The Insectivorous Birds of N.S. W. 



a projecting piece of bark from the trunk of a tree. The eggs are three in 

 number for a sitting, of a dull white, spotted with dark brown or brownish- 

 black markings, particularly at the larger end ; length, 0'88 x 067 inch. 

 Upon their arrival, and before separating into pairs, and again when flocking, 

 immediately before taking their departure, these birds have the peculiar 

 habit, when roosting at night, of clinging to each other in large clusters 

 similar to swarms of bees. Like all the members of the genus, the food of 

 this species consists exclusively of insects and their larvae. It is very destruc- 

 tive to bees. In the Colo Yale District, several apiarists have lost almost 

 their entire stock by the wholesale depredations of this Wood-Swallow. 

 Three specimens shot by Mr. E. Etheridge, the Curator of the Australian 

 Museum, in that locality on the 8th of September, 1894, were found to be 

 perfectly gorged with these industrious and valuable insects. 



13. Aetamus supeeciliosus, Gould. " White-eyebrowed Wood-Swallow." 



Artamus superciliosus, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. ir, pi. 32 

 (1848) ; North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 47 (1889). 



A migratory species abundantly distributed in the western portions of New 

 South Wales, and which seldom visits the districts near the coast. During 

 the excessively dry season of 1895, these birds made their appearance in the 

 neighbourhood of Sydney, and where they had not been seen for twenty 

 years. It is also destructive to bees, but compensates for this mischief by 

 the immense amount of good it does in destroying large quantities of noxious 

 insects. The same remark applies to all the species of this genus. 



14. Aetamus peeso:natus, Gould. " Masked Wood-Swallow." 



Artamus personatus, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., pi. 31 (1848) ; North, 

 Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 44 (1889). 



A spring visitant to the inland portions of the Colony, arriving about the 

 end of September in company with A. superciliosus, the tw r o species 

 frequently associating together in flocks, and breeding near each other. The 

 nest is an exceedingly frail structure formed of a few thin twigs and grasses, 

 and is placed in the fork of a low tree, or .in the cavity at the top of a hollow 

 stump. It lays two or three eggs, usually the former number, of a greyish- 

 white ground colour, spotted and blotched all over with light brown markings,, 

 and a few underlying spots of grey ; length, 0'84 x 067 inch. In the mode 

 of nidification, and the number and colour of its eggs, A. personatus closely 

 resembles the preceding species. 



15. Aetamus leucogasteb, Valenc. " White-rumped Wood-Swallow." 



Artamus leucopygialis, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. ii, pi. 



33 (1848). 

 Artamus leucogaster, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 43 (1SS9). 



A resident species in the interior of New South Wales, seldom found far 

 away from the vicinity of water. This bird rarely constructs a nest like the 

 other species of AVood-Swallows, but relines the deserted mud nest of 

 Grallina picata, wherein to deposit its eggs, which are three in number for 

 a sitting, of a dull white spotted and blotched with faint markings of 

 yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, and underlying spots of bluish-gey; 

 length, 0'92 x Ou'3 inch. Although widely distributed over the Australian 

 Continent, it is by no means a common species. 



