448 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Egrjs. — Clutch, three to four, usually the Lit ter number ; roundish in 

 form ; in some clutches the smaller ends are of a peculiar blunt shape ; 

 texture of shell fine ; colour, pure white, with a trace of gloss on the 

 surface. Dimensions in inches of fvill set taken near Townsville 

 (Queensland), 19th September, 1885: (n 64 x -53. (2) -65 x -53, 

 (3) -66 X -52! (4) -65 x '52. 



Ohxervntiniix. — The Black-headed Pardalote is another interesting 

 bank biirrower, ranging throughout the greater part of Eastern 

 Australia. 



In Gould's time it was uncertain whether this bird nidified in holes 

 of trees or in the ground, and he left the matter to those persons 

 favourably situated to ascertain. Dr. Ramsay was the first to settle 

 the question in 1875. Tlie Black-headed Pardalote is an early breeder. 

 During my Queensland trip, in 1885, I noted them bun-owing as early 

 as July. On the last day of that month we took from the bank of the 

 Mciuiga Ci-eek, near our camp, Cardwell, a nest containing three eggs. 

 On the 3rd Atigusst we took the contents (three eggs) of another nest 

 wliich was tunnelled into the side of a hollow where a small tree had 

 been uprooted in open forest. (See illustration for similar instance.) 

 Towards the end of September three other nests were taken — one with 

 three eggs and two with the full complement of four each. However, 

 the breeding season usually extends to the end of the year or even 

 to January. 



375. PaBDALOTUS UROPYGIALTR, GoTlld. (87) 



CHESTNUT-RUMPED PARDALOTE. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii., pi. 41. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. x., p. 62. 



Previous Description of Eggs. — Ramsay : Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. 

 Wales, vol. ii., p. no (1878). 



Geographical Biatrihution. — North-western Australia, Northern 

 Territory, Queensland, and South Australia (interior). 



Next. — Similar in construction and situation to tho'^e described of 

 P. punrfafut and P. melanocephalus. 



Eggx. — Clutch, three to four; roundish or round oval in fonii ; 

 texture of shell fine ; surface slightly glossy ; colour, pure wlute. 

 Dimensions in inches of a full clutch from Yorke Peninsula : (1) -68 x -5, 

 (2) -64 X -52, (3) -63 x -5, (4) -62 x -52. 



Ohservatinns. — As far as our knowledge extends, this very fine 

 species completes the quintet of bank burrowing Pardalotes, all of 

 which, as regards their nidifiaition, differ from those that usually build 

 in holes of trees. 



