FLAME-BREASTED ROBIN. 
ground at the same time. The song is not strong, but what it lacks in 
strength it makes up in sweetness. It prefers cleared and partly cleared 
districts to thick, scrubby country.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor writes : “ Although the Flame-breast, in my opinion 
the most gaudy of the Robin family, is plentiful in South Australia in winter 
and early spring, they do not breed here, but depart to Tasmania to carry 
out their breeding ; it is a strange thing that such a small bird should go so 
far, when there are ideal spots here and in Victoria for it to breed in. I believe 
there have been isolated cases where nests have been found in Victoria, but 
these I believe are only cases where the bird has been on its way to its 
true home (Tasmania) and been overtaken with the desire to lay, the birds 
have stayed to breed. I have seen them plentiful at the Reedbeds during 
June and July.” 
Mr. C. F. Belcher says : “I should not like to say that no Flame Robins 
ever cross Bass Straits ; it is, however, my belief that the majority at least of 
those which we see so commonly on the open country about Geelong, from 
April till August, breed in the Cape Otway forest westward from Lome in the 
months from October to January. That is to say, that this is a migratory 
species with an exceedingly limited range. 
“Unlike the Scarlet Robin, which sings all the year through, the Flame 
Robin does not let us hear much of its pretty cadence till near the time of its 
departure. It is a pleasing song, beginning on a high note followed by five or 
six others, delivered staccato and ending with a couple of little runs ; louder 
and merrier than the Scarlet Robin’s. I have heard it as early as June 30th, 
but it is not till August that the birds are in full voice. Curiously, both sexes 
appear to sing, unless it be that some which I have taken for females are young 
males which have not yet put on their full dress. 
“ In winter these birds love the basaltic plain ; you may see them on any 
of the roads leading out through this kind of country, hopping from stone to 
ground and back again, or perched on the fence -posts and flying up continually 
as one passes, to settle a few posts farther on. There is a curious little\ flick of 
the wings when the bird is perching, which is characteristic of this and also of 
the Scarlet and Yellow Robins. 
“ The species is insectivorous ; I know no more beautiful little picture 
than half a dozen cock Robins following the plough, and now and again 
turning towards one the blaze of their breasts against the background of 
black upturned sods glistening from the share.” 
Mr. A. G. Campbell wrote : “ On the 17th April, 1907, rather later than 
usual, the Flame-breasted Robin appeared in numbers in the immediate vicinity 
of Melbourne, the proportion of red-breasted males in the flocks being about 
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