Tlic Birds of Tasmania. 
225 
" in Soiii1k-i-ii Australia and Xcw SotiUi Wales. Anolhcr lons'-laiUnl 
" ['"lycalclicr. Inn of a larger size antl dull colouring, is the Fan-tailed 
•■ Mvcalclier ( l\liipidnra albiscapaj. which has the habit of llirting its tail 
' and spreading it out like a fan. This is a ver\ connnon bird and is 
" widely distributed in tlic .Australian mainland. A \ei'y short-tailed 
" Mvcatcher of great beatUy is the I'Manie-breasted Rohin ( I'ctroica 
" phocnicca). so called from its vermilion breast, though of course it has 
" nothing to do with oin- European Robin. This l)ird is about the size 
" of a I'lUllfmch, the back and wings are black with white markings, and 
" the wh(jle of the chin, breast and belly is of a brilli.int vermilion in the 
"■ male sex. The electric blue of the male W'ren and the scarlet of the 
■' Robin are among tht most vivid colours in nature, and the birds are very 
" common and by no means shy, seeming indeed rather an.xious to show 
" off their i)lumage to a stranger." 
" Closely related to the F.i!. Robin is the Dusky Robin (P. jitsca), 
" a most insignificant brow n bird without anv gay colouration in either sex, 
" Seeing these two common species living together under exactly similar 
■' conditions leads one to reflect upon the powerful operation which the 
■' mere caprice and love of beauty has effected in nature, for, look at it 
■' how we may, some dusky forliears of the Scarlet-breasted Robin have 
" thrown their corner of nature into a convulsion, and made themselves 
" into a new species, simply for some whim of a red stomacher. And so 
" far from this giddy ambition leading them to destruction, it is even at 
" the present time a protection, for the colon-sts think the bird pretty, and 
'■ are reminded by the Robin living in the country which is still referred 
" to vaguely as home, and so it is believed that if you kill a ' Robin ' you 
■' will never have good luck again. In another of the Tasnianian Robins, 
" known as the Pink-breasted Robin, the male has the breast of a most 
"beautiful claret colour; this species is much rarer than the foregoing, 
" and I only saw it on a few occasions, once in a thick part of the gum 
" forest on Mount Wellington, and once in the myrtle forests on the west 
" coast." 
" One of the few mellow-voiced bird.s in Tasmania is the Thrush or 
■' Whistling Dick ( C oUurkincla silbii), a slaty-grey bird about the size of 
" our Song Thrush, and with a rather similar voice and habit. It is 
" peculiar to Tasmania, and very common ; the bill is long and powerful 
" and it feeds upon grubs and insects." 
" An interesting (iround Thrn>h ( Onuicnicla Iiiiiulala) occui's in the 
■' thickest part of the scrub on IMt. Wellington, and, since it practically 
" never flies but hops about the dense bush"S, it is difficult to get a sight 
•' of one. The v.ute. however, which is a low mournful whistle, is a most 
■' characteristic sound on the mountain, and often one can hear it in the 
" thick bush a few yards off without ever finding the bird. This peculiar 
" note, the only sound the bird ever emits, has given rise to the name of 
" Moper Thrush. Occasionally the Irrd, when suddenly started, will hop 
" off the ground on to a fallen log, and it can then be seen to be a very 
" large brown Thrush, beautifully barred with crescentic black markings." 
