PTILOTIS. 123 



more thickly disposed on the larger end, where are intermingled a few underlying markings of 

 dull violet-grey. Length (A) 0-92 x 0-67 inches; (B) o-g x 0-67 inches. 



From a note sent me by Mr. E. H. Webb, I ha\'e extracted the following: — "I found a nest 

 about half built of iVi/d/'/i mach-ayaim on the 20th September, 1903, at Goondi, on the Johnstone 

 River, and visited it again on the 3rd October when it was apparently ready for eggs. The 

 following week I found the female, which I subsequently procured, sitting on two partially 

 incubated eggs. The nest, a deep cup-shaped structure formed of withered leaves and fan-palm 

 fibre, was placed about ten feet up in a thick bushy tree, and attached rather loosely by the rim 

 to three separate twigs." 



Immature birds resemble the adults but are duller in colour, there is only a slight indication 

 of the whitish tips to the feathers on the hind neck, and the remainder of the markings on the 

 upper parts are less distinct; on the under parts the feathers on the fore neck and upper breast 

 are almost a uniform dull olive-yellow and destitute of the narrow yellow central streaks. Wing 

 3'2 inches. 



The breeding season it will be seen by the above quoted dates, commences in September 

 nd continues durinc; the three following months. 



Ptilotis frenata. 



BRIDLED HONEY-EATER. 



Ptilotis frenata, Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1874 p. 603; Gould, Bds. New Guinea, Vol. III., pi. 49 

 (187G); Gadow, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., Vol. IX., p. 231 (1884); North, Rec. Austr. Museum, 

 Vol. II., p. 15, pi. iii. (1892). 



Adult male — &'eneraZ colour ahoce dull brown, becoming darker on the liindneck and crown of 

 the head; upper wing-coverts, primary coverts and quills brown externally margined on their outer uebs 

 willb dull olive, these margitis being broader and more distinct on the secondaries; tail feathers brown, 

 externally edged tvith dull olive; lores, feathers in front and a narrow half ring of feathers below the 

 eye blackish-broivn, followed by a bare space extending below and behind the eye; feathers on the upper 

 portion ivhite with blackish-broivn tips; cheeks blackish-brown and gradually passiiig into black on the 

 hinder portion of the ear-coverts, above tvhich is a small tuft of bright golden-yellow feathers ; on the 

 sides of the neck a large triangular shaped patch of light greyish-brown feathers, those next the ear-coverts 

 being washed with yellow; chiti and sides of the throat dull brown, the latter separated from the cheeks 

 by ail indistinct line of dull yellow feathers, which broadens out ivliere they meet on the centre of the 

 throat; fore neck brotvn and gradually passing into a greyish-brown on the remainder of the under 

 surface; under tail-coverts greyish-brown with whitish margins; "bill blackish, the basal half except 

 on the culmen, yellow; legs and feet greyisli-bhte ; iris slate colour" (Smith). Total length: S inches, 

 wing 4; i'^il 3'6, bill 0-7, tarsus 1. 



Adult fem.\le — Similar in plumage to the male. 



Distribution — North-eastern Queensland. 



/"I^HIS \ery distinct species was described by Dr. E. P. Ramsay in 1S74 from specimens 

 -L obtained by Mr. K. Broadbent near Cardwell. Collecting on behalf of the Trustees of 

 the Australian Museum in 1SSS-9, Messrs. E. J. Cairn and R. Grant secured a number of 

 specimens, both near Cairns and on the higher peaks of the Bellenden Ker I^ange. There are 

 also examples in the Australian Museum collection obtained by the late Mr. W. S. Day at Boar 

 Pocket, and by Mr. .\. F. Smith at Hambledon, near Cairns. The latter writes me; — ''Ptilotis 



