29 



The following portion of their gregarious habit is specially in- 

 teresting : — -Roosting for the Night. — Usually in tine weather the 

 sheltered side of a rough shell of an old tree is selected. When 

 cold nights prevail, a stump, so burnt that the upper part forms 

 an inverted funnel, is then chosen. The interest is to watch the 

 shuffling upward movements of the birds as they move towards 

 and enter the hole. While those on the stump are getting safely 

 housed, their numbers are added to by more that are flying about 

 and watching their opportunities. Sometimes the hole is not 

 large enough to hold all ; they then cluster in a great bunch 

 (like a bee-swarm when at rest) beneath the dome. Hence the 

 generic name Artamus, and a previous reference under other con- 

 ditions. Should a person pass too near, there is a nerve-startling 

 rush, such as a tree falling close to you would produce, and the 

 process of camping has to be repeated. 



Pardalotus ornatus, Temm. 



Pardalotus striatus, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol. vol. II., pi. 38. 

 Pardalotus ornatus, Sharpe, Brit. Mus. Cat. Bds., vol. X., p. 

 55 ; Hall, " Key to the Birds of Austr.," p. 46. 

 a, b. Skins, adult male and female, 4/9/'98. 



COLLYRIOCINCLA RUFIVENTRIS, Gould. 



Colly riocincla rufiventris, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol. vol. -II., pi. 

 75; Sharpe, Brit. Mus. Cat. Bds., vol. TIL, p. 292; Hall, "Key- 

 to the Birds of Austr.," p. 11. 



a. Skin, adult female, 14/8/'98. 



b. Skin, immature female, 4/9/'98. 



(a). General plumage brownish-grey, lores and other parts cor- 

 responding with the tint of brown over most of the grey. Bill 

 black ; length, 0*9 inch. 



(b). General colour of plumage grey, lores and other parts 

 agreeing, except region of vent and under tail coverts, which 

 correspond with those of a. Bill light-horn, blacker along the 

 culmen ; length, 0*75 inch. 



The immature female has the eyebrow like its surroundings in 

 colour. 



Taeniopygia castanotis, Gould. 



Amadina castanotis, Gould, Bds. Austr,, fol. vol. III., pi. 87. 



Tcsniopygia castanotis, Sharpe, Brit. Mus. Cat. Bds., vol. 

 XIII., p. 311 ; Hall, "Key Bds. Austr.," p. 50. 



Skin, male, 20/ll/'98. Forehead and crown uniform grey; 

 under portion of tail deep brown. 



That this species is a " host" of the cuckoo, Chalcococcyx basalis, 

 is now placed on record. Mr. Cameron writes— "A colony of the 

 chestnut-eared Finch had its nests sprinkled about, some having 



