4 The Insectivorous Birds of N.S. TV. 



9. Cheramceca leucosterxem, Gould. " White-breasted Swallow," 

 "Black and White Swallow." 



Atiicora leucosternon, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. ir, pi. 12 (1848). 

 Cheramosca leucosternum, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., pp. 33, 383, 



pi. xin, fig. 11 (1889). 



A resident species, generally met with in small flocks, from live to seven 

 in number, but only in the interior and western districts of the Colony. It 

 breeds in small communities during October and November, boring a tunnel 

 from 8 inches to 2 feet in the side of a dry creek or dam, and frequently in 

 the sides of the entrances to the burrows of the common Babbit-like Bandi- 

 coot, Peragale lagotis, at the extremity of which it deposits from four to six 

 pure white eggs; length, 0"68 x 0"5 inch. The greater portion of the day is 

 passed by this Swallow on the wing, and in common with" all the members of 

 the family Hirundinidce, it is a destroyer of large numbers of insects. 



10. Merops ornates, Latham. " Australian Bee-eater." 



Merops ornatus, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. ir, pi. 16 (ISIS) ; 

 North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 31 (1889). 



This attractive bird is strictly migratory, arriving in New South "Wales 

 early in October, and departing again at the end of March. Like the pre- 

 ceding species, for the purposes of breeding, it tunnels a hole in the soft 

 sandy soil, generally in a sloping bank, at the extremity of which a chamber 

 is hollowed out, and five or six pure white eggs deposited therein. The 

 eggs measure 0'87 inch in length by 0'72 inch in breadth. This species 

 does not find favour with apiarists, for, amongst other insects destroyed by 

 it, bees, as its vernacular name implies, when obtainable, constitute no small 

 portion of its food. 



11. Eerystomes pacifices, Latham. " The Australian Boiler," or " Dollar 



Bird." 



JEuri/stomus australis, Gould., Birds of: Austr., fol. ed., Vol. n, pi. 17 (ISIS). 

 JEurystomus pacificus, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 35, pi. xiv, 



fig. 7 (1889). 



A migratory species arriving in New South Wales, usually during the 

 month of October, and departing again at the end of March. I have seen 

 young birds, however, that were taken from the nesting-place in the hollow 

 bough of a eucalyptus near Newcastle on the 2nd of October, 1S92, but this 

 was an exceptional instance. This bird nests in the hollow limbs of trees, 

 and lays three or four pearly-white eggs for a sitting ; length, 1 - 15 x 10S 

 inch. Its food consists chiefly of beetles. 



12. Artames sordides, Lath. " Sombre Wood-Swallow," " Dusky Wood- 



Swallow," "Tree Martin." 



Artamus sordldus, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. ir, pi. 27 (ISIS) ; 

 North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 12, pi. Tin, fig. 11 (18S9). 



A familiar and well-known species to agriculturists and orchardists ; it 

 arrives in large flocks during September, and departs again at the end of 

 March, a few straggling pairs remaining throughout the year. The nest of 

 this species is a shallow cup-shaped structure, outwardly composed of thin 

 twigs, and lined inside with fibrous roots or fine grasses, and is placed usually 

 between the forked limbs of some rough-barked tree, or held in position by 



