13, bringing out their young in earlv December. 



Petroica phoenicea. Flame-breasted Robin. — Stayed for the 

 summer, and one pair built a nest after the rains in April, but did not 

 have eggs. 



Petroica goodenovii. Red-capped Robin. — These Robins returned 

 from January to March. They nested in August and September, 

 often using prickly acacias in which to build their nests I found 

 only one chick to the nest last season. 



Melanodryas bicolor. Hooded Robin. — It is difficult to pick out 

 these birds. They are quiet, and their markings do not stand out. 

 They are very tame, nesting close to dwellings. 



Gerygone albogularls. White-throated Fly-eater. — The pleasant 

 little song of this species was sometimes heard in the big red gums 

 along the river. 



Gerygone eulicivora. Southern Fly-eater. — I found one dead bird 

 in August, 1914. . 



Falcunculus frontatus. Crested Shrike-Tit. — These birds showed 

 very little fear of man, building nests close to dwellings, although 

 very high in a tree-top. 



Oreoica cristata. Crested Bell-Bird. — Fairly common at Chiltern, 

 but I have known it to come further south on to the plains only once 

 (March, 1914). One then stayed in the poultry-yard at an orchard 

 for a week. 



Pacliycephala gutturalis. Golden-breasted Whistler. — Fairly well 

 distributed. 



Pachcyephala ruOventris. Rufous-breasted Whistler. — I noticed a 

 male bird taking turns with the female in sitting upon eggs. Nests 

 were fairly plentiful in the orchards. 



