ARTAMUS SORDIDUS. 



(Wood Swallow.) 



Head, neck, and body, dark sooty brown ; wings, deep bluish black ; the outer edges of the second, third, and fourth primaries, white ; th( 

 two central feathers of the tail, bluish black — the remainder, the same, but largely tipped with white ; irides, dark brown ; bill, blue, tipped 

 with black ; feet, lead color. The sexes are alike. 



Length, 7 inches ; wing, 5 ; tail, 3 ; bill, i ; tarsus, f. 



This species of "Wood Swallow is found in the southern parts of Queensland, but is not very common, being found much more 

 plentifully in New South Wales and the southern portions of the continent. It also occurs in Western Australia. In Tasmania it is a 

 migratory bird, arriving in October, and after rearing several broods returns to the north. It delights in thinly timbered country, cleared land 

 in the neighbourhood of farms, etc. Its flight is sailing and circular in direction, and it often takes its stand on a bare twig from which it 

 darts forth to capture any insect which may be passing and then returns to the same spot. The singular habit of clustering together like a 

 swarm of bees, for the purpose of roosting, belongs to this and others of the same genus. Several of the birds suspend themselves to a branch 

 of a tree, others then attach themselves until a mass of forty or fifty are collected together. They are also in the habit of huddling together 

 on the tops of stumps with their heads turned inwards. The nest of A. Sordidus is exceedingly neat and compact, rather shallow, formed of 

 tine twigs, and lined with fibrous roots. It selects a variety of situations for the purpose of building, as the fork of a tree, a leafy branch, or 

 a cleft in the bark. The usual number of eggs is four ; they are very variable in their markings, and of a dull white, spotted and dashed with 

 umber brown ; size 11 by 8 lines. 



AETAMUS SUPERCILIOSUS. 



(Wliite-eyehrowed Wood Swallow.) 



Male. — Lores, space around the eye, and ear coverts, deep black ; chin, greyish black, passing into blackish grey on the chest ; 

 crown, greyish black ; a long white stripe over the eye, widest behind ; upper surface, wings, and tail, sooty grey ; tail, tipped with white ; 

 under surface of body, deep chestnut ; under surface of wing, white ; bill, blue, tipped with black ; irides, brownish black ; feet, deep 

 leaden grey. 



Female. — In most respects similar to the male, but the stripe over the eye is very indistinct ; the throat is grey and the under 

 surface much lighter ; the ear coverts also are not black. 



Length, 7 inches ; wing, 4| ; tail, 3i ; bill, 1 ; tarsus, |. 



The south and south-eastern portions of Australia are frequented by this species, which is not so common as the former. In its 

 general habits it resembles A. Sordidus, and is frequently found with it in company, but is more shy and not so easily approached. The nest 

 is very similar to that of the species above referred to. The eggs are dull bufiy white, spotted with umber brown and light grey, forming a 

 zone at the larger end ; size 11 by 8| lines. 



AETAMUS LEUCOPYGIALIS. 



(White-rumped Wood Swallow) 



Head, throat, and back, grey ; tail and primaries, black, tinged with grey ;. rump, chest, and under surface, white ; irides, brown ; bill, blue, 

 slightly tipped with black ; feet, greenish grey. The sexes are alike. The young are mottled with brown. 



Length, 7 inches ; wing 5i ; tail, 2^ ; bill, I ; tarsus, |. 



Every colony of Australia, excepting "Western Australia and Tasmania, is inhabited by this bird. The southern portions of the 

 continent are visited by it in the summer time, during which period two broods are reared. It is partial to well watered country, and chooses 

 the vicinity of rivers and streams for its abiding place. It makes its nest in the various trees which line the banks ; on the Brisbane Eiver, 

 even building in the mangrove. Though in the habit usually of building for itself a nest of grass and fibrous materials, it sometimes contents 

 itself by appropriating the deserted nest of other birds, which it furnishes to its liking by a new lining of fine grass and root fibres. The eggs 

 are three in number ; color, fleshy white, minutely marked with reddish brown and grey ; size, 10 by 7i lines. The actions and habits of this 

 species are very similar to those of A. Sordidus ; it clusters in a similar manner, and its flight is graceful and elegant — a sucHssion of quick 

 vibrations, followed by a long soaring flight with wings extended. It sometimes flies very high. 



