Vol. X, 

 1911 



] Hill, Field Notes on Birds of Kimberley , N .-W. Aust. 273 



MiCRCECA ASSIMILIS (Lesser Brown Flycatcher). 



A common bird in the open and Ughtly timbered country. The nesting 

 season appears to be September and October. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



Total length. Wing. Tarsus. Bill. Tail. 



3 ■■■ 117 ••■ 75 ••■ 14 ••• 9 •■■ 47 

 S ■■■ 136 ... 74 ••• 15 ••• 9 ■•■ 49 

 ?• ... 131 ... 75 ■•• 15 ••• 10 ••• 49-5 



MlCR(ECA BRUNNEICAUDA (Brown-tailed Flycatcher).* 



(For description see Evui^ vol. x., p. 169.) 



These shy and very uncommon birds were seen only on Augustus Island 

 and on the eastern side of Napier Broome Bay. A greenish-brown back 

 and brown tail distinguish the species, even at a distance, from M. assimilis, 

 while their habit of concealing themselves in the thickest growths of man- 

 grove, and living entirely on small crabs and other forms of marine life, is in 

 contrast to the conditions of life of the latter species. The loud notes of 

 this species closely resemble those of the Yellow-faced Honey-eater (/'///^//i' 

 chrysops) of soutla-eastern Australia. One nest only was found, which 

 contained a single egg. This nest was placed in a dead mangrove tree, 

 5 feet over high water mark, and was built of bark and spider web, covered 

 on the outside with small pieces of leaf. 



Dimensions of nest in inches : — Outside— length, 1.6 ; breadth, 1.6; depth, 

 I.I. Inside— length, 1.4; breadth, 1.3; depth, 0.6. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



Total length. Wing. Tarsus. Bill. Tail. 



c^ ... 139 ... T^ ... 15 ••• 9-5 ••• 53 

 $ ... 140 ... 72.5 ... 13 ... 9 ... 56.5 

 $ ... 122 ... 67 ... 13.5 ... 9 ... 47 



Petrceca picata (Pied Robin). 



Uncommon, and apparently non-resident. 

 Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



Total length. 



$ ... 167 ... 

 ? ... 156 ... 



? ... ISO ... 



Smicrornis flavescens (Yellow-tinted Tree-Tit). 



A few of these birds appeared to be resident, but it was not until March 

 and April that they became plentiful. The following notes refer to four 

 nests taken near the Drysdale River in June : — 



{a) Nest built amongst acacia flowers, 5 feet 6 inches from the ground, of 

 caterpillar silk, cocoons, and tine pieces of red bark, neatly covered on 

 outside with small dead leaves and acacia flowers. Length, 3. i inches ; 

 breadth, 1.8 inches ; with an opening on either side. Contents— One &g'g^ in 

 advanced state of incubation (8/6/10). 



{b) Nest built in Acacia tuinida (F. v. M.), 6 feet from the ground, of 

 fine strips of bark, silk, and acacia flowers, lined with silk and spider &gg 

 cases. Length, 3.5 inches ; breadth, 2.1 inches. Cont-ents— Two eggs, in 

 advanced state of incubation (4/6/10). 



{c) Nest built in Acacia tinin'da, 5 feet from the ground, of silk, spider 

 web and egg cases, small leaves, and sepals of Grevi/lea, lined with silk and 

 spider &gg cases. Length, 3 inches ; breadth, 2. i inches. Contents— One 

 young, about two days old. 



{(i) Nest built in white gum (eucalypt) sapling, 4 feet from the ground, of 

 grass, small leaves, spider egg cases, sepals of a Grevillea, and grass seeds ; 

 lined with silk, spider web and egg cases. Contents— Two eggs, slightly 

 incubated (5/6 10). 



