RHIPIDUUA RUFIPRONS. 



Rufous-fronted Fan-tail. 



FoEEHEAD, lower portion of back, upper tail coverts, and basal half of tail feathers, bright rufous ; crown of the head, upper part of the 

 back, sides of the neck and wings, light brown ; throat and under surftice, white, blending into buff on the flanks and ventral portions. On 

 the uppei part of the chest is a band of black, beneath which is a series of rather conspicuous black spots. Lower half of tail, dark brown, 

 tipped with white ; bill and feet, black ; irides, dark brown. 



Length, 6 inches ; wing, 2|- ; tail, Z\ ; bill, 9-16 ; tarsus, |. 



This species is found in Queensland and New South Wales, round to South Australia, and also in Tasmania. It is not very 

 common anywhere. It is exceedingly active in the pursuit of its insect prey, resorting to the lower bushes of scrubs for that purpose. 



PtHIPIDURA DEYAS. 



Teis species, if indeed distinct from the above, is found at Port Essington, and probably the northern coast generally. It is very similar in 

 size and appearance to the former, but the tail has more of the rufous tint, and less of the dark brown. A figure is unnecessary. 



Length, 5i inches ; wing, 2i ; tail, 3^ ; bill, 9-16 ; tarsus, -f. 



EHIPIDURA ALBISOAPA. 



White-shafted Fan-tail. 



Head and cheeks, black, with a small patch of white above and behind the eye ; neck and back, greyish black ; wings, black ; coverts, tipped 

 with white ; tail, black, all but the two middle feathers margined and tipped with white, and having also white shafts ; throat, white, followed 

 by a band of black ; belly, white in the male, light buff in the female ; bill and feet, black. 



Length, 5^ inches ; wing, 2|- ; tail, 3^ ; bill, f ; tarsus, -f. 



This widely-distributed species is found in all the Australian colonies, and never fails to attract attention from its lively and 

 playful habits. It is ever on the move in pursuit of insects, which it captures on the wing, and in its flight assumes the most elegant 

 attitudes, spreading out its tail like a fan. It breeds from October to' January, building a beautiful nest of a cup-like form, which is most 

 ingeniously attached to a branch. Underneath the nest is a long appendage, which gives the structure somewhat the appearance of a funnel, 

 or wine-glass with the foot broken off; the materials used consist of fine shreds of bark, down, and moss, the whole being matted together 

 with spiders' webs on the outside. The eggs are two in number, white, blotched with olive brown. 



RHIPIDURA ISUEA. 



Northern Fan-tail. 



All the upper surface, dull brown ; wings and tail, darker brown— the outer pair of tail feathers margined and largely tipped with white ; 

 the next feather has an irregular spot of white near the tip, and the next a minute line of white near the tip ; chin and under surface, huffy 

 white, with an indistinct dark brown band across the chest ; bill and feet, black. 



Length, 8 inches ; wing, 3| ; tail, 3-i- ; bill, | ; tarsus, f . 



This species can easily be recognized by the square form of its tail. It is more sombre in its coloring than the other members 

 of the family. Locality, Port Essington. 



UHIPIDTJRA PICATA. 



Pied Flycatcher. 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, back, tail, and wings, brownish black ; ear coverts, upper tail coverts, all the under surface, the tips 



of the coverts and scapularies, and edges of upper tertiaries, white ; bill and feet, black. 



Length, 5i inches ; wing, 2t ; tail, 2f ; bill, i ; tarsus, |. , 



This rare species is found in the northern parts of Queensland, and doubtless approximates in its habits to the other members 



of the family. 



RHIPIDUEA MOTACILLOIDES. 



Black Fan-tailed Flycatcher. 



Upper surface and tail, deep shining black ; throat and chest, black ; the remainder of the under surface and a streak above the eye, pure 

 white ; bill and feet, black ; irides, dark brown or black. 



Length, 8 inches ; wing, 4 ; tail, 4^ ; bill, | ; tarsus, 1. 



This is a very common and widely-distributed species, being found in all parts of Australia excepting the extreme north. Prom 

 its tame and familiar disposition, it has been popularly called the shepherd's companion, frequenting farms, stockyards, and all places where 

 cattle and sheep are found. It may often be seen on the backs of domestic animals, busily engaged in capturing and devouring the flies 

 which so much annoy and worry them. It is of a most restless disposition, and is never quiet for one moment. It delights to expand its 

 fan-like tail, and sway itself from side to side as it alights from one of its short jerking flights. It has a variety of notes, but the one which 

 attracts the most notice resembles the sound emitted by a toy watchman's rattle. The season of incubation is October and November. The 

 nest is built on the horizontal branch of a tree, at no great distance from the ground ; it is formed of grass intermingled with spiders' webs ; 

 eggs, three, greenish white, blotched and spotted with chestnut and blackish brown, especially at the larger end : size, 9i by 7 lines. 



