RESTLESS FLYCATCHER. 
numerous at Cobbora, New South Wales, the whole year, but more plentiful 
during the spring and summer months, and it is mostly seen in pairs near water, 
either at rivers, creeks, dams or lagoons, also about dwellings, perfectly fearless 
of man ; they have a great fancy for perching on one’s rod while fishing. It is 
often called the Crested Wagtail ; this is owing to it frequently erecting the 
feathers on the crown of the head. It is also known by the name of ‘Scissor- 
grinder,’ owing to its peculiar grinding notes, which much resemble the 
sharpening of scissors on an emery wheel, which are more often uttered 
while hovering within a few feet of the ground in search of insects, agitating 
the wings the while, but may be heard at any time. It also has another call 
which is a clear, double note. All these calls are more frequently heard during 
the warmer months, seldom in the winter. The birds become very savage 
when their nest is approached.” 
Chisholm recorded that the “ scissors-grinding ” effect was not un- 
commonly uttered while sitting down, though most writers had copied 
Gilbert’s note to the effect that it was “ only emitted when hovering.” This 
was published in the Emu for 1912 and 1915. 
I here reproduce a note sent me for the purpose of this work as long 
ago as 1908 by Mr. E. J. Christian, of Victoria, and it is only just that this 
should be recognised. Mr. Christian wrote me : “In this district this species 
is fairly common, but only along creeks or near swamps. I have never seen 
it more than two or three hundred yards from a creek ; it seems to prefer to 
be near water, and I have never yet seen it out on the open plain or yet 
even in the timber, even though there may be watercourses. It is extremely 
graceful and, although * black and white,’ is very pretty. It has four different 
notes : first, it has a harsh and guttural-like note ; then it has another, which 
sounds like c Phang-phang’ (generally repeated twice, and when bird is on the 
wing, but sometimes more often if the bird be excited) ; thirdly, a sweet, 
clear note, viz., ‘ Twee-twee-twee,’ very much like a canary, though clearer 
and sweeter. This note can be heard most of the time when the bird is in a 
tree, and is never repeated more than three times in succession. The last note 
is its most peculiar one, and it is from this note that it gets its popular 
name, the ‘ Scissors -grinder . ’ To hear him for the first time is, indeed, 
puzzling, for a queerer note was surely never made by a bird. It sounds 
just like a pair of scissors being ground, or something to that effect. Gilbert, 
writing from West Australia, states (quotation given as reproduced above). 
From my observations, I must beg to differ. I think in his statement ‘ only 
emitted is incorrect. Of course, I do not speak for Western Australia, but 
for this district, Northern Victoria, I have noted that as often as not the 
bird is sitting on a post or on the ground making this peculiar noise. I 
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