THE BIRDS OF THE COBBORA DISTRICT. 



nest, lining it with fine dry grass or river oak needles. They usually lay lour eggs for a sitting, mostly 

 during the months of October and November. 



Xest and egss of the White-rumped Wood Swallow [Artamus lew ogaster) 

 in dead branch of a river Red Gum Tree. 



Artamus superciliosus (White-browed Wood Swallow). — Some years arriving in thousands in the 

 early part of the spring, while other years not a bird will be seen. They commence breeding almost 

 immediately they arrive, mostly laying two eggs for a sitting, but often three. This year (1917) they 

 arrived in great numbers during the second week in October, and were breeding everywhere, when 

 suddenly something must have gone wrong because nearly the whole lot rolled their eggs and young 

 out of their nests, and practically all the birds disappeared. This all happened within three clays, 

 between November 8th and nth. 



Artamus personotus (Masked Wood Swallow). — Arriving with Artamus superciliosus, but never 

 in anything like such great numbers. This year (1917) there were more of them breeding here than 

 I have ever known before, but they treated their eggs and young in the same manner as the White- 

 browed, described above. 



Artamus tenebrosus (Wood Swallow). — A permauent resident, but never in great numbers ; 

 generally met with in pairs in the ringbarked country, where they breed. They place their nests 11 .1 

 great variety of situations, and usually lay three eggs. 1 have never found a larger number for a 

 sitting, and I have taken their eggs Iron' September 29th up till December 15th. 



Collyriocichla harmonica (Grey Shrike Thrush). — This bird is met with in all classes oi timbered 

 country, but is more numerous in the ironbark ranges. In this district it is extremely shy ; in habit 

 it much resembles the Spotted Bower Bird. It is far more often heard than seen. When building, 

 it is only necessary to ride close past their nest and they will leave it for ever. I have never yet 

 found a nest in course of construction which was not immediately deserted. The situations chosen, for 

 nidirication are very various : sometimes in a sapling, others in crevices in a bank of a dry ' 



