THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
or shrubs. In such situations flocks of about twenty systematically work patches 
of ground, tripping lightly over the sod in quest of seeds or insects. They 
find these conditions in Impression Bay.” 
Milligan later wrote from the Stirling Ranges, South-West Australia: 
44 Numerous on good soils. When searching some narrow upland flats on Toll’s 
Creek I discovered a nest in the prickly head of a hakea bush. The latter, with 
its strong needle leaves pointing and crossing at different angles, only allowed 
sufficient space in its interior for the true nest. Family councils were evidently 
held, and it is to be assumed that it was definitely decided that the 4 lookout ’ 
or 4 cock’s nest ’ was indispensable, for the 4 lookout ’ was made an independent 
structure six inches away, on the left-hand side of the true nest. I have not 
any doubt that, as the non-construction of the 4 lookout ’ would seriously affect 
the comfort of paterfamilias chrysorrhoa, he, at the family councils, with 
characteristic masculine negation, strongly advocated its construction. Upon 
whatever grounds the matter was decided, the fact remains that no better place 
could have been selected for protection against every natural enemy.” 
When A. G. Campbell compared Victorian and Tasmanian birds he 
concluded : 44 The general colour of the mantle in the Tasmanian bird is fighter, 
particularly on the back and the primaries, the feathers of the throat, lores and 
eyebrow, while the tarsus is longer by T inch than the mainland bird.” 
Berney’s notes from the Richmond District, North Queensland, read : 
44 This elsewhere familiar Tit is a rare bird in these parts. I have only come across 
it once or twice, and one of these occasions includes a nest and three eggs. This 
latter observation was made on the Flinders, 40 miles below Richmond. I 
suppose this must be its most northern limit, but going south from here I used 
to see this species and find its two storied nests fairly frequently on Cameron 
Downs, 40 miles south of Hughenden, while in the Blackall district of the 
Barcoo it was common.” 
Batey concludes that at Drouin, Victoria : 44 From 1846 to 1906, has held 
its own, but to my mind is not so numerous as it was formerly. It appears to 
court the society of man, seeing that it is given to nest in garden shrubs. It 
is famous for destroying aphis and small insects in and out of gardens.” 
Legge, from Tasmania, confirmed this : 44 This little bird frequents the 
shelter provided by the homestead plantations, as also the gardens and 
shrubberies in the breeding season. So their numbers have increased materially 
as the exotic shelter in the paddocks increased.” 
Of the Port Augusta form Captain S. A. White has written : 44 Mr. G. M. 
Mathews has named this A. c. addenda, and I agree with him that the yellow 
on rump is of a shade quite different from that of the type of A. chrysorrhoa. 
We found this bird in the Port Augusta district the season before. On this trip 
470 
