THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
to be off again immediately, and frequently uttering its tiny, squeaky little 
song ; this is always to be heard as they playfully chase each other, a habit 
they appear to love. The nest is a marvel of neatness, and very difficult to 
discover. When breeding appears to be the only time they resent the approach 
of man, and if their nest is examined while in the course of construction, it is 
almost sure to be deserted, and if approached when containing young the 
parents become most ferocious little creatures.” 
Broadbent recorded : “ This pretty Flycatcher is common all over the 
Cardwell district, both mountain and plain, and so tame that it will sit on the 
barrel of the gun.” 
Under the title Ehipidura phasiana Macgillivray recorded that : “ The 
Pheasant Fantail was several times noted, and specimens obtained, on the 
Archer River by Mr. McLennan.” 
Hall, from Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia, wrote: “ Ehipidura albiscapa. 
Under-surface creamy-white, with outer tail-feathers nearly white, excepting 
outer web.” 
Mr. C. Belcher says: “The flight is erratic, with much movement of the 
tail, which, indeed, is never at rest when the bird is awake. Ho one could 
describe the song ; it is cheerful and varied, if a little ‘ tinny 5 ; one could 
imagine it to be the tuning-up of a fiddle in some orchestra of Lilliputian 
wood-sprites.” 
A note by A. W. Milligan, from West Australia, reads : “ E, preissi. These 
charming little birds were very plentiful on the coastal brooks. Although I 
was convinced the birds were nesting, I was unable to find a nest. These tame 
creatures, although held in high repute by the 4 whites,’ are not so by the 
aborigines. With the latter they are regarded as a bird of ill omen. If upon 
the morning of the departure of a hunting expedition one of these little fellows 
put in an appearance at camp, the blacks at once abandoned the expedition.” 
Mr. J. P. Rogers, concerning the north-western form, states: “In habits 
this bird is the same as E. albiscapa and preissi, but is only found in the 
Mangroves.” 
Mr. Tom Carter has sent me the following full account : “ The Western 
Fantail is found from the mid-West to the South-west Australia, subject to a 
certain amount of local migration or movements. About Point Cloates they 
were mostly seen in the winter months, arriving about June, but were by no 
means so common as they are farther south. They were frequently to be seen 
on the beach feeding on the swarms of minute flies that occur on the heaps of 
seaweed washed high up on the beach. These birds were observed at Kellerberin 
in January 1903. About Broome Hill they are seldom seen in the summer 
months, but a good many seem to ‘ arrive ’ about the end of May or early 
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