32 HIRUNDIKID^. 



Genus PETKOCHELIDON, Cabanis. 



•5 PETROCHELTDON NIGRICANS, VieiUot. 



Tree Swallow. 



Gould, I-Iandbk. Bds. Aust , Vol. i., sp. 55, p. 111. 3^- '^^■ 



This species is to be found throughout the whole of Australia, 

 Tasmania, and southern portions of New Guinea. It arrives in 

 New Soutli Wales and Victoria in August, and leaves again at 

 the latter end of February. It deposits its eggs three in number, 

 on the decayed wood, in a hollow branch, or hole in a tree ; the 

 ground colour being of a pinky-white, covered with minute freckles 

 of light rusty-brown, particularly towards the larger tnd, where 

 in some instances, intermingled with lilac spots they form a zone, 

 others again are of a pure white, with a few fine dots of light red 

 at the larger end. 



A set taken by Mr. K. H. Bennett, at Mossgiel on the 16th of 

 September, 1885, measure as follows :— (A) 0-73 x 0-55 inch ; (B) 

 0-72 X 0-54 inch ; (C) 0-68 x 0-54 inch. ' 



Hab. Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Port 

 Denison, Wide Bay District, Dawson River, Richmond and 

 Clarence River Districts, New South Wales, Interior, Victoria 

 and South Australia, Tasmania, West and South- West Australia, 

 South Coast New Guinea. {Ramsay.) 



Genos LAGENOPLASTES, Gould. 



LAGENOPLASTES ARIEL, GouU. 

 Fairy Martin. 



Gould, Hnndhh. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 56, p. 11.^. 



" About the end of November 1 860, I discovered a large batch 

 of nests of this species fastened under an overhanging rock upon 

 the banks of the Bell River. I counted upwards of one hundred 

 nests, all built so closely together, that of many, the entrances 

 were alone visible." 



