During September and the three following months a nest of twigs, lined with fin*; roots or 



grasses, is constructed <>n a branch, or in a hole of a tree. Four eggs, in colour greyish-white, 



spotted with dark brown, arc laid. They are eleven lines long and eight lines broad. Two broods 

 are reared in the season. 



The female is slightly smaller than the male, but the plumage of the sexes is similar. 



The head, and the whole of the body are brownish-grey ; wings, bluish-black ; the primaries 

 margined externally w ith white ; tail-feathers, deep bluish-black, all except the two centre ones, and 

 the outer one on each side tipped with white ; irides, light red ; bill, legs, and feet, bluish lead- 



Ci >1< nil*. 



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



ARTAMUS ALBIVENTRIS (Gould). 



Will TE- VENTED WOODS WALLO W. 



nnHIS bird is found in the interior of Queensland, but is not by any means plentiful. 



It bears a strong resemblance to the Western Australian variety, Artamus Cinereus, but can 

 be readily distinguished by its smaller size and the white colouring of the under tail-coverts. 



Lores, space beneath the eye and chin, are black ; head, upper surface, and wings, light 

 olive-brown ; chest and under surface, grey, passing into white on the lower part of the abdomen 

 and under tail-coverts : tail, bluish-black, tipped with white, except the two central feathers ; line 

 round the eye, white ; irides, reddish-brown ; bill, horn-colour ; legs and feet, bluish-grey. 



Habitat : Interior of Queensland. 



ARTAMUS CINEREUS (Vieillj 



GREY-BREASTED WOOD SWALLOW. 



TI^HIS, the largest of all the Wood Swallows, inhabits Western Australia, where it is fairly common 

 J- in the summer months. 



It feeds principally on insects, but also to a considerable extent on seeds, particularly those 



of the XanthoiThcea, or grass-tree. 



During the spring, four eggs are laid in a nest placed in a small bash, and constructed of 

 fine twi<rs and various grasses. The ground colour of the eggs is greyish-white, with marks of reddish 

 brown distributed irregularly over the surface. Their medium length is eleven lines, and their breadth 

 eight lines. 



The lores and throat are dark brownish-grey ; chest and abdomen, buffy-grey ; upper surface 

 and wings, olive-grey ; tail, black, all except the two middle feathers tipped with white ; irides, 

 brown ; bill, legs, and feet, bluish-grey. 



Habitat : Western Australia. 



