pieces of bark and wiry rootlets held together with cobwebs, and ornamented on the outside with pale green lichens; usually it is placed on the top of an horizontal bough, and frequently at a great height from the ground. The eggs are three in number for a sitting, dull bluish-white in ground colour, with a zone of dark, slaty-blue spots around the centre or towards the larger end of the egg; length, 0.74 x 0.55 inch. Although far less common than the preceding species it is an active and assiduous destroyer of insects.

“

48. MYIAGRA NITIDA, Gould. Shining Flycatcher."

Myiagra nitida, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. 1, pl. 91 (1848); North, Nests and Eggs, Austr. Bds., p. 94 (1889).

This comparatively rare species in New South Wales resembles the preceding one, but is larger, and the male has the feathers of the head, throat, and upper surface glossy steel-black, instead of leaden-grey, as in M. rubecula. Its habits and mode of nidification are similar to those of the Leaden-coloured Flycatcher.

49. MICRECA FASCINANS, Latham. Brown Flycatcher. "Jacky Winter." Micræca macroptera, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. II, pl. 93 (1848). Micræca fascinans, North, Nests and Eggs, Austr. Bds., p. 95 (1889).

A resident and well-known species as freely distributed inland as it is near the coast, where it may be found frequenting alike the tall Eucalypti and the low undergrowth, and is equally common in the parks and gardens of Sydney. This sombre little bird with its conspicuous white lateral tail feathers, which shows to advantage when flying, is an indefatigable destroyer of insects, and being of a fearless and sociable disposition, is a general favourite with orchardists and agriculturists. It usually commences to breed in September, and continues the three following months, but nests have been found in August and as late as the end of January. The nest is very small and shallow, and is composed of grasses built in the fork of a horizontal bough, a dead branch being usually the site selected, the rim of the nest, which is level with the top of the forked branch, being ornamented with pieces of bark and lichen. The eggs are two or three in number for a sitting, of a bluish-green ground colour, spotted and blotched with purplishbrown and underlying blotches of deep bluish-grey; length, 0.72 x 0.55 inch.

50. MONARCHA MELANOPSIS, Vieillot. "Black-faced Flycatcher." Monarcha carinata, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. Vol. II, pl. 95 (1848). Monarcha melanopsis, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Birds, p. 96 (1889). A migratory species arriving in New South Wales during the month of September, and departing again at the end of March. It frequents the dense coastal brushes and the secluded gullies of our mountain ranges. The nest of this species is generally built in a low tree, and is a most beautiful structure, outwardly composed of fine green mosses, and neatly lined inside with fine black hair-like rootlets on the wiry leaves of the Casuarina. The eggs are two in number for a sitting, varying in ground colour from pure white to pinkish-white, with numerous spots and dots of bright red scattered over the surface of the shell; length, 0'9 x 0.7 inch. When these birds first arrive they may be frequently observed in pairs in the open forest lands, assiduously searching for insects among the branches of the Eucalypti.

51. PIEZORHYNCHUS GOULDI, Gray. Gould's "Flycatcher," "Black-fronted
Flycatcher."

Monarcha trivirgata, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. II, pl. 96 (1848).
Piezorhynchus gouldii, North, Nests and Eggs, Austr. Birds, p. 90 (1889).

A rarer species allied to the above, and frequenting the same situations. The nest of this Flycatcher is usually built between the stems of the lawyer vine, Calamus australis, and is outwardly composed of shreds of bark fibre, grasses, and dried skeletons of leaves, ornamented and held together with spiders' webs and egg bags, the inside being neatly lined with fine, black hairlike roots. The eggs are two in number for a sitting; pure white, with dots and spots of bright reddish-brown, thickly distributed over the surface of the shell; length, 08 x 0.58 inch. This bird is more frequently met with in the tropical brushes of north-eastern Queensland.

52. GERYGONE ALBIGULARIS, Gould. "White-throated Gerygone," "Native Canary."

Gerygone albogularis, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. 11, pl. 97 (1848). laris, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Birds, p. 97 (1889). 11-known species arrives in New South Wales

and takes its departure again about the breast and sweet and pleasing

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fine grasses, and the white down of the Cotton Plant. The eggs are two or three in number for a sitting, and resemble those of the preceding species, but are smaller; length, 0·63 x 0.45 inch.

54. SMICRORNIS BREVIROSTRIS, Gould. "Short-billed Smicrornis," "Scrub Tit."

Smicrornis brevirostsis, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. 11., pl. 103; North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Birds, p. 100. (1889).

A resident species more freely distributed over the inland portions of the Colony than near the coast. It is a very useful bird, although the most diminutive member of our New South Wales avi-fauna, and may be constantly seen prying into the leafy recesses of Acacias and the tall Eucalypti, in search of insects which constitute its food. The nest of this species is usually built in the leafy twigs near the top of a gum sapling or in a Melaleuca; it is of a domed or swollen pear-shaped form, with a narrow entrance near the top, and is outwardly constructed of mosses, grasses, and spiders' cocoons matted up together, and scantily lined inside with feathers. The eggs are two or three in number for a sitting, of a dull buffy-white, minutely freckled, and passing into a buffy-brown on the larger end of the egg; length, 0 62 x 0:43 inch.

55. ERYTHRODRYAS ROSEA, Gould. "Rose-breasted Robin." Erythrodryas rosea, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. 1, pl. 2. (1848); North, Vict., Nat. vol. XII., Feb. (1896.)

During the winter months this species may be seen in pairs in open forest lands, contiguous to the rich brushes and coastal scrubs; retiring again to the latter localities for the purposes of breeding early in the spring, and remaining there throughout the hot summer months. The nest of this species has been found in the secluded valleys of the Illawarra district, and is one of the most beautiful belonging to any of our Australian birds. It is placed on the top of a horizontal branch of a low tree, and is a small deep cupshaped structure composed of very fine mosses, the exterior and rim being ornamented and thickly covered with mouse-eared lichen, and the inside lined with the downy covering of the newly-budded fronds of the treefern. All the Robins are indefatigable destroyers of insects.

56. PETRECA LEGGII, Sharpe. "Scarlet-breasted Robin." Petroica multicolor, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. 1, pl. 3. (1848). Petroca leggii, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Birds, p. 102. (1889). A well-known and familiar species frequenting open forest lands during winter, but returning in the spring to breed in the mountain ranges. The nest of this species is usually built in the hollow trunk of a large tree, or on a piece of projecting bark within 6 or 7 feet from the ground, on the top of a horizontal branch of a Melaleuca, or placed against its stem, and supported by a small twig. It is cup-shaped and composed of strips of bark and grasses, held together with cobwebs, and ornamented on the outside and rim of the nest, which is very thick, with pieces of lichen, rendering it difficult of detection, and closely resembling the branch on which it is placed; the inside is neatly and warmly lined with hair or opossum fur. Eggs, three in number for a sitting, of a greenish-white ground colour, freckled and spotted all over the surface of the shell, with purplish-brown, wood-brown, and bluish-grey markings; length, 0.72 x 0.6 inch. September and the three following months constitutes the usual breeding season of this species.