74 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
Notes .—Usually in pairs, arriving in New South Wales in Septem¬ 
ber, departing during March. Chiefly a coastal bird; very active, with a 
peculiar and distinctive trembling movement of the tail. Call-note, a 
harsh grating noise resembling that of certin species of frogs, hence the 
name “Frog-bird” used in some districts. Food: insects, chiefly flies, 
caught on the wing or among the leaves and branches of the tall trees. 
Nest .—A cup-shaped structure, composed of fine bark woven to¬ 
gether with cobwebs; lined with fine rootlets, and decorated on the out¬ 
side with pieces of bark and lichen. Usually built on top of a horizontal 
dead limb of a tree, and invariably protected from above by a live limb; 
generally at a considerable height from the ground. 
Egg s -—Usually three, white or faint bluish-white, spotted round the 
centre or on the larger end with brown and lavender markings which often 
form a well-defined zone. Breeding-season : October to January. 
6. Satin Flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca Vieillot—6A. Female 
cy -an-o-leuc -a —Gk, cyanos, blue; Gk, leucos, white. 
Distribution .—Eastern Australia (from northern Queensland to Vic¬ 
toria) and Tasmania. 
Notes. Also called Shining Flycatcher and Satin Sparrow. Arrives 
m south-eastern Australia during September and departs at end of Febru- 
ary Usually in pairs, frequenting the tallest trees. Similar in habits to 
the Leaden Flycatcher, but has a clearer note. Food: insects, procured 
chiefly on the wing. 
Nest.-— Cup-shaped, composed of strips of bark matted together with 
co webs, lined with rootlets and a little hair; externally covered with cob- 
webs and frequently a few pieces of lichen. Usuallv built on a horizontal 
dead limb, protected above by a live limb, at a considerable height from the 
ground. 6 
, .^ggs.^-Two or three, dull white to faint bluish or greenish-white, 
spotted with brown and lavender markings, usually with a well-defined 
zone at the larger end. Breeding-season: November to January. 
7. Black-eared Cuckoo Owe navis osculans 
Owen-a-vis Owen, Richard Owen Mathews 
-L., osculans, coming together. 
Gould 
; L., avis, bird: os'-cu-lans— 
Distribution.— Australia generally, rare in coastal districts. 
TL,i„,K 0/ "T° ne , 01 tbe rarest species of Cuckoos found in Australia. 
Smg y ’ V f y qmet in habits i ft procures most of it food- 
CiirkonJ n °i - ne n r the gronnd: flight similar to that of the Bronze 
’ . , re ca s * lts note 1S long drawn out, gradually fading away. 
of theTpSkW 1h wTbler h chieV° Ster " ParentS kn °' Vn ' " SC ' CC ‘ S ‘'’ e ** 
the Sneckled^w!'m cb °?°^ ate i n colour; very similar to that of 
south^Sh (Ssffxssui. September to 3mmry . (New 
