BLACK AND WHITE EANTAIL. 
short duration ; it never poises itself in the air, like the Seisura volitans, and 
never mounts higher than the tops of the trees .... On an intruder approach- 
ing the nest, the birds fly about and hover over his head. . . . uttering all 
the time a peculiar cry which may be compared to the sound of a child’s rattle, 
or the noise produced by the small cog-wheels of a steam-mill.” 
Mr. T. P. Austin has sent me the following note from Cobbora, New South 
Wales : ‘‘This very familiar bird, commonly known as the Wagtail, is extremely 
numerous everywhere in this district, and is a very popular species with almost 
everyone. Having a preference for taking up its quarters near dwellings, 
frequenting open forests, it is much more numerous in the vicinity of water, 
such as timbered banks of rivers and creeks, where it is a permanent resident, 
and is usually met with in pairs. It is of a very restless disposition, continuously 
spreading and swaying its tail from side to side. It has a beautiful clear note 
somewhat resembling the sound of the words ‘ sweet pretty little creature,’ 
frequently uttered at all times of both day and night, especially on moonlight 
nights. It also has some other notes, which are more of a harsh, grating sound, 
but these are mostly heard when alarmed. It is constantly seen perched on 
the backs of horses, cattle and sheep, with partly spread wings, and tail and 
body ever swaying ; it will suddenly dart into the air or on to the ground, to 
capture some disturbed insect, only to probably return to the original perch. 
At times they place their nests in most extraordinary situations, but these are 
mostly found placed on some low branch overhanging water. They lay three 
or four eggs, and may be met with breeding from September till the end of the 
year, often rearing two or three broods in a season. One pair have been about- 
my house to my knowledge for the last eight years, and when they choose 
a new nesting site they use it for two years, then go elsewhere, but always, 
within a hundred yards of my house. For two years they nested on a grape- 
vine growing under my verandah, where they reared several broods, and when 
they had young to feed in this nest they would gather most of the food on the 
verandah, which food appeared to consist chiefly of flies.” 
Mr. C. F. Belcher says: “It is vocal throughout the year, and has two 
distinct sets of notes. One is that usually represented by the words ‘ sweet 
pretty creature.’ . . . The other note is a harsh, grating sound, usually known 
as the alarm-note, though it is made use of by the bird quite ordinarily.” 
Of H. tricolor in North Queensland Berney has recorded : “ Always with 
us, but prefers the lightly timbered country to the open downs. I cannot 
recognise any regular migratory movement among them, but we had during 
April and May 1904 a very large influx of ‘ Shepherds’ Companions,’ as they 
are universally called. My earliest note of eggs is 1st October, and the latest 
23rd January. The clutch seems to be three eggs as often as four. I have 
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