120 



MELIPIIAGID.B. 



fibre, and at the bottom with a small quantity of silky-white plant-down. It is attached by 

 the rim on one side to a leafy horizontal branch from which springs a thin twig at right angles, 

 but this is concealed in the structure, two leaves being worked on to the side of the nest. Externally 

 it measures three inches and three-quarters in diameter by two inches and a quarter in depth, 

 the inner cup measuring three inches in diameter by one inch and a half in depth. 



The eggs, which were in an advanced state of incubation, are two in number, oval in form, 

 somewhat pointed at the smaller end, the shell being close-grained, smooth and lustrous. They 

 are of a uniform fleshy-buff colour, being of a slightly richer shade on the larger end, where on 

 one specimen, with the aid of a lens, a few very minute darker dots may be seen. The eggs of 

 this species are indistinguishable in colour from a variety of those of its close ally the Singing 

 Honey-eater, also from those of the Pallid Cuckoo. Length (A) o-g6 x 07 inches; (6)0-94 

 X 0-68 inches. 



Relative to taking this nest 

 and set of eggs, jMr. Smith has 

 kindly supplied me with the 

 following notes: — "This species 

 is fairly plentiful on one of the 

 Frankland Islands off the coast 

 of North-eastern Queensland. It 

 has a loud call that attracted my 

 attention as our boat drew near 

 the island, as something quite 

 different to anything I had heard 

 before, but cannot describe it very 

 well, it is a clear musical whistle 

 of four or five notes. The nest 

 was built in a tree on the edge of 

 the scrub which covers half the 

 island, and about ten yards from the beach. It was seven feet from the ground, and attached 

 to thin upright twigs on one side, and the horizontal branch on the other side which remains 

 fastened to the nest. It contained two eggs very much incubated, and while I was taking them 

 the pair of birds perched on a tree alongside and uttered their loud cries. I brought both down 

 with one shot without damaging either as specimens." Writing later, Mr. Smith remarks: — 

 "I visited the Frankland Islands again on the 29th October, 1905, and shot an adult male of 

 Ptilotis versicolor. I saw two pairs of adults feeding large young well able to fly about, but did 

 not see any nests, probably it was too late." Mr. Smith has also observed this species 

 inhabiting private gardens about Cairns. 



NEST AND EGGS OF THE VARIED HONEY-EATER. 



Ptilotis macleayana. 



MACLEAY'S HONEY-EATER. 



Ptilotis versicolor ^, Ramsa}', Proc. Zool. Soc , 18G8, p. 386. 



Ptilotis ntacleaijana, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soo. N.S.W., Vol. I., p. 10 (1S7-")); North, Proc. Linn. 



Sec. N.S.W., Vol. XXIII., p. 380 (1898). 

 Ptilotis Jiavostriata, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1875, p. 31G; id, Eds. New Guin., Vol. III., pi. ."lO 



(187G). 

 Ptilotis Jlavistriatn, Gadow, Cat. Bds. Erit. Mas., Vol. IX., p. 232 (1884). 



