NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 415 



Ned. — Cup-shaped ; outwardly composed of fine twigs, strips of bark, 

 and fine grasses; lined inside witli nesls of spiders and the soft downy 

 substance of banksia cones ; another example in the Australian Museum 

 is almost entirely composed of strips of bark, with a lining of dried 

 portions of flannel flower ( Arfinolus). Dimensions over all, 3^ inches 

 by 3 inches in depth ; egg cavity, 2 inches across by 1 § inches deep 

 (North). 



Er/ffs. — Clutch, two usually; somewhat pointed oval in foi-m ; 

 tcxtm-e of shell fine ; surface slightly glossy ; colour, pale-buff or flesh- 

 tint, darker on the apex, which is suiTounded with pinkish-red or 

 reddish-brown spots. Dimensions in inches of a smallish clutch : 

 (1) ISx-bb, (2) •72x-54. 



Observations. — This showy Honcyeater, with white cheeks, is an 

 inhabitant of the eastern coastal country. The bird, Gould states, 

 differs materially in its habits and disposition from the White-bearded 

 Honeyoater, being less exclusively confined to the scrub, and affecting 

 localities of a more open character. He found it tolerably abundant 

 in the Illawarra district, particularly among the shrubs surroiniding the 

 open glades of the forest. It is also common at Botany Bay and most 

 paj^ of that coast. Gould did not meet with the bird during his 

 excui'sions inland, nor did he succeed in finding its nest. 



The eggs of the White-cheeked Honeyeater in my collection, which 

 I described (1883) on the authority of Dr. A. E. Cox, were taken in 

 Sutton Forest, Illawarra. 



Mr. North informs us that the nest of the White-cheeked Honey- 

 eater is usually pla<'ed in the fork of a banksia or hakea, partly resting 

 with the rim of the nest attached to the branches holding it in position, 

 but it is often found in orange trees in gardens, in which case the nest 

 is always suspended by the rim. 



Breeding sea.son June to November, and probably later. 



349. — Meliornis MYSTACAI.I8, Gould. — (299) 

 MOUSTACHED HONEYEATER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv., pi. 26. 



Referenee. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 255. 



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



also Handbook, vol. i., p. 492 (1865) ; Campbell : Proc. Austn. 



-Assoc, vol. vii., p. 634 (1898). 



Geographical Distribution . — West Australia. 



Ncit. — Formed of small dried sticks, grass, and narrow strips of soft 

 bark ; usually lined with zamia wool ; but in those parts of the country 

 where that plant is not found, the soft buds of flowers or the hairy 

 flowering parts of grasses form the Uning material, and in the neigh- 



