THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
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notes. Also known as the Grey-breasted Robin and Grey-breasted 
Shrike-robin. It is similar in habits to the Southern Yellow Robin. 
nest. Similar to that of the Southern Yellow Robin. 
eggs. Two or three, varying from dull apple-green to pale yellowish- 
green, spotted or blotched with shades of chestnut, red, or brown; some 
have a well-defined zone at the larger end. Breeding-season: August to 
October. 
7. Jacky Winter (Brown Flycatcher) Microeca fascinans Latham 
Micr-cec'-a—G k, micros , small; oikos, house: fas'-ci-nans— L., fascinans , 
fascinating. 
distribution. Australia generally. 
notes. Also called Peter-Peter, Post-boy, Post-sitter, White-tail, 
Stump-bird, and Spinks. A general favourite, friendly and confiding; 
it frequents gardens, orchards, and parks. It has a sweet and melodious 
song, and in addition utters a call resembling “Pretty, pretty, pretty; 
peter, peter, peter**, or “You did, you did, you did*’. Ever on the move, 
with its tail swaying from side to side. Food: insects of various kinds, 
captured on the wing or on the ground. 
nest. A small, saucer-shaped structure about 2£ inches wide by £ 
inch deep, composed of fine grass mixed with horse-hair, pieces of 
bark, and lichen. Generally built into the angle of a forked horizontal 
dead branch of a tree up to 70 feet from the ground, and fastened 
with cobwebs. 
eggs. Usually two, greenish-blue, spotted and blotched with purplish- 
brown and underlying markings of greyish-lilac; some have well- 
defined zones at the larger end. Breeding-season: August to December. 
8. Lemon-breasted Flycatcher Micrceca flavigaster Gould 
fiav-i-gas'-ter—L., flavus, yellow; Gk, gaster, belly. 
distribution. Northern Territory and northern and north-eastern 
Queensland; also occurs in New Guinea. 
notes. Similar in habits to the Jacky Winter, but soars in circles 
like a singing Skylark. 
nest. A very small, saucer-shaped structure about 1£ inches across 
by \ inch deep, composed of fibrous bark and grass, bound together 
with cobwebs. Usually built into the fork of a dead horizontal limb. 
egg. Faint blue, finely dotted all over with pale purplish-red. 
Breeding-season: October to January. 
9. Brown-tailed Flycatcher Micrcea brunneicauda Campbell 
brun'-ne-i<aud r -a— L., brunneus , brown; L., cauda t tail. 
distribution. North-western Australia and Northern Territory. 
notes. This species is uncommon; it frequents open forests and also 
mangroves, where it conceals itself in the thickest growths, living on 
insects, small crabs, and other forms of marine-life. The call-notes are 
loud and closely resemble those of the Yellow-faced Honey-eater. 
