^,0 A'ESTS AMD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



arc uisually less numerous and more confined to the larger end. 

 Dimensions in inches of clutches : Taken in Victoria ; (1) 1-32 x -9, 

 (2) 1-23 X -9; taken in Riverina : (1) 129 x -86, (2) 1-24 x -85. 

 (Plate 15.) 



Ohservafions. — This splendid species is probably the largest of our 

 Honeyeaters, being about the size of the Friar Bird. It wears a 

 handsome coat of golden-olive, while the undomoath parts are white. 

 The head is black, set off with naked skin of a beautiful bluish or 

 gi-oenish hue on the face, around the yellowish-white eyes. 



Tliis big Honcyeater enjoys a goodly range, chiefly throughout 

 the eastern half of Australia, and especially along the rivers of the 

 interior. 



It may be considered an inland species, and in Victoria it does not 

 pass the Dividing Range — the southern limit of its habitat. 



Gould, who says this attractive and beautiful Honcyeater is 

 one of the finest of our indigenous Meliphngitla:, gives us a 

 refreshing mental picture when he writes: — "I have frequently .seen 

 eight or ten of these bold and spirited birds on a single tree, displaying 

 the most easy and elegant movements, clinging and hanging in every 

 variety of position, frequently at the extreme ends of the small, thickly- 

 flowered bi'anches, l>ending them down with their own weight. Tliey 

 may bo easily distinguished from other birds with which they are 

 frequently in company by their supeiior size, the brilliancy of their 

 blue face, and the contrasted colours of their plumage." 



I had an opportunity of proving the curious fact mentioned by 

 Gould of the Blue-faced Honcyeater depositing its eggs in the deser- 

 ted nest of the Babbler (Pomafnrhiuuf:). In the beginning of 

 September, 1881, in the Bendigo district, I was wending my way along 

 a track through timber — in fact, I had lost my road — when I observed 

 a .splendid Blue-face in a small tree. There was also an old Pomafnr- 

 liiiiiis nest in the tree. I recollected Gould's remarks, and ascended to 

 prospect. In the crown of the large stick nest I found embedded a 

 round, open, bark-made nest, containing a large and lovely pair of the 

 Honeyca.ter's eggs. 



Gould further remarks " that in places where no substitute is to 

 bo found, the Bluc-fa<"c makes a nest like other species of its tribe." 



On the 16th October, 1885, when at Coomooboolaroo, Queensland, 

 with Mr. Han-y Barnard, I had an opportunity of observing a nest 

 suspended in a eucalvpt, which was owned, and apparently built by the 

 Blue-faced Honcyeater, and from which we took a specimen of that 

 bird's eggs. Tlic nest resembled that of an Oriole, or Friar Bird, only 

 was not so heavily constructed. 



Mr. Harry Barnard's experience is that " In nine cases out of ten 

 the Entomyza breeds in another bird's nest, mostly in old nests of 

 Pamntrirliiiii ; but the entrance is always enlarged, and the Entomyza 

 builds its own nest inside, lining it with stems of dry grass, Uke the 

 inside of a Friar Bird's nest. 



" When the Entomyza builds its own nest independently, it very 

 closely resembles that of the Friar Bird ; but is more loosely con- 



