OF VICTORIA. 



143 



on leaving its lowly-placed nest, for it flies rapidly up into 

 a tree to view the position^ hunt the trail of an insect, then 

 sooner or later glide or flutter down to its previously 



occupied 

 position, 

 perhaps 

 en route 

 to spend a 

 moment 

 on a limb 

 close by. 

 In the 

 search for 

 proven- 

 der, this useful insectivorous 

 bird follows the course of a 

 bough for " scales," picking up 

 strays and permanents alike. 

 I have watched this bird and 

 the other species all acting 

 similarly in travelling along 

 the stems of saplings, taking 

 off the carapaces and feeding 

 upon the animals within. The 

 remains of Coleoptera and 

 Diptera I have found within 

 the stomachs, although I ven- 

 ture to say this is not the 

 staying point in the wide 

 choice of insect life. On a clear 

 summer's day one may try to quickly locate the birds in the 

 high parts of tall timber, but, with slim-bodied animals only 

 4 inches long, it is not easy. Assisted by their calls and 



>V,rY tliral^fo^. 



Fig. 33. Allied Pardalote. 

 One-fifth natural size. 



