2 I'yoin Magazines, ufc. I ,^( j^l 



nest, and the delight of these two old birds was good to see." 

 In his notes on the Chestnut-breasted Finch Mr. Teschemaker 

 writes: — "At 1 8 days a young Chestnut-breasted Finch is a 

 little brown bird, exactly resembling a young M. flaviprymna, 

 and totally unlike its parents. It has not a black or a white or 

 a chestnut feather on it. After that age, however, there is not 

 the smallest resemblance between the young of these two 

 species," 



Mallee (Victoria) Notes. — " Mallee-Bird " writes : — 

 (i.) Regarding late breeders: — "3rd March. — Three nests 

 White-browed Wood-Swallow, eggs in each. On the 5th of 

 March, Yeilow-rumped Diamond-Bird's nest. Did not dig the 

 burrow out, but, judging by the well-worn footmarks at the 

 entrance to the nest, it contained young ones. I have now 

 found in these parts this Pardalote's nest every month from 

 June to March. 



" On the 29th March, Graceful Honey-eater's nest, with two 

 well-fledged young birds in it. This Honey-eater's nest I have 

 now met with every month from August to March. On the 

 30th, Allied Diamond-Bird's nest, with eggs ; also on 30th 

 March, Mallee-Fowl's nesting mound with three eggs in a 

 forward state of incubation. This is the latest I have known 

 the Mallee-Fowl to be working at their nesting mound." 



(2.) Notes on migration : — 



" White-shouldered Lalage. — This bird takes its departure 

 from here as soon as the young ones are strong enough on the 

 wing to accompany the old birds. They migrated on or about 

 26th January. These birds seem to all leave at the one time. On 

 the arrival of the Lalage in these regions I have always noticed 

 that the male birds come a week to ten days in advance of the 

 female birds. I would like to know if any other observer has 

 noticed this. 



" The Bee-eater. — These birds always begin to congregate 

 about eight to twelve days before they migrate, the flock getting 

 larger each day, and the cries of the birds become louder as they 

 rise higher and higher into the air each succeeding day. 

 Finally they take their departure at night time. The first lot of 

 Bee-eaters left on or about the 2nd February. The second 

 and final lot, which were the season's young birds — a few of the 

 old female birds always remain to accompany the young ones 

 on their migratory flight — left on or about the 27th February. 



" Both the Masked and White-browed Wood-Swallows left 

 the Mallee in two batches, the first lot early in March, the 

 second about i8th April. Odd specimens of the White-brow 

 are here yet, and seem to have taken up with the common 

 Wood-Swallow, which do not, according to my experience, leave 



