_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del^t._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
PETROICA MULTICOLOR, _Swains._
Scarlet-breasted Robin.
_Muscicapa multicolor_, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
243.
_Red-breasted Warbler_, Lewin, Birds of New Holl., pl. 17.
_Petroica multicolor_, Swains. Zool. Ill., 2nd Ser. pl. 36.—Gould in
Syn. of Birds of Australia, Part I.—G. R. Gray, List of Gen.
of Birds, 2nd Edit., p. 30.
_Goȍ-ba_, Aborigines of Western Australia.
_Robin_, Colonists.
This beautiful Robin is a denizen of the wide extent of country reaching
from New South Wales on the east to Swan River on the west, including
Van Diemen’s Land and all the small islands lying off the southern
coast. In Van Diemen’s Land it is much less common than on the
continent, and is also far less numerous than its near ally, the
_Petroica phœnicea_. I have not been able with any degree of certainty
to trace how far it proceeds northwards. I believe, however, that a few
degrees from the latitude of Sydney is the limit of its range in that
direction.
Although closely allied to the _Petroica phœnicea_, its structure on
examination will be found to present some trifling modification, which
better adapts it for arboreal existence; and although frequently on the
ground, where it has much of the habits and actions of the _Saxicolinæ_,
the low bushes and woods skirting the open plains and sterile districts
are its favourite places of resort.
Its food consists solely of insects of various orders, its modified
structure enabling it to capture both aphides and swift-flying insects
as well as the less agile _Coleoptera_.
When far removed from our native land, recollections and associations
are strong incentives to attachment for any object that may remind us of
our home; hence this beautiful Robin, which enters the gardens and even
the windows of the settlers, is necessarily a great favourite; its
attractiveness is moreover much enhanced by its more gay attire, the
strong contrasts of scarlet, jet-black and white rendering it one of the
most beautiful to behold of any of the birds of Australia. After a
careful comparison of a large number of specimens, I feel fully
satisfied that the scarlet breast of this species, like that of the
Robin of Europe, is assumed during the first autumn, and that it is
never again thrown off; but, as might be expected, it is much more
brilliant and sparkling during the breeding-season than at any other
period of the year. I have remarked that a slight difference exists in
the depth of the colouring of specimens from the western and eastern
coasts, those from the former, particularly the females, having the
scarlet more brilliant and of greater extent than those from New South
Wales and Van Diemen’s Land; the difference is, however, too trivial to
be regarded otherwise than as indicative of a mere variety.
Its song and call-note much resemble that of the European Robin, but are
more feeble, and uttered with a more inward tone.
The nest is a very compact structure of dried grasses, narrow strips of
bark, mosses and lichens, all bound firmly together with cobwebs and
vegetable fibres, and warmly lined with feathers and wool or hair; in
some instances I have seen it lined entirely with opossums’ hair; it is
generally placed in the hollow part of the trunk of a tree, or in a
slight cavity in the bark six or seven feet from the ground, but I have
found it placed in a fork of a small upright tree more than thirty feet
from the ground. The eggs, which are three or four in number, are
greenish white, slightly tinged with bluish or flesh-colour, rather
minutely freckled with olive-brown and purplish grey, the latter more
obscure than the former; these freckles are very generally dispersed
over the surface of the shell, but in some instances they also form a
zone near the larger end; the medium length of the eggs is nine lines,
and breadth seven lines.
It usually rears two or three broods in the year, the period of
nidification commencing in August and ending in February.
The male has the head, throat and upper surface black; forehead snowy
white; a longitudinal and two oblique bands of white on the wings;
breast and upper part of the belly scarlet; lower part of the belly dull
white; irides very dark brown; bill and feet black.
The female has all the upper and under surface brown, with the breast
strongly tinged with red.
The Plate represents a male and female of the natural size, perched on a
sprig of a species of _Corea_, which I found growing on Kangaroo Island.
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