IIYLOCIILLIDOX XI(;RI( ANS (<;<mid). 



TREE SWALLOW. 



rilllK present species is an inhabitant, during the summer months, of the southern pari of Australia, 

 ' and Tasmania, but on the approach of winter it retires to the northern part of the continent. 



Like the swallow, with which it often associates, it is very familiar and tame. 



The period of incubation is in October, when from three to five egg's are laid in a hole in 

 the trunk of B tree, no nest being constructed. The length of the eggs is eight lines and the 

 breadth six lines. In colour they are white, faintly tinged with pink, and speckled with lighl 

 reddish-brown. 



Specimens obtained in Tasmania are larger than those from New South Wales, Victoria, and 

 South Australia, which in their turn exceed the Western Australian variety. 



The forehead is rust-red ; head and wing-coverts, beautiful blue ; wings and centre tail- 

 feathers, brow n ; outer tail-feathers, blue ; under surface, light, delicate fawn-colour ; irides, bill, and 

 feet, biowu. 



Habitats : Australia and Tasmania. 



GENUS LAGENOPLASTES (Gould). 



r|l\V() species are known of the genus Lagenoplastes. 



LAGENOPLASTES ARIEL (Gould). 



FAIRY MARTIN. 



TIlHE Lagenoplastes Ariel is a summer visitant to the southern part of Australia, arriving in August 

 J- and departing again in March. It is never found in the immediate vicinity of the coast. 



The nest, which is constructed either in a hollow of a tree or on the side of a rock, is 

 bottle-shaped, and is built of mud and straw, and lined with feathers and fine grass. Thirty or forty 

 of these nests are sometimes placed together in all positions, some with the spouts downwards, others 

 at right angles, and some upright. Six or seven birds generally combine to build a nest, one 

 remaining inside and the others bringing up mud and other materials. 



Four or five eggs are laid, the average length of which is eleven-sixteenths of an inch, and 

 the breadth half an inch. In colour they are white. Two, and sometimes three broods, are reared. 



There is no difference in the outward appearance of the sexes. 



