NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 357 



pared Honcyeaters' nests wa.s in 1883, if I rocollcct rightly — when 

 I found throe nests all situated about a foot from the ground, and lined 

 with a thick wanu ply of cow-haii's wonderfully woven. 



It is interesting to watch tiie birds plucking hair off while perched 

 on tlie backs of cattle, and rather a difficult tiusk it proves for tlie bird 

 to effect lodgment, especially if the cow patronised be not in an ami- 

 able mood, when she tosses her head angi-ily and switches her tail from 

 n.ink to flank, while the bird, fluttering over, waits an opportunity to 

 (lo(l_t!i' the appendage, and Ijetween eacii lash plucks a few hairs till a 

 mouthful is obtained, then flics to its nest. 



Mr. G. E. Shepherd, Somcrville, Victoria, has enjoyed a somewhat 

 comical experience with nest-building Wliite-eared Honeyeaters. They 

 have actually plucked hairs fr-om liis horse when ho was riding through 

 the scrub. No doubt before cattle were introduced to Australia, this 

 beautiful Honoyealer furnished its nest with the hair or fur of 

 kangaroos and other indigenous animals. 



Mr. C. F. Belcher has observed that the same pair of White-eared 

 Honeyeaters will build witiiin a few feet of the same spot year after 

 year. 



Breeding months from the end of August to December. 



333. — Ptilotis cockerelli, Gould. 

 COCKEEELL HONEYEATEK. 



Figmt Gould: Birds ol Austnilia, fol , supp pi. 43 

 A'l/criHi'f.- Cat. Birds Bril. Mils . \ol i.\ , p 241. 



GetKjrti phinil Dixfrihiil inn. — North Queensland. 

 Next anfl ^(/(/.9.— Undescribod. 



Ohserm films. — Of this rare Honcyeater Gould writes : " It is but an 

 act of justice that at least one of the birds of Aastralia should be named 

 after Mr. James Cockerell, inasmuch as he is a native-born Australian, 

 has collected very largely in the iiortliem parts of that gi'eat country, 

 and discovered more than one new species, amongst which must lie 

 enumerated the present very interesting bird." 



Mr. Cockerell foimd his namesake frequenting the little-explored 

 parts of Cape York Peninsula, often in company with the Blue-bellied 

 Lorikeet and the Yellow-spotted Honcyeater. 



When Mr. Harn- Barnard was collecting for Mr. D. Le Souef and 

 others during the breeding sea.soii of 1S9G 7, at Cape York, he met witli 

 the Cockerell Honcyeater, but did not succeed in procuring its nest. 



