374 NESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Observations. — This White-breasted Honeyeater enjoys a habitat 

 across Northern Australia. In May, 1884, I was indebted to the late 

 Mr. George Barnard, of Coomoobooiaroo (Queensland), for the eggs 

 of this interesting species. His son, Mr. Harry Barnard, sub- 

 sequently wrote me: — "Re Glyryphila fnsciata, the breeding months 

 are October and November. In November, 1893, I foimd five nests 

 on the Dawson River, three of which were ready for eggs, one con- 

 taining a set of three eggs, and the fifth had three newly-hatched young. 

 The nests are always built on long, drooping twigs overhanging water, 

 and at times are very difficult to reach. The trees generally selected 

 are melaleucas, the nests being built of the bark of that tree." 



311. — Glycyphila ocularis, Gould. — (304) 

 BROWN HONEYEATER. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol.. vol. iv., pi. 31 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 213. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1848), also 

 Handbook, vol. i. p. 501 (1865) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 198, 

 pi. 13, fig. 17 (1889): Campbell: Proc. Austn. Assoc, vol. 

 vii.,p. 59S (1898). 



Geographical Distributiu?i. — Northern Territory, Queensland, New 

 South Wales, West and North-west Austraha. 



Nest. — Cup-shaped, small ; deUcately constructed of soft bark (notably 

 melaleuca), with a few spiders' cocoons added, and finished round the 

 rim with spiders' web ; in Queensland, usually lined inside with the shiny 

 substance composing the cocoons of a mantis ; in Western Austraha, 

 cosily lined with the hglit brownish downy substance gathered from the 

 stems of zamias (Ci/cadsJ; usually placed within reach, suspended 

 among the vipiight twigs of a bush or a small tree. Dimensions over 

 aO, 2^ inches by H to 2| inches in depth; egg cavity, IJ inches across 

 by 1^ to 1^ inches deep. (See illustration.) 



Eggs. — Clutch, two ; short in shape, peculiarly compressed about the 

 smaller end, which appears somewhat blunt ; colour, sometimes uni- 

 formly white, but usually marked with a very few spots of pale-chestnut 

 or light reddish-brown, especially about the apex. Dimensions of a 

 clutch in inches: (1) -67 x -51, (2) -66 x -51. (Plate 13.) 



Obserrations. — Excepting the extreme south-eastern portion of the 

 Continent, this cheerful little Honeyeater enjoys a habitat on either 

 side of Australia. 



At Townsville, 1885, tliis bird first attracted my attention by its 

 merry, Reed Warbler-like song, which is exceedingly cheerful. Gould 

 describes it as " remarkably shrill, rich, clear and distinct in tone." 

 He also remarked that when the female is sitting upon her eggs the 

 male sings all day long, with scarcely any intermission. 



