402 



N£STS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIFDS. 



This species may be distinguished from all its kind by the stripes 

 of lovely lilac-coloured naked skin which stretch from the corner of 

 the mouth across the sides of the cheeks ; hence the vernacular name, 

 " Wattle-cheeked. " The wattle, however, in the young or immatuie 

 bird is yellowish. 



Gould firet found this Honeyeater as a new bird on the 26th June, 

 1839, in the ranges near the Upper Toirens, in South Australia. So, 

 sixty years passed before an authenticated nest with eggs was dis- 

 covered and brought to scientific light. 



During a search for Mallee Hen egg mounds near Lawloit, October, 

 1884, I flushed a Wattle-cheeked Honeyeater in the act of constructing 

 its nest ; but I never passed that way again, and ] had no fui'ther oppor- 

 tunity of exploring the haunts of the Honeyeater till September, 1899, 

 when, with two companions, I was investigating some mallee scrub, 

 locaUy known as Kemp's Block, at Woorak West, about ten miles to 

 the north of tho flourishing township of Nhill. Finding the interesting 

 birds fairly numerous there, we secui-ed three pairs of skins for museum 

 purposes, and on the 25th I discovered a nest containing a pair of almost 

 fresh eggs, procuring one of the parents for identification. 



The nest was situated about six feet from the groimd, in a parasitical 

 creeper (Caxxytha ), entwining a mallee bush ( Eiiralyptux). I saw 

 another nest similarly situated, but about three feet from the ground, 

 which had been tenanted by yoimg, but whether the ciu'rent season or 

 the last I could not say. Other two nests apparently in course of con- 

 struction were found, and two old ones- — one being in a stiff-leafed 

 Grevilha, and one in another kind of bush. 



One of the bird's calls — probably its alarm-note — is loud, and sounds 

 something like " chuc-chuc-chuc-chuc-chuc," repeated very rapidly many 

 times. Another noise is composed of jerky rattle-like notes. The 

 birds are shy as well as noisy. 



An egg in the collection of Mr. William White, Reed-beds, South 

 Australia, is probably referable to this species. It was taken on 

 Kangaroo Island early in October, 1895. There were two eggs in the 

 nest, but one was unfortunately broken. The remaining one resembles 

 the roundish examples above described, and measui-es -76 x -65 inches. 



337. — Ptilotis keaetlandi. North. 



KEARTLAND HONEYEATER. 



Figure and Reference. — North : Report Horn Scientific Expedition, pi. 6. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — North: Report Horn Scientific Expedition. 



p. 94 (1896); Campbell: Proc. Austn Assoc , vol vii , p 623 (1898). 



Geoi/rapJiical Distribution. — South (Central), West, and North-west 

 Australia. 



Nest. — Not unlike that of P. sonora (Singing Honeyeater). 



