THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
company with Lalage tricolor ; they do not actually associate, but use the 
same feeding grounds and is a very common species in Kimberley. 
“ This bird feeds on the cultivated fig in Wyndham district. This I 
found by dissection. On May 16, 1909, numerous in all classes of country 
between Wyndham and Wild Dog Creek, 170 miles south. On Nov. 26, 1908, 
I found the first nest of the season which was placed in a horizontal fork of 
a small “ broad leaf ” wattle, eight feet from ground and partly hidden by 
a few leaves. Both birds were at the nest and were putting a few finishing 
touches to it ; one repeatedly settled in the nest as if to try it and after a few 
moments would fly away for more material ; both birds brought material, 
but only the one (apparently the female), which tried the fit of the nest, 
seemed to build, but of this I could not make certain. I examined the nest 
before leaving at 8 a.m. when the birds were away ; it was empty. At 
9 a.m. I returned and as the bird flew off the nest I again looked into it and 
there was one egg. On the 30th the nest contained three eggs, but on 
Dec. 4 eggs were gone and nest deserted. On Nov. 30 at 8 a.m., I found 
another nest with one egg ; at 10 a.m. there was still only one ; but birds 
were at the nest on each visit and one was sitting on it. On Dec. 1 nest 
deserted, egg gone. On Dec. 12 another nest was found with three eggs, 
both parents at the nest ; on the 16th the nest contained one young and 
two eggs ; young is blind and has feather tracts thinly covered with down ; 
next day three young hatched and on the 21st young gone and nest 
abandoned. Again on Dec. 17 a nest was found with one young and three 
eggs ; on the 18th two young and two eggs ; on 19th three young and one 
egg, all young blind and thinly covered with down. On the 22nd there were 
still only three young and one egg ; the young are still blind, quills of all 
feather tracts except head are well through. On Nov. 27 a nest with 
two eggs was seen on Nine Mile Ridge, which was built in a small tree 
beside the road 8 feet from the ground and was placed in a perpendicular 
fork ; both birds were at the nest. On Dec. 20 I saw a bird take a large 
grasshopper on the wing, seizing it with its feet, and carry it to a perch 
near by.” 
Rogers’ previous notes had been recorded by Hall : “ There appears 
to be a wide range in the nesting ; for I found eggs on 7th February, 1900, 
and 31st August of the same year. On 16th January, 1901, I saw a nest 
being built. On 1st February I saw several broods of young. They are 
feeding largely upon something within the blossoms of banhinia trees. The 
flowers are infested with insects. On 22/9/01 I observed a cluster within 
a rent in a tree. They were roosting, and sheltering leeward in a high wind. 
This is the first time I have seen this species in a bunch.” 
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