PLATE XXXI. 



PETROICA MULTICOLOR (Swains.) 



SCARLET-BREASTED ROBIN. 



THIS, one of the most beautiful, and at the same time one of the commonest members of the genus 

 Petroica, is found in Tasmania, and in the whole of the continent of Australia, except Queensland 

 and the north coast. 



It is more arboreal in habits than the Petroica Phcenicea, but in its remarkable tameness, and 

 in its other characteristics, it closely assimilates to that bird. 



Its food consists of grubs and various kinds of insects. 



It breeds from August to the end of February, constructing its nest in the same manner as 

 its congeners, namely, of bark and grass, lined with hair and feathers. The colour of the eggs is 

 greenish-white, freckled with dark brown and bluish-grey, particularly at the larger end. In length 

 they are nine lines, and in breadth seven lines. Two, and sometimes three, broods are reared 

 each year. 



The male has the head, throat, tail, and upper surface, black ; forehead, and a patch on the 

 wings, white ; wings, brown ; breast, and centre of abdomen, scarlet ; lower part of abdomen, and lower 

 tail-coverts, white ; irides and bill, dark brown ; legs and feet, black. 



The female has the upper and under surface, brown, with a patch of pink on the breast. 



Habitats : New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia. 



PETROICA ERYTHROGASTRA. 



NORFOLK ISLAND ROBIN. 



ALTHOUGH resembling in a marked degree the Petroica Multicolor, the two birds have still 

 sufficient points of difference to warrant their division into distinct species. Gould at first believed 

 them to be identical, but on further investigation discovered his mistake, and restored to the present bird 

 the specific name of Erythrogastra, which had been assigned to it by Latham. 



In all its habits it resembles its congener. 



The male has the forehead greyish-white ; a patch on the wings, and the under tail-coverts, 

 white ; chest and abdomen, scarlet ; rest of plumage, black ; irides, dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. 



The female has the head, upper surface, wings and tail, reddish-brown ; throat, buffy-white ; 

 chest and centre of abdomen, scarlet ; lower part of abdomen and under tail-coverts, white. 



Habitat : Norfolk Island. 



