IQA AsuBY, Ornithological Notes. [i-Ui"jan . 



times the warbling notes in a little higher tone without any 

 scolding at all. At dawn they utter a soft cry, quite different 

 from the notes uttered during the day-time. Their actions when 

 feeding on the ground are always worth watching. They turn 

 over dead leaves and sticks with a quick movement, and often in 

 their hurry throw leaves and sticks a distance of a foot or two. 



On the same date (14/3/16) I noted the first Cacomantis 

 (flabelliformis) rubricatus, Lath. (Fan-tailed Cuckoo), which stays 

 with us in this district till July, when it disappears. 



On the ist of June large numbers of Meliphaga {Ptiloiis) sonora 

 (Southern Singing Honey-eater) and Acanthogenys nifogularis, 

 Gld. (Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater) were about my garden — 

 the first time I have seen either of these species in this district, 

 and we have lived here 14 years. The varied notes of the 

 Spiny-cheeks as they chivied one another about the shrubs 

 and trees in the garden were most pleasing ; we wish we could 

 always have them with us. Unfortunately, we had about 

 II inches of rain in June, and by the end of the month both these 

 visitors, except a few pairs, had left. Warty-faced Honey-eaters 

 [Zanthomiza {Meliphaga) phrygia tregellasi. Mat.) also visited us 

 in May, but they all disappeared before the breeding season. 

 Every few years they breed with us, and at other times they do 

 not put in an appearance. 



Geobasileus chrysorrhous perksi. Mat. (Southern Yellow-rumped 

 Tit-Warbler). — A pair nested in a creeper in my front verandah. 

 The first egg was laid on 11/8/16. On the 13th there were two 

 eggs, and the nest was soaked through and through with heavy 

 rain and a leak or overflow of the gutter ; on 15th, three eggs, 

 and the same number of eggs on 24th and 27th. On 30th there 

 were four eggs, and the same number on 3rd September. On the 

 6th or 7th September the four chicks were hatched, showing that 

 the wetting had not damaged the vitality of the eggs. This brood 

 was fledged while I was away from home. Directly the young 

 had left the nest the parent birds commenced tidying and mending 

 it. They disappeared for ten days, and then commenced laying 

 a second clutch ; the second brood left the nest yesterday (15/11/16). 



Geobasileus chrysorrhous perksi. — Additional Notes. — The parent 

 birds began tidying the nest ready for the third brood two days 

 later — viz., 17/11/1916. The first egg of the third brood was laid 

 on 20th November, or the fifth day after the second brood left the 

 nest; it was a fertile egg, as subsequently proved. On ist Decem- 

 ber there were four eggs ; 15th December, three chicks hatched, 

 one egg ; the next day, i6th, four chicks ; 27th December, the 

 chicks were a good size, with fairly long quills. Noticed that the 

 parent birds were neglecting the family. On examination found 

 a dead chick at entrance of nest ; removed same, when parents 

 immediately commenced feeding the three young left. 



