The WAGTAIL CLIPPER (_Ephthianura albifrons_), as the species most
frequently met with is called, is deep grey on the upper part of the
body, each feather having a dark brown spot in its centre. The wings and
tail-feathers are dark brown, the latter, with the exception of those in
its centre, decorated with a large, oval, white spot. The fore part of
head, face, throat, breast, and belly are pure white. The hinder part
of the head and a broad line that passes from the sides of the neck to
the upper region of the breast, are black. In the female the mantle is
greyish brown; the throat and under side are yellowish white; while
the ring about the neck and a light spot on the exterior tail-feathers
are only slightly indicated. This species is four inches long. Gould,
who first described the Wagtail Clipper, found it upon a small island
in Bass's Straits, and afterwards throughout the whole of Southern
Australia. Like its congeners, it is lively and active, and ever watchful
against the approach of danger. Like them it selects a stone or leafless
branch when about to perch, and if disturbed, flies swiftly for a few
hundred yards before it again settles. Its step upon the ground is
rapid, and generally accompanied by a whisking motion of the tail. The
song of the male is extremely pleasing, and is heard constantly about
September or October, when the breeding season commences. The nest is
formed of small twigs, grass, lined with hair or some similar material;
it is usually concealed beneath shrubs or brushwood, at an elevation of
only a few inches from the ground. The eggs, three or sometimes four
in number, are of a pure white, adorned with reddish brown spots or
markings, most numerous at the broad end. The young are carefully tended
by their parents, who, however, often betray the situation of the nest,
either by their evident uneasiness at the approach of a stranger, or by
affecting lameness or exhaustion, in the hope of turning the attention
of an unwelcome visitor from their helpless charge to themselves. Two
broods are produced during the season, the first family going forth into
the surrounding country till the second batch of nestlings are able to
support themselves, when they all join company with the parent birds.
* * * * *
The CHATS (_Saxicolæ_) are slender birds, with awl-shaped beaks, which
are very lightly incised on the margin, slightly curved at the tip, and
very broad at the base. The tarsi are high and slender, the toes of
moderate size, the wings blunt, the tail short, broad, and straight at
the extremity. The plumage is rich and lax; it varies considerably in
its coloration, but is remarkable from the circumstance that the tail,
which is in most instances white, is always of a colour different from
the body. These birds are met with extensively in Europe and Asia, and
are particularly numerous upon the African continent. We shall, however,
confine ourselves to a minute description of but a few species, as the
habits of all are very similar.