336 THE BIEDS OF AUSTRALIA 



The Black-faced Wood-Swallow, A. melanops. — Central Australia. Like 

 A. cinereus, but smaller, the face with a greater amount of black on 

 the sides, and the black under tail-coverts narrowly edged with 

 white. Total length 7 inches. 



The White-vented Wood-Swallow, A. venustus. — North-west Australia. No 

 black frontal line; chin black; throat ashy-grey like rest of under 

 surface; the two central tail feathers all black, the rest tipped with 

 white. Total length 7 inches. 



The Wood-Swallow, A. tenebrosus (sordidus). — All Australia and 

 Tasmania. Chocolate brown above and below; under wing-coverts 

 white; the two central tail feathers all black; the rest tipped with 

 white. Total length 7 inches. These birds occasionally cling one on 

 to the other in the form of a bunch, in a similar way to a swarm of 

 bees. 



The Little Wood-Swallow, A. minor. — Australia generally, except Victoria. 

 Chocolate-brown above; below inclining to chestnut; the rump, 

 upper and under tail-coverts black; the under wing-coverts pale fawn 

 brown. Total length 5.7 inches, culmen .5, wing 3.8-5, tail 2,2.5. 

 tarsus ..5. 



The Wood Swallows form a charming group of birds. Most 

 are migratory, coming south in the spring and leaving in the 

 autumn, though a few species do not come south at all, and 

 A. leucogaster and A. melanops are resident in New South 

 Wales. The flight recalls that of the Swallow, the birds flj'ing 

 over the tops, of the trees. They also recall the Swallow by the 

 dark colours of the plumage. They are all insectivorous, but 

 occasionally take honey, and are most useful birds to the 

 agriculturalist. The nests are built in the forks of 

 the branches of trees or in bushes, and are constructed of 

 fine twigs and grass, lined with fibrous roots. Clutch 

 two or three eggs. These are often variable in the 

 disposition of the markings, have a light neutral ground 

 colour, and are dashed, speckled and blotched with various 

 shades of brown. Those of the larger species up to .9 inches 

 long and .7 broad, those of the Little Wood Swallows .7 x .5 inch. 



Family Prionopida>. 

 Bill with a notch in the upper mandible. Tail moderate, 

 rounded or square, consisting of twelve feathers. 



