RUFOUS FANTAIL. 
russet-brown, the median and greater series tipped with rufous which forms a double 
wing-bar ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and flight-quills rather darker brown 
with rufous edgings to the outer webs and pale edges to the inner ones of the last ; 
back, rump, upper tail-coverts and base of tail rufous with a broad blackish-brown 
subterminal band and pale tips to the last ; rictal bristles black ; chin and throat 
cream-white ; a spotted band across the fore-neck composed of black feathers with 
cream-white margins ; breast, abdomen, sides of body, thighs, and under tail- 
coverts, buff y- white strongly tinged with rufous ; axillaries and under wing-coverts 
similar ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown with paler inner margins ; lower 
aspect of tail blackish-brown, rufous at the base, and pale at the tips. Collected 
on Gracemere, Queensland, on the 6th of April, 1882. 
Nestling female. Crown of head and mantle dark russet-brown ; lower back, rump, 
and upper tail-coverts rufous ; tail, only partially developed, cinnamon ; wings 
dark brown with rufous edgings to all the feathers ; fore-neck russet-brown ; 
breast and abdomen very pale dull rufous, somewhat brighter on the thighs and 
under tail-coverts ; margin and under wing-coverts pale rufous. Collected at 
Selby, Victoria, on the 30th of December, 1913. 
Nest. Somewhat like that of R. flabellifera, but coarser materials are used. Outside 
measurements 2\ to 2f inches by 2 deep. Inside If by 1| deep. 
Eggs. Clutch, two, three sometimes. Ground-colour stone or buff, with a zone round 
the larger end of lavender. 17-18 mm. by 12-13. 
Breeding- season. November to January. 
Watling gave two figures of this species, the legend to one reading : “ This, 
bird is of very short flight and found among brush, rotten wood, and long 
grass”; to the other: “Native name Burril, November.” 
The latter was transcribed by Latham when he described from the drawing 
his Rufous-f routed Flycatcher, as follows : “ Inhabits New South Wales, where 
it is known by the name of Burril; has hitherto only been met with in 
November .” 
Then Lewin figured it, without adding much more information ; while 
Caley’s remarks read : “ This bird appears to me to be a rare one, ah least I 
do not recollect having ever seen any other specimen than the present. I 
met with it on the 15th October, 1807, at Cardunny, a place about ten miles 
to the north-east of Paramatta. It is a thick brush (or underwood), and is 
the resort of the great Bat.” 
Gould quoted this, and added : “ Had he (Caley) visited the dense brushes of 
Illawarra, the Liverpool range, and the Hunter, he would have found it in 
considerable numbers. Although many of its habits closely resemble those of 
Rhipidura albiscapa, they are, as the greater length of its legs would indicate, 
far more terrestrial. It runs over the ground and the fallen logs of trees with 
great facility. While thus engaged, and particularly when approached, it 
constantly spreads and displays its beautiful tail, and evinces a great degree of 
restlessness. It is always found in the most secluded parts of the forest, no* 
portion of which appears to be too dense for its abode.” 
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