I 30 THE BIRDS OF THE COBBORA DISTRICT. 



Cracticus destructor (Butcher Bird). — There are always a few pairs to be met with scattered about 

 the district, but mostly in the thicker forests, and once a pair take up their abode about any favoured 

 clump of trees, if not disturbed they will breed there season after season, usually laying four eggs for 

 a sitting. I have never found a larger clutch, but it is often only three, and all the nests I have 

 examined containing eggs were found between September 12th and October 5th. 



*Falcunculus frontatus (Yellow-bellied Shrike Tit). — I have only seen one pair of these birds here, 

 but a young friend found a pair building a nest this season, in which the birds eventually laid two 

 eggs, and he sent me the nest. 



Pachycephala ru/iventris (Rufous-breasted Thickhead). — This species arrives during the early 

 part of the spring, some years in great numbers, while in others scarcely a bird is to be found. They 

 are mostly met with in the iron bark ranges, generally where there is plenty of undergrowth or saplings, 

 and some years they breed here freely, usually laying three eggs for a sitting. I have never found 

 a nest containing a larger clutch, and have only found eggs between October 9th and November 16th. 



Eopsaltria australis (Yellow-breasted Shrike Robin). — A very common species on top of the 

 rocky ironbark ranges, but I have never met with it in any other class of country in this district ; it 

 appears to avoid any country where there is water or even moisture. Their habits and notes are very 

 different to the coastal form, and they have the power of ventriloquism. They breed here is great 

 numbers, placing their nests at various heights from the ground. I have seen them from six to nearly 

 sixty feet up, and they have a very long breeding season, probably rearing several broods in succession. 

 They mostly lay two eggs for a sitting, but it is not uncommon to find clutches of three, and I have 

 examined nests containing eggs from August 26th up till November 23rd. Even their eggs show a 

 marked difference to those found near the coast ; here they are mostly much brighter in colour. 



Aphelocephala lencopsis (White-faced Titmouse). — Although seldom met with in scrubby country, 

 it is undoubtedly the most common bird of the district. It is met with in very great numbers in all 

 the open forests, mostly where the trees have been killed, and left standing ; it also frequents gardens 

 and orchards. Usually found in small communities feeding upon the ground, when disturbed they 

 often only fly a short distance away and settle upon the ground again to continue their searching for 

 food, and show very little fear of man. They breed here in great numbers, mostly placing their nests 

 in hollow branches in dead trees, but often in hedges, and under the roofs of out-buildings. They 

 are extremely close sitters ; I have often chopped open their nesting hollows, and lifted a sitting bird 

 from its eggs. They rear two or three broods during a season, usually laying three eggs fcr a sitting, 

 but often four ; I have never found a larger clutch. They have a long breeding season ; I have taken 

 fresh eggs from August 17th up till November 1st, and have noticed them building much later. 



Climacteris picumna (Brown Tree-creeper). — Very seldom have I seen this species in the iron- 

 bark ranges, but in the more open forests and ring-barked country it is one of the most common birds 

 of the district, breeding here in great numbers, mostly placing their nests in perpendicular hollow- 

 branches in dead trees, at various heights from the ground. I have several times found them in hollow 

 posts in stockyards. They are rather early breeders, many of them laying during August, but I have 

 never found a nest containing eggs later than October 3rd, and the clutch is nearly always three. 



Climacteris scandens (White-throated Tree-creeper). — Plentiful in the thick ironbark forests on 

 the ranges. It appears to prefer the class of country which the Brown Tree-creeper avoids. Their 

 nests are placed at various heights from the ground ; I have found them from eight to over fifty feet 

 up, and have taken their eggs from August 31st up till October 17th, the clutch being either two or 

 three eggs for a sitting. 



Dicacuni kiruwdinaceum (Mistletoe Bird). — Although sparingly met with through all the forests 

 of the district, it is very plentiful in the ironbark and sapling country, which appears to be its true 

 home ; when found in the open forests it is only on a visit. I have known them to come into my 

 garden and feed upon the berries of the box-thorn hedges. They breed here freely, usually laying 

 three eggs, and I have found their nests from four to thirty feet from the ground, and have examined 

 them containing eggs from September 15th up till November 29th. 



