A'Esrs A.\'D EdGS 01' AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 363 



I saw what I believed to be fledgelings of this species near Towns- 

 ville, Qiuensland, 16th September, 1885. The breeding season possibly 

 lasts until March. 



301. — iNlEi.ri'UKEi'TLS GULARis. Gould. — (348) 



BLACK-CHINNED HONEYEATER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv., pi. 71. 

 Rtfcrince. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus.. vol. ix., p 205. 



Previous Uescriplioiis o/Eggs.—Ra.msa.y : P.Z.S., p. .')97 ('875) ; Campbell ; 

 Southern Science Record (1883) ; also Proc. Austn. Assoc, vol. vii., 



p. 587(1898). 



Gnxjiapliical Di^trihiilinn. — Qiuensland, New South Wales, Victoria, 

 Soulh and West Austraha. 



Nest. — Cup-shaped ; composed of fine strips of bark matted together 

 with wool and spiders' cocoons ; warmly lined, sides as well as bottom, 

 with wool, hair, iStc. ; usually suspended and well hidden in a pendulous 

 leafy brauchlet of a eucalypt. Dimensions over all. 'Ih inches by 1\ 

 iuclies in depth; egg cavity, li,' inches across by VI inches deep. 



Einix. — Clutch, two to three; inclined to oval in form; te.xture of 

 shell fine ; siu-face slightly glossy ; colour, salmon-pink, with spots and 

 somewhat large markings of rich chestnut and dull piu-plish-brown 

 about the larger end. Dimensions in inches ; (1) 77 x 58, (2) 76 x 57, 

 (3) -75 X -56. 



Obnervatioiis. — The Black-chinned Honeyeater is one of tho larger 

 species of its genus, approaching ne.xt in size to the Strong-billed Honey- 

 cater of Tasmania. It ranges chiefly over the southern half of Aus- 

 tralia ; but is not usually found in the vicinity of the coast or in thick 

 forest. 



I never recollect identifying tliis bird in the open ; but have had 

 skins kindly forwarded for my examination from Mr. William White, 

 of Sotith Austraha, and more recently (1896) from Mr. H. E. Hill, 

 who collected the bird in the Bendigo district, Victoria. Eggs, fonnerly 

 described by me, I received from Mr. H. O. Lane, Dubbo district. New 

 South Wales. The specimens are somewhat smaller than I expected 

 to sec; but I find Dr. Ramsay gives even smaller dimensions (73 x -55 

 inches). I have re-desciibed an authenticated nest and eggs taken by 

 Messrs. A. White and J. W. Mellor. " Holmfirth," South Austraha. 

 The nest, which contained three eggs, was situated at the extremity of 

 a blue gum-tree bough. Tlic branch was so high that it had to be 

 severed from the tree and lowered to the gi-ound vritli ropes. Date, 

 3rd December, 1898. 



Breeding months, July to December. 



