CERTHIONYX. 89 



The Pied Honey-eater, as it is commonly called, is widely distributed, principally over the 

 southern half of the Australian Continent. There are specimens in the Australian Museum 

 obtained by the late Mr. K. H. Bennett, in the Lachlan River and the Mossgiel Districts, New 

 South Wales, also an adult male from Port Wakefield, South Australia. Specimens have also 

 been kindly lent for examination by the Director of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide; an 

 adult male and female from the Gawler Ran<:;es procured by the late Mr. F. M. Andrews, in 

 September 1883, and a beautiful adult male obtained on the 3rd Aufcust, igoo, by Dr. A. M. 

 Morgan, at a place known as The Birthday, about ninety-fi\e miles to the north-west of Port 

 Augusta. Relative to the latter. Dr. Morgan writes me: — "Only one specimen of Certhionyx 

 leucomclas was obtained. This bird is of a very retiring habit, and was discovered by its 

 note, which is a mournful whistle, resembling that of Megnliinis grainiueiis : no nests were 

 found." 



From Port Augusta, South Australia, Dr. A. Chenery writes me: — " Lichnotcntha Icncomelas 

 is rather rare in this district. A nest was taken at Euro Bluff, thirty-eight miles to the north- 

 west, on the 9th September, iSgg. It was built in a Wild Currant bush about six feet from 

 the ground and contained three eggs. I have seen birds occasionally since, both in myall country 

 and in mallee." 



The following notes were made by the late Mr. K. H. Bennett : — "The Pied Honey-eater is a 

 migratory species, arriving in the Mossgiel District, New South Wales, about the beginning of 

 October and departing again at the end of the year. Although somewhat numerous here in 

 good seasons, I have never met with it in flocks, as described by Gilbert in Western Australia. 

 When disturbed I have frequently observed it mount almost perpendicularly to a considerable 

 height before flying off, and it is at all times exceedingly shy. I have occasionally met with this 

 bird in the clumps of timber on the plains, but during its stay here it is usually found in thickly 

 timbered or scrubby country. Besides the pollen or nectar of flowers, its food consists of various 

 small berries." 



Mr. G. A. Keartland writes me: — "Whilst in the Great Desert of North-western Australia 

 with the Calvert Exploring Expedition in September 1896, I shot a great number of Pied Honey- 

 eaters (Certhionyx leucomclas) in some open mallee scrub. Several of them, immature males, had 

 a number of brown feathers on the head and back, showing they had not attained their full adult 

 plumage. On the 22nd October, i8g6, I discovered a pair of these birds at their nest, which 

 was placed in the fork of a horizontal branch of a cork-bark tree. It was built of short grass 

 stems, bound together with spiders' webs, and contained one fresh egg, similar to those of ^r?(j»n<5 

 sordidus. .K few days later several flocks of these birds were noticed flying northwards ; their 

 flight was like that of the Warty-faced Honey-eater. At the Fitzroy River I met with this 

 species again, but they were either flying too high, or were so wary I did not procure any 

 specimens. In 1895 I received several sets of their eggs taken by Mr. C. E. Cowle at Illamurta, 

 Central Australia, but at the time was not quite certain as to the identity of them." 



While resident at Point Cloates, North-western Australia, Mr. Tom Carter wrote me as 

 follows: — "The Pied Honey-eater is one of the commonest winter visitors, occurring in great 

 numbers immediately after the first heavy rain. Odd birds may also be seen in summer, but 

 usually immature birds in the dull plumage of the female. Perched on the top of a low bush 

 the male utters a rather melancholy piping note; sometimes flying up in the air and singing as it 

 descends, with outspread tail-feathers to rest on another bush. They chiefly frequent thick scrub 

 on the coast sand-hills. Their nests are well made structures, and generally about four or five feet 

 from the ground. I have taken nests with egg or young between 27th June and the 24th July, 

 in diflerent seasons. Three eggs is the usual number laid. The female occasionally feigns 

 lameness or a broken wing if disturbed off a nest containing young." 



