THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Mr. J. W. Mellor has sent me the following: “I have noted this pretty 
Fantail throughout New South Wales and Queensland, notably in the former 
State at Tuggerah Lakes and the Ourimbah districts between Sydney and 
Newcastle. I have also seen it in the New South Wales National Park, south 
of Sydney, and on the Tweed River, Clarence and Richmond Rivers and at Mt. 
Lindsay in the Great Dividing Range between New South Wales and Queensland. 
In the latter State I noted it plentifully at Cooroy in the Blackall Ranges, while 
coming farther south I met it in the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria. It is an 
extremely restless little bird, and its large tail is constantly on the move from 
side to side, as if to frighten up the flies and moths by this action, and then the 
little bird flies after them with a quick, jerky flight, catching them as they 
fly away. As its food always consists of insects it is an extremely useful little 
bird in the forest and garden. It frequents the thickly timbered country, 
flitting in and out betwixt the trees and them foliage with the greatest ease.” 
Mr. A. G. Campbell has written me : “ Rhipidura rufifrons reaches the 
secluded mountain gullies of Victoria about the end of October each year. 
It places its nest on some convenient twig about four feet from the ground and 
often near running water. In its migrations the species has been observed 
in the more open lowland forests and even in the gardens of the metropolis.” 
Mr. F. E. Howe also writes : “Is migratory, arriving in the district about 
the end of October. Unlike its cousin (R. albiscapa, which inhabits both 
densely scrubby and open country alike) it keeps to the dense scrubs only, 
generally where there is water. We have found many of their nests usually 
placed in a musk and overhanging the water, but have never seen more than 
two eggs to a clutch. I once found these Flycatchers nesting in company in a 
small musk tree, and both birds were sitting on eggs.” 
Mr. L. G. Chandler has sent me : “In the gullies of the Dandenong Ranges, 
Victoria, this species is very plentiful in the summer months. It is migratory, 
appearing in the Dandenongs about October and leaving about February. 
The months of November and December constitute the principal breeding 
period. The 9th of January, 1909, is the latest date I have taken the eggs. 
On the 1st Jan., 1909, I saw a pair of these Fantails feeding a young fan -tailed 
Cuckoo and a young one of their own species. Occasionally the young birds 
seem to resist the ejective habit of the Cuckoo, for I noticed a Satin Flycatcher 
with young under similar conditions.” 
Mr. C. F. Belcher writes : “ Only at one time of the year do we see it actually 
in the town, namely, from March till May . . . They do not appear to stay 
with us all the winter, but retire to the forest sooner than most forest breeding 
species, late though their nesting time is.” 
Barnard wrote : “ Rhipidura rufifrons was observed on my arrival at 
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