435 



Family BICJEIBM. 

 Austrodiceum hirundinacum (Mistletoe Bird). 

 Wherever ( Lorinthus ) mistletoe grew upon the trees (there 

 were many species of this parasite, some very beautiful) these 

 bright little birds were seen ; their sharp note cannot be mis- 

 taken. The range of this bird over Australia is indeed great. 



Pardalotus rubricatus, sub-sp. ( *?) (Red-browed Pardalote). 



We did not meet with this bird till we were close on the 

 borders of the Northern Territory. While ascending Christmas 

 Creek I heard its call, which differs much from all the other 

 members of the genus. I knew it was a Pardalote, but had to 

 " V the species. In spite of all my efforts during the greater 

 part of a very hot day, I was unsuccessful in securing a 

 specimen. It was not until a few days later, at Blood Creek, 

 the same call was heard again, which consists of two notes 

 exactly alike made in quick succession ; we then secured a 

 pair. From that time onwards we found them plentiful, 

 nearly always in the gums growing along the watercourses, 

 but on rare occasions we found them out in the mulga scrub. 



Pardalotinus striatus subaffinis ( ?) (South Australian 



Pardalote). 



It seems that the Horn Expedition did not identify this 

 bird, and Hill, on the Barclay Expedition, did not name any 

 definite species of this family, so this is the first record of this 

 species for the central region. The first bird met with was 

 near Crown Point, on the Finke, on August 7, 1913, and was 

 secured. Another specimen was shot at Punning Waters on 

 August 27, 1913. The only variation from the southern bird 

 is that the red tip is much brighter and deeper, the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts being a rich and deeper buff. An 

 immature bird was secured at Hamilton Bore on the return 

 journey, and it is remarkable in having the bright-red tips, 

 primeries marked strongly with white, lores bright-yellow, 

 yet no signs of striation appear upon its head, which is of a 

 light-grey colour, same as back. 



Family MELIPHAGID^E. 



Melithreptus gtjlaris l^eteor (Golden-backed Honey-eater). 

 We met with this handsome bird in the foliage of the 

 young gums at Running Waters, on the Finke. We were 

 attracted by their call, which resembles 21 . gularis. A small 

 party was busily engaged searching for insects amongst the 

 gumtops, but they had little peace from the attacks of 

 Ptilotis leilavalensis. Even after a specimen had been shot, 

 two Ptilotis followed it to the ground, viciously attacking it 

 all the time. 



