The WAGTAIL FANTAIL (_Rhipidura motacilloides_), so called from its
resemblance to the European Water Wagtail (_Motacilla_), is of a glossy
greenish black upon the mantle, throat, and sides of the breast; a
narrow, yellowish white streak passes above the eyes; and a triangular
spot occupies the tips of the smaller wing-covers. The extremities of all
the webs of the exterior tail-feathers and the entire under surface are
pale yellowish white, the quills are brown, the eyes dark brown, the beak
and feet black. Both sexes are alike in colour, and differ but slightly
in size, their length being usually about five inches.
The Fantails are found extensively throughout Australia, where they
frequent retired woodland districts, but are often seen in the immediate
vicinity of men; indeed, so extremely tame and social are they that they
by no means confine their visits to orchards and gardens, but enter
freely into the houses, in search of flies and other insects. Their
flight is undulatory in its course, is seldom long sustained, and never
rises above the tops of the trees. Should the birds desire to reach a
distant spot, they usually descend to the ground, over the surface of
which their powerful legs enable them to run with great rapidity. The
song of this species, though loud and shrill, is by no means unpleasing,
and, should the moon be bright, is often heard after nightfall. The
period of incubation commences in September, that is, in the early
Australian spring, and each pair breeds twice, or, if the season be fine,
thrice within the year. Their deep, cup-shaped nest is most artistically
constructed of dry grass, bits of bark and roots, overlaid with spiders'
webs, and lined with a soft bed of delicate fibres, grass, and feathers.
Such trees as overhang the water are generally preferred for building
purposes. The nest is placed very near the ground, and furnished with
a strange-looking, long appendage, which is, no doubt, intended to act
as a sort of balance; it is frequently placed in situations that are
fully exposed to the violence of the sea and wind, but with such care
are the materials for these beautiful structures selected to harmonise
with the colour of the branch on which they are placed, that their
discovery is always a work of difficulty. The brood consists of two or
three dirty greenish white eggs, marked with black or reddish brown spots
and streaks, either at the broad end or around the centre. During the
whole time that the parents are occupied in the education of their young
they exhibit the utmost courage and anxiety to prevent the approach of
an enemy, and if alarmed express their uneasiness by a peculiar call
somewhat resembling the sound produced by a child's rattle.
* * * * *
The TRUE FLY-CATCHERS (_Muscicapæ_) constitute a family of birds chiefly
confined to Europe and Asia, and though unadorned with the flowing tails
and glowing tints possessed by some of their near relations already
described, comprise many beautiful species. All have elongate bodies,
short necks, and broad heads. Their wings (in which the third quill
exceeds the rest in length) are long, and their tails of moderate size,
either incised or graduated at the extremity. Their short, strong,
compressed beaks are broad at the base, and terminate in a slight hook;
the upper mandible is furnished with a sharp ridge at its culmen, and
the base of the bill is surrounded with bristles. Their soft lax plumage
varies considerably in its coloration, according to the age and sex
of the bird, and the young are easily recognisable by their spotted
appearance.
Like most of the groups above described, all the members of this family
frequent trees in preference to bushes, and rarely seek their food
upon the ground. Should the day be rainy, they content themselves with
berries; but in fine weather pass their time in actively giving chase
to every unlucky insect that chances to attract their keen little
eyes as they perch quietly among the branches, and, having secured the
victim, they at once return to their lurking-place. During the period
of incubation, the males utter a monotonous cry; but at other seasons
their voices are very rarely heard. The nest built by the Fly-catchers is
carelessly constructed, but furnished with a warm bed for the reception
of the young, and is placed either in holes of trees or upon a branch,
quite close to the stem. Both parents assist in hatching the four or
five eggs that compose a brood, and tend the young until the season
for migrating approaches, when they leave their native lands for more
southern regions, often reaching Central Africa in the course of their
winter journeyings.