_j64 NESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTKALIAN BIRDS. 



302. — Melithreptus validiuostris, Gould. — (347) 

 STRONG-BILLED HONEYEATER. 



Figure. — Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv,, pi, 70, 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 206, 



Previous Descriptions of Eg^s.—Go\x\d, Birds of Australia (1848); also 

 Handbook, vol. i., p. 565 (1865) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., 

 p. 223 (1889) ; Campbell : Proc. Austn. Assoc, vol. vii., p. 588. 

 (1898). 



Giu<jrapltical Dixtrihution. — Tasmania, King Island, and probably 

 Furneaiix Group. 



Nest.- — Cup-shaped, deep, round ; composed chiefly of wool and 

 grasses, in some instances of stiingy-bark ; inside lined with a few 

 flowering portions of grass, &c. ; usually suspended in the topmost 

 branches of a sapling or other tree. 



Eggs. — Clutch, three usually ; nearly oval, slightly compressed 

 towards one end ; texture fine ; siu-face without gloss ; coloiu", beautiful 

 flesh-tint, moderately but boldly blotched and spotted, and chiefly 

 about the apex, with rich reddish-brown or chestnut and dull purple- 

 brown. Dimensions of a pair in inches : (1) '88 x -66, (2) 86 x -63. 

 (Plate 13.) 



Ohscrvations. — This line Honeyeater — the largest of a most interest- 

 ing genus — is pecuhar to Tasmania and Bang Island, where I have 

 myself procured the bird. Gould was indebted to the late Rev. Tliomas 

 J. Ewing, D.D., for the nest and eggs of the Strong-billed Honeyeater, 

 which he (Gould) failed to find liimself diu'ing his sojourn in Tasmania. 



I have to thank the Rev. T. H. Hull, of Tasmania, for the first 

 examples of eggs in my collection, which were obtained during the 

 season 1874. 



Breeding season AuEfust to December. 



303. — Melithreptus brevirostkis. Vigors and Horsfield. 

 BROWN-HEADED HONEYEATER. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol.ix., p, 207 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Campbell : Southern Science Record ; 

 and Nests and Eggs Austn. Birds, pi. r, fig. 349A (1883) ; also 

 Proc. Austn. Assoc, vol. vii., p. 589 (i8g8) ; North : Austn. Mus., 

 Cat., p. 225, (1889). 



Geographical Distrihutiiin. — Queensland, New South Wales, Vic- 

 toria, South and West AustraUa. 



Nest. — Cup-shaped, small, neat; composed of grasses or fine 

 slu'eds of bai'k matted together with portions of spiders' cocoons, 



