116 
FLETCHER, Birds of the Steppes 
rThe Emu 
L 1st Oct. 
they were mistaken. A favourite shrub of these Thrushes is the 
giant Hakea, and many of their nests may be found in their centre. 
Sometimes the nests for three seasons are there packed close together. 
Pardalotus striatus. Striated Pardalote. — Very numerous. Every 
elbow of the gum trees appeared to be sheltering a family of the 
happy little tree-frequenters. Beetles, spiders, moths, mosquitoes, 
and long-legged insects were taken into the hole of a couple I watched. 
I could hear excited twitters of the young Pardalotes as each parent 
entered. 
Pardalotus punctatus. Spotted Pardalote. — Also plentiful. Were 
nesting on the side of the road. 
Pardalotus quadragintus. Forty-spotted Pardalote.—I often saw 
and heard it in the tops of the trees on the hillside above the Steppes. 
Found only one nesting hole that I knew for certain to be used by 
these Pardalotes. My attention was drawn to this by the fuss its 
owners were making because a pair of Green Parrots inspected the 
hole, but as the Parrot that tried to get in could get only part of 
her head inside, the owners were left in peace. The Parrots finally 
chose a hollow in the same tree. 
Melithreptus validirostris. Strong-billed Honeyeater. — In fair num¬ 
bers. One day I was sheltering under a bushy Banksia, and noticed 
in the twigs above a partly built nest. Presently a Strongbill flew 
into the tree, and without heeding my presence fixed into her nest 
the long piece of bark she carried. A few days afterwards some 
creature pulled the home to pieces. 
Melithreptus aflinis. Black-headed Honeyeater. — Very numerous. 
Evidently the trees are rich in their food requirements. They were 
very affectionate to their mates, and in some of their actions reminded 
me of the Love Birds, especially when they sat still for quite ten 
minutes with heads leaning against one another. I found several 
nests built in the swaying clumps of gum leaves. Both birds worked 
together in the building, and those I watched arrived at the nest to¬ 
gether and left together, flying in the same direction. The one waited, 
hopping about the twigs whilst its mate wove in the material it had 
brought. Beneath one nest that had its side torn out, I found the 
egg-shell of a Pallid Cuckoo as well as the remains of the Blackcap’s 
own egg. The nest was just shaped when found on 8th November, 
and it was on the 24th I found it destroyed. 
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris. Eastern Spinebill.—Noted extract¬ 
ing honey from the garden flowers. 
Meliphaga flavicollis. Yellow-throated Honeyeater. — Numerous. One 
nest I found was built in a clump of the pink berry bush. The young 
had been reared, so this bird must nest here in September. 
Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera. Crescent Honeyeater. — Very fond of the 
honey in the flowers of the giant Hakea. 
Meliornis novje-hollanflise. Yellow-winged Honeyeater. — Numerous. 
Myzantha garrula. Noisy Miner. — Plentiful. For several years 
some of the Miners have frequented the neighbourhood of the house 
to which they come soliciting food. They are fond of sugar, and try 
to carry a beakful of it away to their young while still in the nest. 
They return in a second for a fresh supply, evidently the first had 
melted before the nest was reached. By degrees the young are 
brought close to the house. If not attended to, the Miners go round 
all the windows tapping on the panes to attract attention. Should 
the table be set and the door left open, the Miners are soon in, 
digging their bills into the sugar as fast as they can, or eating the 
jam in record time. Even if one is in the room they do not mind. 
If the door is left open during the progress of a meal, some of the 
birds fly into the porch scolding the human partakers for usurping 
what they consider to be their right. 
