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THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
Australia ; placed in this group for comparison with other species of the 
genus. Usually in pairs or small flocks. It is similar in habits to the 
Dusky Wood-swallow. 
Nest. — An open, cup-shaped structure, composed of rootlets, small 
twigs, and plant-stalks; lined with finer materials, and occasionally horse- 
hair. Usually placed in a small shrub or bush, about 3 or 4 feet from the 
ground. 
Eggs. — Usually four, fleshy-white, uniformly spotted and blotched 
with dull reddish and umber-brown, and faint underlying markings of 
bluish-grey. Breeding-season: September to December (New South 
Wales). 
17. White-browed Wood-swallow Artamus superciliosus Gould 
su-per-cil-i-os'-us — L., superciliosus, browed. 
Distribution. — Australia (with the exception of the north-western 
portion). 
Notes. — Also called Summer-bird and Martin. Mostly in flocks, often 
accompanied by the Masked Wood-swallow; arrives in southern Australia 
during September or October and departs in late January. It is one of 
the most graceful and useful of our birds, and destroys countless numbers 
of destructive insects. 
Nest. — A frail, open, shallow structure, composed of dried grasses, 
rootlets, strips of bark, and thin twigs; lined with finer materials. Built 
in a variety of situations, but generally in a bush or tree. 
Eggs. — Two or three, whitish-brown to greyish-green, spotted and 
blotched with pale umber and a few underlying markings of pale slate, 
forming a zone at the larger end. Breeding-season: October to January. 
18. Masked Wood-swallow Artamus personatus Gould 
per-sd-na-tus — L., personatus, masked. 
Distribution. — Australia generally. 
Notes. — Also called Blue-bird, Bush Martin, and Blue Martin. Ar- 
rives in southern Australia in flocks, often in the company of the White- 
browed Wood-swallow, during September or October, departs at the end 
of January. It is similar in habits to the White-browed species. Both 
species may visit a locality regularly year after year, then, without any 
known reason, be absent for many seasons. 
Nest. — A cup-shaped structure, irregularly composed of thin twigs; 
neatly lined with rootlets and grasses. It is usually built in a low bush 
or sapling, at a height up to 10 feet from the ground. 
Eggs. — Two or three, greyish-white to light greenish-grey, clouded 
and blotched with shades of brown and a few underlying spots of pale 
grey. Breeding-season : August to December or January. 
19. Tree Martin Hylochelidon nigricans Vieillot 
Hy-lo-chel-i-don — Gk, hyle, wood; Gk, chelidon, swallow: ni'-gri-cans — 
L., nigricans, blackish. 
