THE SINGING BIRDS. 167 



well-developed tails ; their tarsi are powerful, and of moderate length ; their beaks broad, curving 

 gradually downwards to the slightly hooked extremity, and incised at the margins ; the region of the 

 bill is covered with large bristles. 



THE WAGTAIL FANTAIL. 



The Wagtail Fantail {Rhipidura motacilloides), so called from its resemblance to the European 

 Water Wagtail (Motacilld), is of a glossy greenish black upon the mantle, throat, and sides of the 

 breast ; a narrow, yellowish white streak passes above the eyes ; and a triangular spot occupies the 

 tips of the smaller wing-covers. The extremities of all the webs of the exterior tail-feathers and 

 the entire under surface are pale yellowish white, the quills are brown, the eyes dark brown, the beak 

 and feet black. Both sexes are alike in colour, and differ but slightly in size, their length being 

 usually about five inches. 



The Fantails are found extensively throughout Australia, where they frequent retired woodland 

 districts, but are often seen in the immediate vicinity of men ; indeed, so extremely tame and social 

 are they that they by no means confine their visits to orchards and gardens, but enter freely into the 

 houses, in search of flies and other insects.' Their flight is undulatory in its course, is seldom long 

 sustained, and never rises above the tops of the trees. Should the birds desire to reach a distant 

 spot, they usually descend to the ground, over the surface of which their powerful legs enable them to 

 run with great rapidity. The song of this species, though loud and shrill, is by no means unpleasing, 

 and, should the moon be bright, is often heard after nightfall. The period of incubation commences 

 in September, that is, in the early Australian spring, and each pair breeds twice, or, if the season be 

 fine, thrice within the year. Their deep, cup-shaped nest is most artistically constructed of dry grass, 

 bits of bark and roots, overlaid with spiders' webs, and lined with a soft bed of delicate fibres, grass, 

 and feathers. Such trees as overhang the water are generally preferred for building purposes. The 

 nest is placed very near the ground, and furnished with a strange-looking, long appendage, which is, 

 no doubt, intended to act as a sort of balance ; it is frequently placed in situations that are fully 

 exposed to the violence of the sea and wind, but with such care are the materials for these beautiful 

 structures selected to harmonise with the colour of the branch on which they are placed, that their 

 discovery is always a work of difficulty. The brood consists of two or three dirty greenish white 

 eggs, marked with black or reddish brown spots and streaks, either at the broad end or around the 

 centre. During the whole time that the parents are occupied in the education of their young they 

 exhibit the utmost courage and anxiety to prevent the approach of an enemy, and if alarmed express 

 their uneasiness by a peculiar call somewhat resembling the sound produced by a child's rattle. 



The TRUE FLY-CATCHERS {Mustiatpa) constitute a family of birds chiefly confined to 

 Europe and Asia, and though unadorned with the flowing tails and glowing tints possessed by some 

 of their near relations already described, comprise many beautiful species. All have elongate bodies, 

 short necks, and broad heads. Their wings (in which the third quill exceeds the rest in length) are 

 long, and their tails of moderate size, either incised or graduated at the extremity. Their short, 

 strong, compressed beaks are broad at the base, and terminate in a slight hook ; the upper mandible 

 is furnished with a sharp ridge at its culmen, and the base of the bill is surrounded with bristles. 

 Their soft lax plumage varies considerably in its coloration, according to the age and sex of the bird, 

 and the young are easily recognisable by their spotted appearance. 



Like most of the groups above described, all the members of this family frequent trees in 

 preference to bushes, and rarely seek their food upon the ground. Should the day be rainy, they 

 content themselves with berries; but in fine weather pass their time in actively giving chase to every 



