Vol. XXII. 



] AIcGILl', nirds of Lake I'romc District. 281 



birds desert nest once it is touched, even if eg'gs are in it, but will 

 continue to feed younp: after they have been handled. Both birds 

 share in the incubation, but I am afraid the male's share is very 

 small, possibly because he is very conspicuous when on the nest. 1 

 have never seen the male assist in feeding young until they leave 

 the nest. Young have adult female plumage minus the dull red cap 

 when leaving nest. 



Melanodryas cucullata. Hooded Robin. — Not plentifu:; young- 

 birds just out of nest being fed by parents is the only record of breed- 

 ing in district. 



Smicrornis brevirostris. Tree-Tit. — Numerous in eucalyptus 

 country. It is a very tame bird, which will feed about amidst gum 

 leaves within a few feet of man; breeds in great numbers. Its beau- 

 tifully constructed purse-like nest is often seen hanging amid the 

 drooping gum foliage. The alarmed note and the actions of the male 

 soon give the clue to the whereabouts of the nest. This is made of 

 fine shreds of grass, flower seeds, grass heads and cobwebs and 

 cocccns all matted together, with an occasional feather in structure. 

 It is snugly lined with delicately coloured feathers, usually the small 

 pink feathers of the Galah. It is truly a "jewel box." The entrance 

 is near the top of the nest, and it has a slight hood. The nest is sus- 

 pended to drooping foliage of a eucalypt. Measurement, overall, 2.i 

 inches in diameter, by 3m inches in depth; the entrance hole is a little 

 under an inch across. Clutch, 2 or 3 eggs. The eggs vary much in 

 size and markings. The sitting bird sits close, and I have cut off the 

 branch and let down the nest to the ground before the bird has left 

 the nest. It .had left before I started to saw, but had returned and 

 entered it again. Both birds feed the young. Possibly two or more 

 broods are reared in good seasons. Nests have been found from 2nd 

 July to 16th January, in 1920-21. Practically all their food is secui'ed 

 amid the foliage of eucalypts. 



Oreoica gutturalis. Crested Bell-Bird. — Numerous; breeds freely 

 according to season; nests with eggs or young noted from May to 

 December. The nest is a deep cup shape, made of five sticks and 

 twigs; inside of this strips of bark are worked around to form an 

 egg-cavity, which is lined with tine rootlets and shreds of bark. It 

 varies greatly in size, according to situation. An average nest meas- 

 ures 5i inches in diameter externally, and the egg-cavity 4 inches 

 diameter by nearly 3 inches in depth. It is almost invariably placed 

 in a foi-k of a dense shrub, and within a fevvr feet of the ground; 

 but I have noted one in a hollow stump. Eggs are two to three in 

 number. Hairy caterpillars are frequently found on the nest. I 

 have several times flushed a male from the nest, and he also shares 

 in collecting food for the young. The young birds have the adult 

 female plumage on leaving nest. 



Pachycephala rufiventris. Rufous-breasted Whistler. — Common. 

 Rarely seen except at beginning of breeding season, when its glorious 

 notes can be heard. Birds very shy except at breeding time, when 

 they become very tame. Breeds from August to December, and two 

 broods are reared in good seasons. The nest is a frail structure of 

 dried rootlets, lined with a few dry rootlets and placed in the fork 

 of a tea-tree or on top of a parasitic growth. Eggs are usually 

 visible from beneath nest; measurements of an average nest, 'ih 

 inches diameter over all, egg cavity 21 to 21 inches diameter by 

 1\ inches in depth. The eggs are incubated wholly by the female. 

 The male feeds the female on the nest, and shares in feeding young, 

 which have adult female plumage on leaving nest. Immature plum- 

 aged males are often found breeding. This bird is P. r. maudcac 

 and in the writer's opinion is the best songster of the group. 



Rhipidura flabellifera. Fantail. — Not plentiful; appears to be a 

 visitor; odd birds appear in autumn and remain through winter, but 



