\i.srs AAD £OGS CA ALSTKALIAN BIRDS. 



395 



ObsKrvalioiif. — The exceediugly tine Yellow-throated lloneyoater is 

 well uamed for iu beautiful colouring on the throat, its general plum- 

 age being olive-yellow. It is an insular form coufmed to Tasmania 

 and some of the islands iu Bass Strait, notably King Island and 

 Furueaux Group. In the last-named localities we procured buds and 

 nests dui-ing the expeditions (1887 and 18'J3) of the Field Natuialists' 

 Club of Victoria. 



On King Ishuid two nests were found iu low bushes, and were 

 warmly fui'nishcd with a thick ply of opossum's fur. Our specimeus 

 of birds were easily procured. All that was necessary w;is to imitate 

 their wliistle-like " tchook, tchook " call notes, wlicu a poor bird 

 would answer ;uid fly into the tree overhead its deceiver, from whence 

 it easily fell to a half charge of dust shot. 



Strolling through the scrub on Flindei-s, 1 watched a pair of Ycllow- 

 ihroats chevying each other through the trees. A butterfly crossed in 

 front, diverting the attention of the foremost bud, which instantly 

 captiued it and Hew to a tree. Devouring the insect, the bird wiped 

 its bill on the branch, with evident satisfaction, and made off again. 



An unoccupied nest I found in a tea-tree thicket is not unlike that 

 of the White-eared Honcyeater of the mainland, being constructed of 

 bark, grass, and spiders' cocoons, but hncd with wool and feathers 

 instead of hair only. However, in Tasmania the YcUow-tlu-oated 

 Honcyeater ha^ been seen gathci'ing hair for its nest from Uve animals, 

 even " human ' animals, for Mr. A. E. Bx-ent gives me the following 

 amusing story : — 



He and a companion were hiding among ferns (bracken) iu a deep 

 gully watching for Hawks. A Yellow-throated Honcyeater was noticed 

 poking about as if it h;id a nest near. They took off their hats so as 

 not to attract the bird's attention. The bird hojjped around, then 

 alighted upon one of their heads, and commenced tugging at the hair, 

 which would not yield like the fur of a marsupial. Tlic bird tugged 

 harder, but the hair slijjping through its bill caused the bird to turn 

 a semi-somersault backwards, which made Mr. Brent and his companion 

 laugh so that the bu'd was scared away. The nest in process of building 

 was fovuid about fifteen paces away. 



Gould found a nest containing young (28th September, 1839). He 

 also described the nest, its situation, and eggs. 



Two young ones of tliis species, mounted in the Hobart Museum, 

 are as yellow as Canaries. There were originally three of these 

 curiously freaked youngsters in the nest. 



Breeding months August to December. 



331. — Ptilotis FASCioGULARis, Gould. (30'J) 



FASCIATED HONEYEATEE. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol , supp., pi 40 

 Reference. — Cat, Birds Brit. Mus., vol. i.\., p. 240. 



Geographical Distribution. — Queensland. 



