BLACK AND WHITE FANTAIL. 
steads, also hundreds of miles from all habitations, in localities where it is 
very doubtful if white man, up to our visit, had ever trod, and here these birds 
were found to be as trustful and as quiet, if not more so, than when they are in 
constant association with man. These birds are much disliked by the natives, 
and the old people say that they hang about their wurlies and are for ever 
eavesdropping and carrying tales, telling other natives what they (the birds) 
hear. So that, when these birds are about, they speak of anything important 
only in a whisper.” 
Whitlock, writing of birds on the East Murchison, mid-West Australia, 
reported : “ The Black and White Eantail is breeding in scattered pairs through- 
out the district. Several nests found, but only examined for Cuckoos’ eggs. 
This was another early bird, and at Bore Well I was reminded at daybreak 
that ‘ I must please be strict ’ — in my general behaviour, I suppose.” 
Mr. Tom Carter has written me : “ In your ‘Reference List’ of 1912 this 
species is not given as occurring in South West Australia. It was seldom seen 
about Point Cloates, but a few would make an appearance inland from there, 
in April — thus, April 23, 1893. First noted. April 16, 1902. First appearance 
noted. They are common, and resident throughout the south-west, with the 
exception of Albany, where, for some unknown reason, they are very seldom 
seen. I have spent many months at Albany at various visits, but have only 
seen about three Black and White Fantails during the whole time. Two 
were observed there in January 1914. In March 1910 I drove north from 
Albany through the Stirling Ranges to Pallinup River. The first Fantail 
(tricolor) was observed at that river, 50 miles north of Albany. The breeding 
season extends from June until December. Three eggs is the usual clutch, 
sometimes two only. The nests are usually placed in conspicuous places, as. 
on a dead branch on the ground, or towards the end of a small limb on tree. 
Sept 21, 1910. A nest with three eggs was found built on top rail of a flood- 
gate (swing-hurdle) over a running creek at Wensleydale, Broome Hill. The 
first lot of young having flown, a second clutch of three eggs was seen in the 
same nest on November 5, 1910. Oct. 25, 1910. For three days a brood of 
fledged young (three) were fed by the parents, as they sat on the same branch 
of a tree, and apparently roosted there. Nests noted with eggs, June 5, 1913, 
Sept. 21, 1910, Oct. 21, 1910, Nov. 2, 1908, and Dec. 23, 1906. I watched a 
bird diving head first into waste of stock tank (getting flies?), sometimes only 
leaving terminal half of tail visible out of water (Wensleydale, April 13, 
1906).” 
G. F. Hill’s notes from Kimberley, North-west Australia, read : “ A 
resident species. All specimens secured were distinctly spotted on the throat 
and fore-neck, and in some cases on the wing-coverts, nape and lores. 
39 
