4i6 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



boiirhood of sheep-walks wool collected from the scrub; usually placed 

 near the top of a small, weak, thinly-branched bush of about two or 

 three feet in height, in a scnib of sapling cucalypts, &c. (Gilbert — 

 Gould). Dimensions over all, Sinches by 3 inches in depth ; egg cavity, 

 2 inches across by 1^ inches deep. 



Eggs. — Clutch, two usually ; oval inclined in form ; texture of shell 

 fine ; surface slightly glos,sy ; colour, palc-bufl', darker on the apex, 

 around which is a belt of fine spots of reddish-chestnut inter- 

 mingled with purplish-grey ones, spots also appear here and there over 

 the shell. Dimensions of a clutch in inches: (1) '84 x 6, (2) -78 x -59. 



Observations. — The Moustached Honeyeater is an inhabitant of 

 Western Australia, where, as Gould states, it beautifully represents 

 the White-cheeked Honeyeater of the eastern coa,st. 



The Moustached Honeyeater is fairly abundant in the sci-ubs about 

 Perth Waters, and especially on the scrubby limestone hills in the 

 vicinity of Fremantle. In both localities I observed the birds, which 

 were remarkably shy compared with their Long-billed brethren 

 of the Cape Leeuwin forests. I also discovered a nest building, but did 

 not obtain the eggs. The nest was constructed of teartree (Melnhiica) 

 bark, rimmed with fine dead twigs, and lined with soft portions of 

 banksia cones (two varieties) and other soft seeds. However, eggs 

 taken by a young local acquaintance the following season (8th October, 

 1 890) reached me safely. 



Gilbert found this .species an early breeder, young birds ready to 

 leave the nest having been seen on the 8th August. The time when 

 I observed the nest building was towards the end of November. 

 Therefore, we may infer that the breeding season is from the end of 

 June or the beginning of July to December. 



350. — Manorhtna melanophrys, Latham.- — (357) 

 BELL MINER. 



Figure. — Gould; Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv., pi. 8o. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 259. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Campbell : Southern Science Record 

 and Nests and Eggs Austn. Birds, pi. i, fig. 357 {1883) ; also 

 Proc. Austn. Assoc, vol. vii., p. 635 (i8g8) ; North : ,\ustn. 

 Mus. Cat., p. 231 (1889). 



Geogrnphiral Distrihutinti. — ^South Queensland (Highfields), New 

 South Wales, and Victoria. 



Nest. — Cup-shaped, round, neat, but somewhat frail ; composed of 

 fine twigs partially covered outwardly with fine shreds of bark and 

 cocoons, but sometimes entirely covered with moss and cocoons, 

 occasionally ornamented round the rim with broad soft leaves; inside 



