78 the BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
16. Black-faced Wood-swallow Artamus melanops Gould 
mel'-an-ops— Gk, melas ( mclanos ), black; Gk, ops, face. 
distribution. Interior of Australia generally. 
notes. Chiefly stationary, but is a winter visitor to south-western 
Australia; placed in this group for comparison with other species of 
the genus. Usually in pairs or small flocks. It is similar in habits to the 
Dusky Wood-swallow. 
nest. An open, cup-shaped structure, composed of rootlets, small 
twigs, and plant-stalks; lined with finer materials, and occasionally 
horse-hair. Usually placed in a small shrub or bush, about 3 or 4 feet 
from the ground. 
eggs. Usually four, fleshy-white, uniformly spotted and blotched 
with dull reddish and umber-brown, and faint underlying markings of 
bluish-grey. Breeding-season: September to December (New South 
Wales). 
17. White-browed Wood-swallow Artamus superciliosus Gould 
su-per-cil-i-ds'-us—L., superciliosus, browed. 
distribution. Australia (with the exception of the north-western 
portion). 
notes. Also called Summer-bird and Martin. Mostly in flocks, often 
accompanied by the Masked Wood-sw f allow; arrives in southern Aus¬ 
tralia during September or October and departs in late January. It 
is one of the most graceful and useful of our birds, and destroys count¬ 
less numbers of destructive insects. 
nest. A frail, open, shallow structure, composed of dried grasses, 
rootlets, strips of bark, and thin twigs; lined with finer materials. Built 
in a variety of situations, but generally in a bush or tree. 
eggs. Two or three, whitish-brown to greyish-green, spotted and 
blotched with pale umber and a few underlying markings of pale slate, 
forming a zone at the larger end. Breeding-season: October to January. 
18. Masked Wood-swallow Artamus personatus Gould 
per-somd'-tus— L., personatus, masked. 
distribution. Australia generally. 
notes. Also called Bluebird, Bush Martin, and Blue Martin. 
Arrives in southern Australia in flocks, often in the company of the 
White-browed Wood-swallow, during September or October, departs 
at the end of January. It is similar in habits to the White-browed 
species. Both species may visit a locality regularly year after year, 
then, wthout any known reason, be absent for many seasons. 
nest. A cup-shaped structure, irregularly composed of thin twigs; 
neatly lined with rootlets and grasses. It is usually built in a low bush 
or sapling, at a height up to 10 feet from the ground. 
eggs. Two or three, greyish-white to light greenish-grey, clouded 
and blotched with shades of brown and a few underlying spots of pale 
grey. Breeding-season: August to December or January. 
