BLACK-FACED WOOD-SWALLOW. 
Berney has recorded from the Richmond District, North Queensland? 
“ A. melanops. A constant resident, nesting here regularly. They pair 
in August, and I have seen young leave the nest early in September, and 
from then on I have found eggs up to 5th February. The clutch is generally 
three, but on two occasions I have seen four. On one occasion I saw a pair 
eating honey, and mentioned the instance in connection with the two 
preceding species, but reported it as A. cinereus, which was incorrect, as it 
should have been melanops. We have not A. cinereus in these parts. I 
have seen as many as sixteen melanops together, but they do not flock.” 
Macgillivray writing of the Barrier Range, New South Wales, noted : 
“ Occasional pairs of Black-faced Wood-Swallows ( Artamus melanops ) were 
seen. This species, unlike the Masked or White-browed, is neither migratory 
nor gregarious, and is very local in its habits, being seen always either in 
pairs, or, after the nesting season, in families. It thus tends to form local 
variations, a condition not possible with the other species mentioned, which 
migrate regularly from north to south to a greater or less extent, according 
to food supply, and never permanently inhabit any one locality.” 
Later he wrote regarding Queensland birds : “ Frequently noted 
throughout the Gulf country. This species is not migratory,” and Barnard 
wrote “ Fairly common ” on the Brunnette Downs. 
Writing of the birds on the East Murchison, Whitlock recorded : 
“ Grey-breasted Wood-Swallow ( Artamus cinereus). A single specimen 
obtained at Lake Violet.” 
“ White- vented Wood- Swallow ( Artamus venustus). This was the most 
generally distributed Wood-Swallow around Lake Way. Occasionally I 
saw small parties, but more often I saw pairs, many of which are, I believe, 
resident. This species is a late breeder, and I did not get any nests 
and eggs until I went to Milly Pool, where I obtained several handsome 
clutches.” 
On the Pilbarra Goldfields Whitlock recorded : “ A. venustus. The 
common Wood-Swallow inland. On the Upper Coongan I found several 
nests with full clutches of the handsome eggs.” 
Carter has recorded : “ A few pairs of this Wood-Swallow were seen 
on Dirk Hartog Island on 30 th April, 1916, and on many subsequent dates 
during both visits. A nest containing two half-grown young was noted 
about four feet above the ground in a bush, 14th October, 1916. These birds 
were not observed on the Peron, but as the species is usually a winter visitor 
in the Gascoyne and mid-west districts, it had probably left the Peron before 
I arrived there on 11th November, 1916. Mathews’ List of the Birds of 
Australia, 1913, gives the range of this species as South-west Australia. 
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