^"iQio^" ] Chandler, Notes on Pardalotes. HC 



observer writes * : — " The bird does not stay to winter in its 

 breeding haunt, and is away long before sure signs of the coming 

 fall are generally noticeable." My observations have been the 

 reverse of this. During the winter months I have seen flocks of 

 a dozen or more of this species at various times and in different 

 localities. Like many other so-called. migratory birds, this species 

 leads a nomadic existence, future movements, after the termina- 

 tion of the breeding season, depending entirely on the food supply. 

 At Bayswater, in March, 1909, I saw a flock composed of many 

 dozens. Two specimens that I secured were immature birds, just 

 assuming the adult plumage. They would probably be about 

 five months old. They were noisy, and were giving a trisyllabic 

 note resembling " Wit-e-lu." I think it is the immature birds that 

 give this call. In April I have seen small companies at Frankston, 

 and on two occasions a pair of birds was observed. On 7th June, 

 at Olinda (Vic), a noisy flock of P. assimilis was seen traversing 

 the tree-tops. In the Frankston district, on loth July, 1909, 

 I saw a partial albino in company with half-a-dozen birds of 

 normal plumage. The centre of the head was pure white, and the 

 lores and eyebrow of a fawn colour. The shoulders were a dirty 

 white, and the remainder of the plumage much paler than usual. 

 The wing markings appeared identical with the ordinary plumage 

 of P. assimilis. 



Like many birds that are habitually noisy throughout the 

 breeding season, this species is remarkably quiet during the colder 

 months of the year. This habit would make them easily overlooked 

 by those who infer that the birds are migratory. In July and 

 August I have not heard them give other than a sweet " trfll " note, 

 which, however, can be heard a fair distance away. I consider this 

 call to be the one used when a mate is being sought. On one 

 occasion I blocked the entrance to a nest containing young, and 

 retired a short distance to watch. The parent birds presently 

 appeared with food in their bills. One of them flew to the nest 

 entrance, and, finding it blocked, fluttered in front for a few seconds, 

 then quickly returned to its former position. The other flew down, 

 with the same result. Both commenced calling persistently " Will- 

 ju, will-ju." Occasionally one would fly down ; but some time 

 elapsed before they ventured to perch for a few seconds at the nest 

 entrance. It was distinctly noticeable that when the birds were 

 hovering or settled near the nest they emitted the " trill " call, 

 and while away from it they gave the usual double-syllabic note. 

 I judge from my observation that this note is the one generally 

 used as a call note. 



This species apparently congregates about February or March, 

 and in July and August commences to pair off for the breeding 

 season. Working actively from bough to bough in search of 

 provender, they do not stay long in the one tree, but when two or 

 three birds fly further afield the remainder quickly follow. They 



* Victoriati Naturalist, vol. xvii., p. 21. 



