THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
and breast grey with a smoky tinge becoming whitish on the abdomen, under 
tail-coverts, and under wing-coverts ; flight-quills below pale brown with white 
inner edges ; lower aspect of tail brown with the two outer feathers on each side 
more or less white. Collected at Selby, Victoria, on the 29th of September, 1912. 
Nest. Cup-shaped. Composed of bark with larger pieces stuck on with cobweb, and lined 
with hair and fine bark. Outside dimensions 3 inches by 3 inches. Inside 1| by 1|. 
Eggs. Clutch, three or four. Ground-colour bluish or greenish. Heavily spotted with 
purple-grey. 18 mm. to 19 by 13 to 14. 
Breeding-season. July, August to December. 
This very common Robin, peculiarly enough, was described from Norfolk 
Island, and the original figures were of that form. When Watling painted 
the Norfolk Island Robin he also painted specimens from Sydney and noted they 
were alike. Vigors and Horsfield, in adopting that name, noted that the 
Sydney bird seemed to differ from Latham’s description and figure, but could 
not value the differences ; they adopted the name given by Gmelin in preference 
to that of Latham and wrote strongly upon such usages, and it may be well 
to quote their conclusions, written nearly one hundred years ago, thus : “A 
line of distinction must be drawn by which we can invariably determine the 
choice of names where a species or a group has more than one ; and the date 
of publication seems to be the justest and most uniform by which we can be 
regulated. . . . The law ought to be inflexible.” Some recent ornithologists 
unacquainted with the literature of the birds they study seem to think that 
the “ inflexible Law of Priority ” is a recent innovation. 
Caley’s notes are quoted as follows : “ Australasian Redstart. This is by 
no means to be called a plentiful bird, and it seems to be scattered over a great 
space of country. In the month of November I saw it when far distant in the 
mountains, the roughest part of the country I had then or since visited. In 
the months of March and April, when I was in Western Port, it came and 
perched on the rigging of the vessel. I apprehend it is migratory ; but if 
this is the case, it does not depart to any great distance.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor writes : “ The Scarlet-breasted or White-capped Robin 
is a common bird in the hill country of South Australia, as along the Mount 
Lofty Ranges it may be seen at all times of the year. It breeds there freely, 
the nesting-season generally starting in September and lasting three months. 
The birds are somewhat peculiar about being interfered with while nesting, 
and will often pull down their nest and place it elsewhere if they are meddled 
with while building.” 
Mr. A. H. Mattingley has sent me the following good note : “ Born naked, 
blind, skin at birth fleshy colour with a trace of down. Interior of mouth bright 
orange-yellow, no spots showing. Exterior of mouth light or cream-yellow 
84 
