BIRDS OF THE OPEN FOREST 
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16. Western Shrike-thrush Colluricincla rnfiventris Gould 
rii-fi-ven'-tris — L., rufus, red ; L., venter , belly. 
Distribution . — Mid-western and South Australia, from North-west 
Cape to Eyre’s Peninsula. 
Notes. — Also known as the Buff-bellied Shrike-thrush. Some birds 
are very shy, others are fearless. It has several distinct songs, one of 
which is loud and musical though not so melodious as that of the Grey 
Shrike-thrush. Food : insects. 
Nest . — An open, cup-shaped structure, composed chiefly of strips of 
bark, and generally placed in the hollow of a dead stump or fork of a tree. 
Eggs. — Two or three ; very similar to those of the Grey Shrike- 
thrush. Breeding-season: September to November; also breeds in March 
and April. 
17. Brown-breasted Shrike-thrush Colluricincla woodzvardi Hartert 
woodwardi — B. H. Woodward, a former director of Perth Museum, 
Western Australia. 
Distribution. — North-western Australia and Northern Territory. 
Notes. — Keeps to the rocky open forest country; it is extremely shy 
as it flies or hops from rock to rock. Call-notes, loud and clear. Food : 
insects, mostly secured on the ground. 
Nest. — A cup-shaped structure, composed entirely of the reddish- 
brown roots of spinifex ( Triodia ), and usually placed in cracks or holes 
in sandstone cliffs. 
Eggs. — Two or three, pearly- white or creamy- white, sootted and 
blotched with brownish-black, brown, and slate-grey markings, principally 
at the larger end. Breeding-season : December. 
18. Northern Fantail Rhipidura setosa Quoy and Gaimard 
Rhip-id-ur-a — lit., fantail, Gk, rhipis, rhipidos, fan; Gk, ura ( oura) f tail : 
se-td-sa — L., setosus, bristly. 
Distribution. — Tropical northern Australia; also occurs in New 
Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. 
Notes . — Similar in habits to the Grey Fantail. 
Nest. — Cup-shaped, with a stem or tail-piece, composed of strips of 
tea-tree bark, the outside being entirely covered with cobwebs. The tail 
extends about 2 inches below the bottom of the nest. Built at various 
heights up to 75 feet. 
Eggs. — Two, creamy-white, with a darker shade forming a zone at 
the larger end. Breeding-season: October to January. 
19. Grey Fantail Rhipidura flabellifera Gmelin 
fla-bell-if-er-a — L., flabellum, fan; L., fero , I bear. 
Distribution. — Australia generally, and Tasmania ; also occurs in 
New Caledonia, New Hebrides, and New Zealand. 
