PARDALOT0S. 51 



from three to five in number. They are very ovate, and of a 

 glossy white ; in length 7^ to 8 lines by 6| to 7 lines in breadth. 



"About three weeks after the Pardalotes had taken possession 

 of these nest^, the rightful owners returned ; but, finding the 

 usurpers unwilling to turn out, the Martins contented themselves 

 by building new nests, and repairing those that had been broken 

 down. 



" The nest of this species is usually built in a hole in the dead 

 branch of some tree, and is very compact, being composed of grass 

 strips of bark, and warmly lined with feathers. The breeding 

 season commences in September and lasts during the three 

 following months.'' (Ramsay, Ibis, 1865, Vol. i.. New Series, 

 p. 298.) 



A set of the eggs of this species taken at Cardington, measure 

 as follows :— length (A) 0-68 x 0-58 inch ; (B) 0-64 x 0-55 inch ; 

 (0) 0-67 X 0-57 inch; (D) 0-65 x 0-56 inch. 



^ set in the Macleayan Museum Collection gives the following 

 dimensions :—( A) 071 x 0-55 inch ; (B) 0-68 x 0-54 inch ; (C) 

 0-71 X 0-55 inch. 



Dr. Ramsay and I succeeded in procuring a fine series of these 

 birds on the Bell and Macquarie Rivers, in the neighbourhood of 

 "Wellington and Dubbo, during August 1887, and in October of 

 the same year they were found breeding in the nests of the Fairy 

 Martin, in the centre of the town of Orange. 



ffab. Port Denison, Dawson River, New South Wales, Interior, 

 Victoria and South Australia, West and South- West Australia. 

 (Bamsay.) 



i. PARDALOTUS AFFINIS, Gould. 



Allied Fardalote. 



Gould, Handbk, Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 85, p. 163. 



This bird, like the preceding species constructs its nest of strips 

 of bark, grasses, and feathers, in a hole of some decayed branch 



