THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Captain S. A. White recorded from Stradbroke Island, South Queensland, 
“ Pardalotus melanocephalus. These little birds were fairly plentiful, and their 
call would be heard all day long. Dr. D’Ombrain writes: “ Lores rather 
different from type— i.e., smaller and not so marked in hue. One of my skins 
was an adult female.” 
Gould described as a distinct species the western form of this somewhat 
variable species, and consequently ever since there has been misunderstanding 
as to the forms met with. Thus, Mr. J. P. Rogers’ notes read : “ At Mamgle 
Creek this species (P. uropygialis) was not numerous, but the call being louder 
they were more noticeable than P. rubricatus, which, I should say, is more 
numerous.” From Melville Island Air. Rogers wrote: “ Cooper’s Camp, 
Nov. 20th, 1911. T his species is rather rare here and is usually found in forest 
country, but is sometimes seen in low bushes on the foreshore. Dec. 15th, 
1911. Is not numerous, but now some are seen every day. Jan. 13th, 1912. 
10 miles S.E. of Snake Bay. Very few were seen and those only in the paper- 
bark trees on the edge of the great swamp. Jan. 29th, 1912. Cooper’s Camp. 
Seems to be much more numerous here now.” 
Hall has recorded Rogers’ previous notes from the Fitzroy River, solely 
about the nests and eggs, but Hall observed about the birds: “ The rump 
colouring agrees with the text of Gould, but not the figure (of P. uropygialis), 
which is much more highly and brightly coloured. The bill of this specimen 
is also much larger than those referred to by Gould.” 
Whitlock, writing of the Birds on the Pilbarra Goldfield, noted: 
“ p. uropygialis. Rare. I only identified this Pardalote after some trouble, 
and in one particular creek. There were two pairs present. I had the oppor¬ 
tunity on one occasion of shooting a pair, but refrained, as I v r anted the nest. 
I did not have the chance again, but I found the nest. It was similar in 
construction to that of P. rubricatus and, like that, placed at the end of a 
tunnel some 20 inches deep. The eggs were smaller and more glossy, however, 
than those of the latter species.” 
It is a pity Whitlock did not get the birds as this appears to be the most 
south-west record, and in view of the geographical variation observed in this 
species, they would have proved an interesting study. 
Hill reporting upon the birds of Kimberley, North-west Australia, wrote: 
“ P. uropygialis. Although some birds remained in the district throughout 
the ten months I was there, it was not until the middle of March that they 
became numerous. The nesting season commenced at the end of April, and 
was at its height at the end of July. Most of the nesting burrows, wliicli 
vary in length from 18 inches to 2 feet, were made in the sides of holes dug 
in the sandy soil by pigs in search of roots ; others were made in the banks of 
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