The eggs are two in number for a sitting, oval in form, the shell being close-grained, 

 and almost lustreless, and are subject to much variation even in the same set. Common types 

 found in the scrubby coastal districts are either pure white, or a faint fleshy-white ground colour, 

 sparingly and minutely dotted and spotted almost entirely on the larger end with faint reddish- 

 chestnut, some specimens having only a few small dots on the larger end. Other types more 

 often found in mountainous districts, are of a rich fleshy-buff, with numerous irregular-shaped 

 penumbral spots, dashes, and irregular streaks of different shades of reddish-chestnut, some 

 specimens having rich reddish-purplish markings, and a few underlying spots of a fainter shade. 

 A set of two taken at Enfield, measures: — Length (A) o-88 x 0-63 inches ; (6)0-92 x 0'63 inches. 

 A set of two taken on the gth November, i8g-|., at Colo Vale, New Sourh Wales, measures: — 

 Length (A) 0-92 x 0-65 inches ; (B) 0-89 x 0-63 inches. A set of two taken at Frankston, Victoria, 

 in September, 1888, measures: — Length (A) o-S8 x 0-62 inches; (B) o-g x 0'63 inches. A set 

 of two taken by Mr. E. H. Lane, on Wambangalang Station, New South Wales, measures: — 

 Length (A) 0-82 x o-6i inches; (B)o'83 x o-6 inches. 



P'ledgelings differ from the adults in having duller plumage, the crown of the head is almost 

 uniform in colour with the back; upper throat greyish-brown; lores, cheeks and lower throat 

 dull blackish-brown; and the white ear-coverts are smaller. Immature birds may also be 

 distinguished by being duller in colour, the smaller white ear-coverts, and the black feathers 

 not reaching so low down on the fore neck. 



The breeding season usually commences in August, and continues until the end of January. 

 Mr. R. J. Etheridge showed me a set of two eggs, almost on the point of hatching that he had 

 taken at Concord, on the Parramatta River, on the 25th August, i8g3, also a partially incubated 

 set taken by him on the ist September following. Mr. E. H. Lane brought me nest, eggs, and 

 skin of parent for identification that he had taken on Wambangalang Station in October, 1892. 

 I obtained nests with fresh eggs in September, and noted fledgelings at the latter end of October 

 and again at the end of January, proof that at least two broods are reared in the breeding season. 

 Dr. E. P. Ramsay found a nest containing a fresh egg at Manar, New South Wales, on the 5th 

 January, 1864, and Mr. A. F. B. Hull sent me a note that his brother had taken a set of two 

 fresh eggs at Blackheath, on the Blue Mountains, on the gth January, igo4. At Middle Harbour 

 on the 15th August, igo6, I saw two young birds well able to fly, being fed by their parents. It 

 was a very dry autumn and winter, and several species of Honey-eaters had bred unusually early 

 that year. 



The White-eared Honey-eater is one of the foster parents of the Pallid Cuckoo. 



Ptilotis cratitia. 



"VV iTTLE-CHEEKED HOXEY-EATEK. 

 Ptilotis cratitius, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, IS-fO, p. IGO; id., Bds. Austr., fol.. Vol. IV., pi. .38 (1848). 



Ptilotis cratitia, Gould, Handbk, Bds. Austr, Vol. I., p. .513, (18G.5); Gadow, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., 

 Vol. IX., p. 243 (1884). 



Adult male — General colour aboiv dull olire-green; wings and tail brown, washed with 

 olive-green, which is brighter on the outer webs of the quills and lateral tail feathers; crown of 

 the head and ear-coverts dark silky-grey, followed by a tuft of bright yellow feathers ; lores and 

 remainder of sides of head dull black; sides of dipper throat bright yelloiv, separated from the feathers 

 below the eye and the ear-coverts by a fleshy wattle extending from the gape; remainder of the under 



