42i 



A'ESTS AAD eggs of AUSTRALIAN B/A'DS. 



Dimensions over all, 4 to 5 inches by 2i inches in depth ; egg cavity, 

 2| to 3 inches across by Ij to 2 inches deep. 



Eyys. — Clutch, two to tlu-ee ; inclined to oval iu form ; texture 

 line ; surface glossy ; coloiu', light olive, moderately marked, but more 

 thickly about the apex, with umber and dull-grey spots. Dimensions 

 of a clutch in inches: (1) TOG x '76, (2) r01x"74; another pair; 

 (1) 1-06 X -72, (2) 1-05 X -72. (Plate 15.) 



These eggs are quite an exception to the usual chai-acter of 

 colouiing for Honeyeaters', and more resemble types of the Yellow- 

 breasted Thickheads' ( PachycephalwJ. 



Ohiervatiuns.- — The Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater is a greyish mottled 

 bird, with throat and chest pale-rufous. There are curious white hairs 

 or spines on the cheeks, hence the name of Spiny-cheek ; eyes beautifxil 

 and bluish ; bill flesh-coloured, with a dark tip. 



Probably no Austrahan Honeyeater is more interesting and pleasing 

 than the elegant Spiny-cheeked. (By the way, Gould does not mention 

 that frequently some of the spines on the cheek are yellowish and not 

 always wholly white.) Its geogi-aphical range extends from Southem 

 Queensland down south and across to Western Australia. It may be 

 regarded as an inland species, but in winter it moves towards the sea^ 

 board, and is a visitor to the parks, cemeteries, &c., around Melboiume, 

 Geelong, &c., where its peculiar gurgling call may be frequently heard. 



The earhest I have heard the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater about 

 Melbourne (exact locality, Armadale), has been the 22ud May, the 

 latest I have heard them being the 1st September, in the Botanical 

 Gardens. About September these birds commence to return inland to 

 their breeding haunts, which in some instances are not far away. 



In October, 1882, I found two nests in the mallee, near Nhill, 

 Victoria. One was in an acacia bush witlun reach. It was then 

 building, the first egg being laid on the 20th, the second three days 

 afterwards, when the nest was taken. Tlie other nest was at a height of 

 about ten feet in an erect bull-oak (Camurina). It was also building. 

 The first egg was deposited on the 18th, then an egg on each of the 

 two following days. Full clutch, three. 



Nearer home, on the Upper Wembee, November, 1890, with the 

 Messrs. Brittlebank, I found two more Spinys' nes-ts, as we called 

 them. One was most charmingly situated in a wi-eath of feathery 

 seeding clematis that adorned a bvishy acacia (see illustration), the 

 other being situated in a shapely native cherry tree (Exocarpus). 

 Dates, 8th and 11th respectively. 



The Messrs. Brittlebank have found the nests of the Spiny-cheeked 

 Honeyeater in the following trees and shrubs, namely : bursaria, lepto- 

 spermimi, dodonEea, casuarina, exocarpus, and in another tree that 

 grows by the river bank which they forgot the botanical name of; 

 also in clematis and loranthus. 



Breeding months end of September or beginning of October to 

 December. 



