CATERPILLAR-EATER. 
rigidly extended, or slightly raised, chasing the females or another male and 
singing all the time they are on the wing. Dec. 1 : When feeding on the 
ground they proceed in a series of jumps. Dec. 15 : In full song and 
apparently breeding, but no nests found.” 
Rerney simply wrote from the Richmond district, North Queensland : 
“ Is with us all the year round, but very much less numerous during the winter.” 
G. E. Hill recorded from the Kimberley district, North-west Australia : 
“ A small flock in adult male plumage passed over the Mission Station on 
7/11/09 flying south, and during the two months following occasional birds 
were seen travelling in the same direction. From the beginning of January 
until 22/4/10 none was seen, but on this date I shot one bird from a flock of 
twelve which flew over in an easterly direction. These and all that were seen 
subsequently were female birds. On 27/4/10 many birds settled near the 
station, and their numbers increased daily until 3/5/10, when they began to 
decrease rapidly until none remained on 15th June. During their stay they 
lived almost entirely on the ground during the day, only occasionally flying 
up to the eucalypt flowors to catch the insects that were numerous in them. 
As in the case of Pardalotes, an accumulation of honey and pollen was frequently 
noticeable on the feathers of the throat and fore-head.” 
Barnard wrote from Cape York : “A few observed in the forest country.” 
Littler in 1913 recorded a specimen from Tasmania, noting : “It was but 
the second bird to my knowledge taken in the island. Although prior to it 
being obtained there had not been any heavy gales, without a doubt it had 
been blown across from the mainland.” 
Capt. S. A. White has written regarding the birds of the Lower Murray : 
“ These pretty and useful birds were met with in the mallee, where they were 
found breeding. In one instance two young birds were found so large that 
they could only just hang to the rim of the nest ; the parent birds put them- 
selves into a great fuss, and almost dashed into one’s face in their frantic efforts 
to drive the intruder away.” 
Macgillivray noted : “ Common in the Gulf country, but only occasional 
at Cape York.” 
Barnard from the Northern Territory recorded : “ Common. These birds 
do not leave the McArthur during the winter, but the males assume the sombre 
plumage of the females and young, and do not regain their black and white 
coats before October, when they commence to breed.” 
In the Musgrave and Everard Ranges Capt. S. A. White noted : “ Plentiful, 
but none had regained their summer plumage. They appeared to be migrating.” 
H. L. White has published McLennan’s notes : “ Mornington Island, 
30/7/15 : Fairly plentiful about Mission Station. Maria Island, 20/8/15 : Few 
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