The Zoologist — October, 1871. 2797 



which scarcely reaches one inch six lines in depth. Would not 

 the resistance offered by this peculiar addition lessen any such 

 danger by diminishing the extent of the vibration ? It may be 

 asked how it is the instinct of the bird does not lead to the selection 

 of a spot where such a precaution would be unnecessary : the 

 answer to this is, that this particular place, from its immediate 

 contiguity to the stock-yard, bullock sheds, &c., offers special 

 inducements to a purely insect-eating bird, as it affords an extra- 

 ordinary food supply from the numbers of small insects which there 

 assemble. 



January 8. The nest contains four young birds and two addled 

 eggs, and is being enlarged by the addition of a slight rim all round 

 the wall; the interior is kept clean by the old birds removing the 

 white pasty excrement as soon as extruded by the young, dropping 

 it a few yards off. 



January 10. The two strongest birds left the nest : a bell-bird, 

 which made some menacing darts at them, was driven off by the 

 old birds acting in concert : the young were fed on an average of 

 about once a minute. 



April 26. The fantails now frequent the house, clearing the 

 rooms of flies, which they effect whilst on the wing, picking them 

 off the curtains, ceilings, &c. ; the most difficult feat appears to be 

 in taking them ofi' the side walls. 



August 6. Saw R. fuliginosa with a large insect, beating it 

 several times against its perch (kingfisher fashion) before swallowing 

 it; have also observed the foot used as a claw when feeding on a 

 large fly. 



October 1. Found on a sapling Fagus a union nest, on which 

 was the male (R. flabellifera). 



October 2. The female (R. fuliginosa) was on the nest : it con- 

 tained three eggs : these, together with the nest, were taken with 

 very great reluctance, but it was thought they might help to con- 

 vince anyone who was sceptical as to the two species breeding 

 together — a fact that could not be established by the most 

 assiduous study of preserved skins. So tame was the hen bird 

 that it permitted the nest to be cut out of the young tree, carried 

 from the bush over a gorse fence and ditch, without moving from 

 her position till gently pushed off her eggs with the finger, her pied 

 mate fluttering near, twittering what was doubtless a reproachful 

 protest against such barbarous cruelty. 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. VI. 3 D 



