A'ESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



353 



Eijij^.- — Clutcli, two to tliiTc ; roundish in shape ; texture very fine ; 

 sui-face slightly glossy ; colour, waiin or pearly white, marked chiefly 

 about the apex with blotches and spots of dull chestnut and grey. 

 Dimensions in inches of a clutch : (1) -64 x -49, (2) -61 x -47. 



Observnfinns. — This small and bright blood-coloured Honey Eater 

 has an eastern habitat, ranging almost from Cape York down to Eastern 

 Victoria. In the female the plumage is a unifonii light browii. Length 

 5 inches, including a lengthened Humming Bird-like bill 1 inch long, 

 admirably adapted for prospecting tempting flowers. 



In Norlheni Queensland my companions and T enjoyed watching 

 scon s of these beautiful little birds, with shining scarlet head and neck, 

 disporting themselves and feeding among the melaleuca blossoms, 

 especially on dewj' mornings. Wo did not succeed in finding a nest. 



Later on, I was indebted to Dr. E. P. Ramsay for a pair of eggs. 

 That gentleman obsci-\'cs that the Sanguineous Honeyoater arrives in 

 tho neighboiu'hood of Sydney during the months of October and 

 November, remaining to breed during November and December, and as 

 late as January. 



The first Blood Honeyeaters noticed in Victoria, which are in the 

 National JTuseum, Melbourne, were shot by Mr. C. J. Stafford in 

 Gippsland. By way, I may mention that Mr. Stafford was a mate of 

 the late Mr. H. W. Wheelwright (" Old Bushman "), who wrote " Bush 

 Wanderings of a Naturalist." 



Mr. F. Hutchinson sent t^3 the "Australasian" office, for identifica- 

 tion, a sketch of a pair of Blood Honeyeaters, which were observed 

 feeding among the blossom.s of his garden, Alexandria, Victoria, 22nd 

 September, 1896. The beautiful birds were interesting visitors indeed, 

 being so far out of their usual track, and so early in the season. 



292. — Myzomela erythrocephala. Gould. — (342) 



RED-HEADED HONEYEATER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol.. vol iv., pi. 64. 

 Reference.— Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 133. 



Previous Description of Eggs.— yioHh : Proc. Linn. Soc , N S. Wales, vol. 

 xxiii., p. 381 (i8g8). 



Cenr/rnphicnl Dufrihntinn. — North-west Australia, Northern Terri- 

 torv, North Queensland, also New Guinea and Am Islands. 



yp.,f, — A very small, cup-shaped structure, suspended by the rim to 

 a thin, forked, horizontal twig; outwardly formed of very fine strips of 

 bark and bark fibre, intenningled with a small quantity of cobweb, and 

 lined inside entirely with a very fine, yellowish-white vegetable 

 fibre. Dimensions over all, 2 inches by U inches in depth ; egg cavity, 

 Ih inches across by 1 inch deep '(North). 

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