THE BIRDS OF THE COBBORA DISTRICT. 



123 



three broods in a season, building up the old nest time after time. They place their nests in a great 

 variety of situations, but Hie most extraordinary which has come under my notice was one built on 

 top of an old Swallow's nest on a rafter in a stable. 



Myiagra rubecula (Leaden Flycatcher). — A rather rare species here, just an occasional pair 

 turning up some years in the spring. I have seen several pairs building nests, all rather high up in 

 large iron bark trees, but with one exception they all disappeared before the eggs were laid. The only 

 eggs I have taken here were a clutch of three on November 12th. 191 5. 





Xest and eggs of the Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula) on a dead branch of an Iron bark Tree. 



Sisura inquieta (Restless Flycatcher). — A rather common species here at any time of the year, 

 but they appear to be more numerous during the spring and summer months. Although sparingly 

 dispersed throughout the district, they are more often met with near water. They are rather late 

 breeders ; most of the nests I have seen containing eggs have been during the months of October 

 and November, and the clutch is generally four. 



Pteropodocys phasianella (Ground Cuckoo Shrike). — There are always a few of these fine birds 

 to be met with en the Estate, generally found feeding upon the ground in flocks of five, comprising a 

 pair of old birds and their last brood of young, which often remain with their parents until another 

 brood are upon the wing to take their place. I have four times found two pairs of these birds 

 breeding together, twice actually laying in the same nest, each nest upon these occasions contained 

 six eggs. In another case there were two nests built within a few feet of one another on the same 

 branch, and young birds in each. The other which came under my notice was only about a hundred 

 yards outside my garden. The eld birds built in exactly the same fork in which they had reared 

 their young the previous year, and the young birds built in an old Magpie Lark's nest in a neighbouring 

 tree only a few yards away. They usually lav three eggs for a sitting, but I have found a clutch 

 of four, and, as I have mentioned above, twice six, which was undoubtedly the result of two females 



