THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
cobwebs. I have seen nests, in orchards, entirely formed of fallen pear-flower 
stems, all woven together with spiders’ webs. The clutch is just as often 
two as three, but I have a clutch of four eggs, taken in an orchard here, this 
being the only instance of a clutch of more than three I have ever heard of. 
Eggs may be found during the last three months of the year.” 
Mr. Tom Carter’s notes read : “Is generally distributed through West 
Australia, and to some extent is migratory. It is a winter visitor in the 
Gascoyne districts, and is also seen after summer rains. The main breeding 
months are July- August. The small nests are usually built in the centre of a 
small group of short twigs, growing upwards from a horizontal bough. Several 
nests were found in July-August, various years, containing eggs or young. 
About Broome Hill, they make their appearance in August or September, 
breeding mostly in October, and are rarely seen after the end of November. 
First appearances were noted on Aug. 15, 1907, Sept. 7, 1908, Sept. 3, 1910. 
Three were shot on Sept. 21, 1910, but they were not breeding. Fledged 
young Nov. 12, 1910. Latest noted bird, Dec. 17, 1910.” 
Mr. J. P. Rogers’s notes read : “ This species is widely distributed in West 
Kimberley. I believe many of the birds migrate after the breeding-season, 
Dec. -March. In Derby, December 1910, this species was very common, and 
in May 1911 it was rare. It is unusual to see males in full plumage during 
the cold season, June to August. At Marngle Creek this species was fairly 
numerous. In June 1900 I camped in a broad valley in the Grant Ranges, 
West Kimberley ; up the centre of this valley were many wattles in full bloom ; 
here these birds were very numerous and fed on the flowering wattles, 
apparently on insects caught on the blossoms. No adult males were seen 
amongst these birds, all appeared to be immature, so perhaps the adults migrate 
elsewhere. At the end of July 1911 this species was still rare at Derby. On 
Melville Island this species was rare. A good series of notes from Derby may 
be here reproduced : — Aug. 31, 1908 : Not calling now. Sept. 3 : Compara- 
tively quiet now, only giving a few notes of its song ; in the breeding-season 
males are very noisy. Oct. 5 : Saw male persistently chasing female from 
tree to tree, uttering a few notes of song. Oct. 28 : These birds have still a 
broken song, only a few notes being given. Nov. 7 : The song is improving. 
Nov. 14 : The song is not full yet. Nov. 16 : Spend a lot of time on the 
ground feeding. Nov. 21 : Are not very lively at present. Nov. 23 : Saw 
male chasing female from tree to tree-singing all the time. Nov. 25 : Many 
males in full plumage. I believe all adult males leave this district or else 
there is a seasonal change of plumage. Nov. 28 : Many males chasing females. 
Nov. 29 : Birds now very animated and heard in full song. Nov. 30 : Birds 
now in full song and very animated, sailing from tree to tree with wings either 
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