iV£srS AND hCGS Ol AUSi KALIAN blKUS. 



373 



These eggs ai-e not so white as those of the other Glycyphila:, 

 but most resemble those of the Crescent Honey eater (Aleliornis 

 uustralasiana). 



Observatiii/is.- — Gould lirst observed lliis speeies in the gi-cat Murray 

 sci-ub of South Australia, where he succeeded in killing several speci- 

 mens of both sexes. It is also an inhabitant of the inland districts of 

 Western Austraha, and likewise found in the interior of Victoria, 

 notably the Winimera district (where 1 have seen the bird), and of New 

 South Wales, where it is said to be scarce. 1 believe it was seen in 

 the North-west Desert by the Calvert Expedition, 1896. 



Mr. Charles McLennan was good enough to forward me a bird, 

 nest, and eggs from the Wimmcra, togctlier with some interesting field 

 notes gathered dm-ing liis trapping travels one winter season (1899), 

 which was remarkable for the number of different kinds of birds that 

 were breeding at the time. 



Although the usual breeding months recorded for the White-fronted 

 Honoyeater are August to Februaiy, Mr. McLennan foimd nests as 

 under : — 



April 1st — Nest, two eggs, in smaU mallee bush about three feet 

 from the ground; 10th April — Nest, two eggs, in small prickly bush; 

 15th May — Nest, two young ones, in porcupine grass; May 23rd— 

 Two nests, two eggs each; June oOth — Nest, one young and one egg; 

 July 26th — Nest, two eggs; July 27th — Nest, two eggs. 



310. — Glycyphila fasciata, Gould. — (303) 

 WHITE-BREASTED HONEYEATER. 



figure. — Gould; Birds ot Australia, fol , vol. iv., pi. 30. 



Refciencc. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mas , vol, ix., p. 212. 



frevioui Descriptions of Eggs. — Campbell : Southern Science Record (1885) ; 

 North: Austn. Mus. Cat., ^app., pi. 13, fig- 9 (iSgo) ; Campbell: 

 I'roc. Austn. Assoc, vol. vii., p. 597(1898); Le Souef : Victorian 

 Naturalist, vol, xvi., p. 67 (1899). 



Geotjrajjiiicu/ Distribution. — Northern TeiTitory and Queensland. 



iVf.s/. — Unusual shape for that of a Honeyeater, being domed, 

 vrith side entrance ; composed entirely of papoi-like mclaleuca bark ; 

 lined inside with the same but finer material ; usually suspended from 

 a mclaleuca tree overhanging water. 



Ef/ff.^. — Clutch, tliree; elongated in form; textui-e of shell veiy 

 fine ; siuf ace without gloss ; colour, wliite, numerously freckled and 

 spotted like Wrens' (Mahiri) eggs, with reddish-brown, more particu- 

 larly about the apex. Dimensions in inches of a clutch : (1) •82 x -54, 

 (2) -8 X -52. 



