GLYCYPHILA 75 



having small whitish tips; remainder of the under surface ivhite, the feathers on the sides of the breast 

 and the flanks streaked with blackish-brown ; under tail-coverts white narrowly streaked witli blackish- 

 brown; under wiri(/-coverts pale fulvous ; "bill black; leys and feet grey; iris brown." (Morgan) 



Adult female —6'iTOt/ar in plumage to the male but the dark brown feathers do not extend 

 quite so low down on the fore neck. 



Distribution — New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Central Australia, \\'estern 

 Australia, North-western Australia. 



/~K\HE range of the White-fronted Honey-eater extends o\er the southern half of the 

 -L Australian continent, and is chiefly an inhabitant of the dry inland portions of the States. 

 There is an adult male in the Australian Museum collection obtained in the scrub at ]\Iiddle 

 Harbour, near Sydney in 1S78. This is the only instance I have known of its occurrence near 

 the east coast of Australia. Inland it occurs near the Lachlan River, also near Ivanhoe, 

 where the late Mr. K. H. Bennett found it breeding in October 18S6. It also frequents the 

 mallee scrub in north-western Victoria, and is apparently widely distributed over the southern 

 portions of South Australia; specimens from the latter State in the Australian Museum collection 

 were procured by Mr. K. Broadbent at Nonning, and by Mr. George Masters at Port Lincoln. 

 Dr. A. M. Morgan met with it at Laura, about one hundred and forty miles north of Adelaide, 

 and again while in company with Dr. A. Chenery, during a trip made from Port Augusta to the 

 Gawler Ranges, in August 1902. In Central Australia in 1894, a single immature male specimen 

 was obtained by the Horn Scientific Expedition, on the Levi Range. Mr. George Masters 

 procured an adult male at Mongup, Salt River Western Australia, in January 1869, Mr. Edwin 

 Ashby met with it at Callion to the north of Coolgardie, and at Point Cloates, North-western 

 Anstralia, Mr. Tom Carter informs me that it is found both on the coast and inland. 



Dr. A. M. ;\Iorgan sends the following note relative to the specimens obtained by Dr. 

 Chenery and himself during their trip to the Gawler Ranges: — " Glyciphila alhifrons was seen 

 occasionally from Wippipipee westwards. They were found in mulga, myall, and bushy country, 

 but not in salt-bush or low mallee. A female shot on the 7th August, at Wippipipee, contained 

 a nearly developed egg-yolk but no nests were found." 



From Port Augusta Dr. A. Chenery writes me: — "Glyciphila albifyous is a.n occasional visitor 

 to this town. I saw one or two in April 1904, also in 1905. In March 1902, one was being 

 chased by a Ptilotis sonova at the back of my house, and flying at a great rate between two 

 bui'dings, turned a corner quickly and struck against a weather-board outhouse and fell dead 

 almost at my feet. The pursuer swerved and escaped a similar fate." 



While resident at Point Cloates, North-western Australia, Mr. Tom Carter sent me the 

 following notes: — '•Glycyphila albiffons is a winter visitor, but if heavy summer rains occur its 

 appearance may be expected shortly after. It was exceedingly abundant in i8g8. Patches of 

 tall blue-flowering plants would be alive with these active but extremely shy birds, busily probing 

 the blossoms and frequently uttering a metallic "tink-tink." It has been scarce since then. A 

 few pairs may generally be found in the rocky ranges north of Point Cloates in the winter, but 

 it is very difficult to secure specimens. On the 28th July, 1899, after three hours watching I 

 succeeded in following a pair of these birds to their nest, placed on the top of a dense bunch of 

 prickly spinifex overgrown with creepers. The nest contained young." 



Through Mr. C. French, Junr., I have received the following notes from Mr. C. McLennan: — 

 " Glycyphila albifyous is a resident species in the Wimmera District, \'ictoria, and inhabits the low 

 scrub and mallee. It is a shy but very active bird, of rather rapid flight, and has a beautiful 

 metallic ringing note. It feeds upon nectar extracted from various flowers, principally from the 

 Mallee gum and Honey-suckle scrub, also small insects. The nest is usually built in a fork of 

 a dead shrub within one to three feet from the ground, generally in dead Acacias. I have also 



