68 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
notes. Also called White-shafted Fantail, White-shafted Flycatcher, 
Snapper, Mad Fan, Cranky Fan, Devil-bird, and Land Wagtail. Usually 
found in pairs. An extremely tame and very restless species, performing 
all manner of aerial evolutions while seeking its food—chiefly flies. 
Hence the name “Cranky Fan”. It has a sweet twittering song. 
nest. Shaped like a wineglass without the base. Composed of dried 
grasses and shreds of bark bound together with cobwebs; lined with 
finer materials. The tail-piece varies in length. The nest is usually 
built on a horizontal limb at various heights from the ground. 
eggs. Two to four, buff-coloured (some have a zone at the larger 
end), spotted with rufous and lavender markings. Breeding-season: 
September to January. 
20. Restless Flycatcher Seisura inquieta Latham 
Seis-ur'-a— Gk, seiein, to shake; Gk, ura (oara), tail: in-qui-e-ta— L., 
inquietus , restless. 
distribution. Australia generally. 
notes. Also called Scissors Grinder, Grinder, Dishwasher, Crested 
Wagtail, and often, in error, Willie Wagtail. Usually seen in pairs. It 
is very confiding and will visit houses, seeking spiders in window 
frames. Has a loud, harsh call-note which is repeated several times. 
The peculiar “grinding” notes are mostly uttered while hovering, 
but sometimes when perched. Very aggressive when its nest is ap¬ 
proached. Food: insects of various kinds. 
nest. Cup-shaped, composed of grasses of fine bark bound together 
with cobwebs, often decorated with lichen; lined with soft materials. 
Usually built on the top of a forked horizontal limb up to 60 feet from 
the ground. 
eggs. Three or four, white or buff, spotted with umber and lavender 
markings forming a zone at the larger end. Breeding-season: August 
to January. 
21. Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys Latham 
leuc'-o-phrys—Gk, leucos, white; Gk, phrys (phrus ), brow. 
distribution. Australia generally, accidental to Tasmania; also 
occurs in the Molucca Islands and New Guinea. 
notes. Also called Black-and-white Fantail, Shepherd’s Companion, 
Wagtail, Frog-bird, and Morning-bird. In pairs, frequenting open 
forest, being more numerous in the vicinity of water. It is exceptionally 
tame, and is a familiar bird in gardens. It has a pleasant call 
resembling “Sweet pretty little creature”, frequently uttered during 
the day or night, especially on moonlight nights. Food: insects, 
chiefly flies, procured on the ground and in the air. 
nest. A neat, cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of bark 
bound together with spiders’ webs, and held in place on the branch 
by the same materials. Nests are usually built on a horizontal limb 
of a tree growing near water, and often in the same tree in which the 
