lMKZOUIIYNCIirs NITIDIS (iiunid). 



SHINING FLYCATCHER 



fill 11''. Shining Flycatcher inhabits the northern coast of Australia, being especially abundant in the 

 ' neighbourhood of Port Easington, w here Gilbert was the first to discover it. 



It frequents dense thickets and mangrove swamps, where it crawls among the underbrush, 

 uttering, at the same time, a note very like the croak of a frog. It sometimes flies to one of the 

 branches of a tree, and when perched there emits a rather pleasing note; but never remains long off 

 the ground. 



The nest, which is placed in a fork of one of the branches of a tree, is constructed of strips 

 <>f bark, interwoven with librous roots, the exterior being covered with moss, and the interior lined with 

 very fine fibres. In this structure two eggs are laid, greyish-white in colour, with spots and blotches 

 of greyish-brown distributed irregularly over the surface. Their medium length is ten lines, and their 

 breadth seven lines. 



The male lias the whole of the plumage deep greenish-black; irides, greyish-white; bill, legs 

 and feet, black. 



The female has the head and back of neck greenish-black ; rest of upper surface, wings, 

 and tail, reddish-brown ; under surface, white. 



Total length, 7 \. inches; bill, 1 ^ inch; wing, 3£ inches; tail, 3£ inches; tarsi, f inch. 



Habitat: North coast of Australia. 



GENUS SAULOPROCTA (Cabanis). 



1 > Y some naturalists there are considered to be two members of this genus in Australia; but, as 

 I . ) the only difference is in their size, they can scarcely be reckoned as distinct species. 



SAULOPKOCTA MOTACILLOIDES. 



BLACK FAN TAIL. 



fl^HIS bird, better known by the name of rt Wagtail," is found in every part of Australia, but does 

 J- not occur in Tasmania. Specimens from the north coast differ from the others in being 

 considerably smaller, but are the same in habits and colouring. 



