WHITE-SHAFTED FANTAIL 239 
to find, because of its smallness and assimilation in 
colour to its surroundings. The birds generally 
desert the nest if a finger is inserted before the eggs are 
laid, and sometimes even if they see you watching it. 
The nesting-season is from October to January ; 
later in the moister country than in the dry. Regular 
breeding-spots are the ti-tree on the coast at intervals 
from Point Lonsdale to Bream Creek, the woodlands 
about Ocean Grove, and the whole forest west of 
Torquay. The birds, however, are now almost 
everywhere in the district, and will breed wherever 
they may have the seclusion of reasonably thick scrub. 
The eggs are creamy white with a band of small 
red, lilac, and brown spots round the thickest part. 
RUFOUS FANTAIL 
Howeavis rufifrons inexpectata 
The Rufous Fantail is rather larger than the White- 
shafted Fantail, and may be known at once by the 
tawny patch at the base of the tail, which shows 
prominently when the bird is in fiight. Also, it is less 
agitated in its movements than its smaller relative, 
and does not spread its tail so much. Only at one 
time of the year do we see it actually in the town, 
namely, from March till May, when a few of the 
Rufous birds are generally to be seen in the company 
of the numbers of White-shafted Fantails which are 
then present in the Eastern Park and private gardens, 
