THE WOOD SWALLOW. 



369 



speaking, the coleopterous insects, to any other food. Their nest is generally placed 

 in the branches of some tall tree, at a considerable elevation from the gronnd, is 

 small in size, is composed of grasses and lichens, and generally contains about two small 

 streaked eggs. 



Next in order comes a group of birds, called, from the pecuKar form of their tails, the 

 Dicrurince, or Double- tailed Birds, and also known by the title of Deongo Shrikes. 

 These birds are so very like the shrikes, or butcher birds, that they have often been 

 confounded with them ; and, as may be seen from the popular title of the group, have been 

 ranked with these birds in some systems. They are not, as a rule, of large dimensions, 

 tlieir average size being that of a common blackbird, and many of them are remarkable 

 for beauty of plumage and grace of form. 



O^'M^'-,^ 



WOOD SWALLOW 



-'Artaimis sordidus. 



The Wood Swallows are spread over a large portion of the globe ; some species 

 being found in India and the islands of the Indian seas, and others being inhabitants of 

 Australia. Owing to their shrike-like form, and their swift flight, they have been termed 

 Swift Shrilves by some naturalists. Several species of this genus are found in Australia, 

 and that which is most frequently noticed is the common Wood Swallow, or Soedid 

 Theush. This species is common in many parts of Australia, and is migratory in its 

 habits, arriving in and leaving Van Diemen's Land at regular intervals, and making a 

 partial migration on the Australian continent. Some individuals, however, remain in the 

 same country throughout the year, as they find abundance of food without the absolute 

 need of repairing to another climate. The habits of the Wood Swallow are very curious 

 and interesting, and are well described by Mr. Gould, in his well-known work on the 

 Birds of Australia : — 



" This Wood Swallow, besides being the commonest species of the genus, must, I think, 

 be considered a general favourite with the Australians, not only from its singular and 

 pleasing actions, but by its often taking up its abode and incubating near the houses, 

 2. BB 



