68 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
Notes . — Also called White-shafted Fantail, White-shafted Flycatcher, 
Snapper, Mad Fan, Cranky Fan, Devil-bird, and Land Wagtail. Usually 
found in pairs. An extremely tame and very restless species, performing 
all manner of aerial evolutions while seeking its food — chiefly flies. Hence 
the name “Cranky Fan.” It has a sweet twittering song. 
Nest . — Shaped like a wineglass without the base. Composed of dried 
grasses and shreds of bark bound together with cobwebs; lined with finer 
materials. The tail-piece varies in length. The nest is usually built on a 
horizontal limb at various heights from the ground. 
Eggs , — Two to four, buff-coloured (some have a zone at the larger 
end), spotted with rufous and lavender markings. Breeding-season: 
September to January. 
20. Restless Flycatcher Seisura inquieta Latham 
Seis-iir-a — Gk, seiein, to shake; Gk, ura ( oura ), tail: in-qui-e-ta — L., 
inquictus, restless. 
Distribution. — Australia generally. 
Notes . — Also called Scissors Grinder, Grinder, Dishwasher, Crested 
Wagtail, and often, in error, Willie Wagtail. Usually seen in pairs. It is 
very confiding and will visit houses, seeking spiders in window frames. 
Has a loud, harsh call-note which is repeated several times. The peculiar 
“grinding” notes are mostly uttered while hovering, but sometimes when 
perched. Very aggressive when its nest is approached. Food : insects of 
various kinds. 
Nest. — Cup-shaped, composed of grasses or fine bark bound together 
with cobwebs, often decorated with lichen ; lined with soft materials. Usu- 
ally built on the top of a forked horizontal limb up to 60 feet from the 
ground. 
Eggs . — Three or four, white or buff, spotted with umber and lavender 
markings forming a zone at the larger end. Breeding-season : August to 
January. 
21. Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys Latham 
leuc'-o-phrys — Gk, leucos, white; Gk, phrys ( phrus ), brow. 
Distribution . — Australia generally, accidental to Tasmania; also 
occurs in the Molucca Islands and New Guinea. 
Notes . — Also called Black-and-white Fantail, Shepherd’s Companion, 
Wagtail. Frog-bird, and Morning-bird. In pairs, frequenting open forest, 
being more numerous in the vicinity of water. It is exceptionally tame, 
and is a familiar bird in gardens. It has a pleasant call resembling “Sweet 
pretty little creature,” frequently uttered during the day or night, especi- 
ally on moonlight nights. Food : insects, chiefly flies, procured on the 
ground and in the air. 
Nest . — A neat, cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of bark 
bound together with spiders’ webs, and held in place on the branch by the 
same material. Nests are usually built on a horizontal limb of a tree grow- 
