SPOTTED PARDALOTE (DIAMOND-BIRD). 
seldom be found. The nesting tunnel is drilled into the ground for about 
a foot, being only a few inches in depth, with a nesting chamber at the end, 
which often comes up to almost the surface of the ground. The nest itself 
is wonderfully neatly constructed, being composed mostly of fine inner bark- 
threads and when removed from the grormd holds together intact.” 
Mr. L. G. Chandler’s notes read: “ The Spotted Pardalote ( P. punctatus) 
is common in the vicinity of the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria. When 
wandering through the bush you may hear their peculiar call at ahnost any 
time of the day. This call consists of two notes, the second note a trifle lower 
than the first. There are other calls. I have found the nesting tunnel in 
many places : in the base of an upturned tree; on flat ground following the 
course of a decayed root ; in the side of a furrow in ploughed land; again, 
in the bank of a creek and lately in a tree-hollow. In the last named case it, 
at the time, was the first record of tins Pardalote’s nest being found in a tree, 
but this may commonly occur. The banks of the Cardinia Creek (Beacons- 
field) offer ideal nesting sites for this species. The soil being of a loose, 
sandy nature is especially suitable for them to tunnel in. Any noise hi the 
vicinity of the nesting tunnel is sufficient to bring the bird out should it be 
sitting. In many cases it would be impossible to detect the tiny burrow— 
that on an average is little more than one and a half inches hi diameter— 
were it not for the bird betraying it in this manner. One nest we found at 
Erankston contained one healthy young bird about a week old and the dried 
skeletons of two others. Messrs. Barrett and Nicholls have recorded a similar 
instance—‘ on opening one of the tunnels we found five nestlings. Tliree 
of these were dead, being half eaten by the larva; of some species of dipterous 
fly of the genus Callipkora .’ A burrow may be used for two or more consecutive 
seasons for I found a nest that had been built on the decayed remains of an 
old nest. It was a foot in the damp, sandy soil and contained the unusual 
number of five eggs. In a bank where the earth is firm a slight ridge is often 
noticed in the centre of tunnel near the entrance. Tin's is raised by the 
birds when expelling the soil with their feet. This sign is sufficient to show 
you the burrow is, or has been, tenanted by a Pardalote. Both sexes assist 
in the construction of the nest and the work of incubation. In the task of 
feeding the offspring each take an equal share. In December a number of 
young birds may be seen following their parents, uttering a faint piping 
whistle at intervals. At the same time nests building or containing fresh 
eggs are observed. The young of this species are hatched naked and blind. 
At a week old the gape is cream, bill horn, frontal quills not yet broken, crown 
yellowish-buff with black tips, upper tail-coverts and rump buff, tail black 
with two white spots on central quills, two outer quills white with black bases, 
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