THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIS'. 61 
tunnel. It was too inaccessible a spot for close investigation, 
but judging by the way both birds flew back and forth, they 
must have been feeding the young. 
I was surprised to find this nest, for I had never found a 
Pardalote nesting so late as May before, although this bird is 
very common here and nests practically anywhere. 
The Jacky winter (Microeca fascinans) is now arriving, 
through the warmer months it is unusual to see it here, but it is 
numerous through the winter and early spring. 
Another bird which comes to us in considerable numbers in 
winter is the little Cuckoo shrike (Graucalus mentalis). I 
have never seen them nesting here, nor have I seen them during 
the heat of summer, but the Black-faced cuckoo shrike (G. 
melanops) is plentiful all the year round, and its queer flat 
looking nest is quite common. 
On rare occasions during very cold winters we sometimes see 
a Scarlet breasted robin (Petroica Legge), but in the open 
forest country you may see a good many Hooded robins (P. 
bicolor) handsome little fellows that sit watching you like mini- 
ature Magpies. ‘They remain all the year round. 
‘The Yellow robins (Hopsaltria australis) are numerous, 
keeping mostly to the thick brushes and scrubs, and _ their 
beautiful little nests, like cups of moss and lichen, are easily 
found. Along the creek bank where the foliage is dense, at any 
time in the year you may be fortunate enough. to catch a 
glimpse of the lovely little Rose-breasted robin (Hrythrodryas 
rosea) but it is so quiet and retiring in its habits that it is easily 
overlooked. 
All through the winter the White-shafted fantail (Rhipidura 
albiscapa) is numerous, taking up its abode temporarily in the 
thick tea tree swamps or about the thickly timbered banks of 
the creek. All winter it stays in these sheltered retreats, dis- 
appearing with the first heat of summer, though a few indivi- 
duals are always to be seen and an _ occasional nest found. 
The Rufus fan-tail (R. rufifrons) stays all the while, nesting in 
the thick shelter by the water. 
There is the prettiest little frog to be seen here (but it is 
comparatively rare) sometimes. If you find one resting upon 
dark wood it is dark brown mottled with whitish brown and 
green, so that it might easily pass for a bit of moss-grown 
wood or a bit. of lichen. The inner part of the hind legs is of 
a deep orange yellow, and the eyes are marked with a black 
