RHIPIDURA DRYAS, Gould.
Wood-Fantail.
Rhipidura dry as, Gould, Birds o f Australia, 8vo edition, vol. i. page 242.
T h e members o f the genus of Flycatchers called Rhipidura are so universally dispersed over Australia,
New Guinea, the Philippines, and India th at it would be difficult to name either o f these countries where
one o r other o f the members are not to be found. To enter into the specific characters o f all the known
species would be out o f the question in a work like the ‘ Birds o f Australia;’ this can only be properly and
effectively done by the monographist; suffice it to say th at the present bird, notwithstanding what I have
stated in my ‘ Introduction to the Birds o f Australia,’ is very distinct from any other species I have ever
met w ith ; and a comparison o f the accompanying Plate with figures of its allies will a t once convince
ornithologists th at this is the case.
The following is extracted from my ‘ Handbook to the Birds o f Australia,’ a t the page quoted above.
“ This bird differs from R . ruffrons in being of a smaller size, in its dark-grey tail-feathers being more
largely tipped with white, and merely fringed with rufous at the base only, in the breast being white, crossed
by a distinct band o f black, and devoid o f the dark spotted markings seen on the chest o f its ally.
Total length 5 ! inches, wing 2$, tail 3 |, tarsus
R . dryas inhabits the north-western portion o f A ustralia, where it appears to be as common as R . nififrons
is in the south-eastern. I had several specimens, all o f which bore a general resemblance to each other.
T h e majority o f these little birds dwell in the utmost recesses o f the fo re st; there they fan out their large
tails, and make their displays without ever being seen, unless man in his wanderings and investigations
should intrude upon their privacy. In the capture o f their insect prey these tiny-billed gnat-catchers exhibit
themselves in many graceful attitudes, sometimes running along the branches o f trees, o r over large stones,
o r restlessly darting here and there after Apliidii and other minute flies. When they are by nature
prompted to breed, they construct without exception the neatest and most charming o f nests, the grassy
materials with which the walls are formed being woven together with the webs o f the most minute spiders.
In this frail structure, about the size o f an egg-cup, two beautifully speckled eggs are deposited.
There is no outward difference between the sexes.
The Plate represents two individuals o f the size o f life.