Vol. X. 



1910 



] Grossman, Birds Seen around Broome, N.IV. Aust. 11^ 



Chestnut-eared Finch (Tcsniopygia castanotis). — Common. 



Banded Finch (Siictoptera hichenovii). — Identified once. 



Long-tailed Finch {Poephila acuticauda). — Seen occasionally in the 

 Pindan. 



Masked Finch {Poephila personata). — Occasionally seen. 

 Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton). — Seen in hundreds during the 

 winter months. 



Great Bower-Bird {Chlamydodera nuchalis). — Fairly plentiful in 

 the scrub country. This bird has a habit of perching at the top of a 

 tree, uttering a very harsh note, and bringing its tail right forward 

 underneath, but in front of, the bough. I have seen but one bower, 

 which was paved chiefly with cockle shells. 



Crow {Corvus coronoides). — Seldom seen round Broome, but common 

 at Streeter's station, about 18 miles out. 



Notes on Pardalotes. 



By L. G. Chandler, Malvern (Vic.) 



{Read before the Bird Observers' Club, 2\t}i February, 19 10.) 



From the cabinet worker's point of view, birds that undergo 

 varying changes between immature and adult plumage have a 

 greater interest than those that take on the garb of the mature 

 bird while still in the nest. Pardalotes vary in their plumage to 

 a marked degree. The Spotted Pardalote {Pardalotus ptinctatus) 

 is a common form in the vicinity of the Dandenong Ranges (Vic.) 

 When wandering through the bush you may hear their peculiar 

 call at almost any time of the day. This call consists of two 

 notes, the second note a trifle lower than the first. There are 

 other calls. I have found the nesting-tunnel of this Pardalote 

 in many places — in the earth, at the base of an uprooted tree ; 

 on flat ground, following the course of a decayed root ; in the side 

 of a furrow in ploughed land ; again, in the bank of a creek, and 

 lately in a tree-hollow. I think any of the Pardalotes will choose 

 either the ground or a tree as a nesting site. Before Mr. F. E. 

 Wilson and I noticed this unusual occurrence at Frankston on the 

 28th November last, I believe the nesting of P. punctatits in trees had 

 not been recorded, although possibly observed. I think it probable 

 that they choose the trees as nesting sites as often as any other 

 members of the genus. My companion was passing a tree, and, 

 on giving it an inquiring thump with a tomahawk, out darted a 

 tiny bird from a hollow about g feet up the trunk. After some 

 hard chopping the nest was revealed. A single glance showed us 

 that the owners were a pair of P. pttnctatus. Two feathers from 

 the breast of the bird were woven into the lining. The nest con- 

 tained three young ones, about a day old. Presently the parent 

 bird appeared with food in its bill, and the identity was complete. 



