390 Animal Life 
Like most flycatchers, the Fantail is richly endowed with indefatigable energy, 
never still a moment, even when not on the wing. Rising suddenly in the air, to 
meet a passing insect, the bird appears to perform a complete somersault as it 
actually captures it, immediately returning to the identical spot it had left, head 
first, there to remain for a brief moment, perpetually bobbing about, turning round 
and round, ducking its bright-eyed head, and in turn raising and half spreading its 
nervous-looking little wings and fanning the air with its tail, Then, with a sudden- 
ness quite astonishing, the bird has gone, and the twittering, sprightly song heard im 
an adjacent tree discovers our little friend giving vent to his superabundance of 
spirits in a new quarter. The nest is always built comparatively low, and usually 
so constructed that twigs pass through the walls or a small fork serves as a support. 
The cock bird is almost black, with a few whitish markings here and there; the 
hen, more sombrely attired, is brown. The breast and under-parts, however, are 
ereyish-white. 
Some time ago, when wandering among the dense scrub-belts borderig the River 
Goulbourne, I heard repeatedly a short grating note which, from its rasping tone, 
reminded me somewhat of the Corncrake’s harsh call. Being unfamiliar with the sound 
I forced my way through the scrub with due caution, and was eventually successful 
in obtaining a good view of two Dollar-birds perched upon an old lichen-covered 
wattle. Both birds were sitting in an upright, alert posture, and without any show of 
fear seemed to be dividing their attention between two points of attraction, viz., the 
unexpected appearance of a human being among the scrub, and the tempting fruit of 
numerous wild raspberries growing beneath them. I have frequently seen them since 
in the same neighbourhood, and various other specimens in country of a similar nature. 
ROLLER OR DOLLAR-BIRD: WINGS PARTIALLY EXPANDED. 
- From a museum specimen, 
