MELITIlliKPTUS. 191 



rule as regards size. Wing-measurement of adult males obtained in the neighbourhood of 

 Sydney, vary from 2-8 to 3 inches. The Port Denison, Queensland, specimen is similar to 

 Sydney examples, but slightly under the average size, v.'ing 2-75 inches. Of the specimens in 

 the South Australian Museum, one from Blackwood is similar in colour and size to examples 

 obtained at Toongabbie and Roseville, New South Wales, but it has a dull bufify-white loral 

 streak which is only occasionally found in New South Wales birds. A specimen obtained by 

 Dr. A. M. Morgan at Laura, about one hundred and forty miles north of Adelaide, is slightly 

 smaller, has the bufTy-white loral streak more pronounced, the cheeks a clearer white, and the 

 under parts of a more faint creamy-bufT shade. Wing 27 inches. Another, an adult female 

 obtained seventy miles west of Port Victor is similar in colour and size to an adult male in the 

 Australian Museum collection, received from the Perth Museum, under the name oi Melithveptus 

 leucogeuys. Wing 2-65 inches. It is slightly smaller, has only a very small and indistinct loral 

 streak, paler under parts, and the blackish-brown band below the nape very pronounced. I shot 

 a similar bird at Dubbo two hundred and seventy-eight miles west of Sydney. Specimens in 

 Mr. Edwin Ashby's collection obtained respectively at Happy Valley and Saddleworth 'in 

 January and February, 1900, differ chiefly from the preceding in their slightly larger wing- 

 measurement and their distinct sandy-buff under parts, ^^'i^g 2-7 - 2-S inches. Of these birds 

 Mr. Ashby writes — ^' McUthrcpiiis brcviroiiris \s very numerous in the neighbourhood of Black- 

 wood, South Australia, especially in the scrubby sandy country." From an examination of 

 specimens in the Macleay Museum, I belie\e Western Australian examples, in addition to having 

 lighter under parts are not only occasionallv, but constantly smaller than typical examples 

 obtained near Sydney, but similar birds are sometimes found in South Australia, and the inland 

 portions of New South \\'ales. 



I first met with this species in the sapling scrubs around Bendigo, N'ictoria, and also in the 

 larger Eucalypti on the shores of Western Port Bay. At \Vest Narrabri, New South Wales, 'in 

 November, i8g6, only two pairs were seen. In the neighbourhood of Sydney it is fairly common 

 in some localities, especially in the winter months, when it moves about m small flocks from about 

 seven to twelve or more in number; one's attention being more often attracted to it by its peculiar 

 grating or rasping notes as it passes from tree to tree. It fre(;iuents scrub and open forest lands, 

 and is particularly plentiful at Middle Harbour, where I have seen it feeding in June, on the long 

 flowering stalks of the Grass-tree in company, at various times, with Mclitlircptiis ati'icapiUiis, 

 Gly:yphilci fidvifrons, Ptilotis fusca, and P. cliiysops. At this time of the year, and in this locality, 

 it appears restless in habits, except when feeding, a flock alighting on a tree and then flying 

 away a few seconds later to another at a remote distance. 



During many years' observation in the field, I have noted a seasonal change in the colour 

 of the bare space above and behind the eye. Adult specimens of both sexes shot in different 

 localities, in July and August, all had the bare space above and behind the eye dull greenish-blue. 

 Others, adult specimens, procured from January to April, had these parts dull yellow. 



Stomachs of these birds examined contained only the remains of insects, principally of small 

 black beetles, but this species also feeds on the nectar of flowers. 



A nest taken by Mr. .A. E. I vatt, at Glanmire, near Bathurst, New South Wales, is a very neat 

 cup-shaped structure attached by the rim to a thin forked branch of a Eucalyptus, and is formed 

 of thin strips of bark, with which is freely intermingled white cow-hair; it is lined throughout 

 entirely with the latter material. Externally it measures two inches and a quarter in diameter, 

 by two inches and a quarter in depth ; the diameter and depth of the inner cup also measuring 

 alike, two inches. Farther inland, at Cardington on the Bell River, Mr. John Ramsay obtained 

 birds, and nests with one and three eggs, in November, 1867. Nearly twenty years later, in 

 August, 1887, in company with Dr. E. P. Ramsay, we procured birds on the same river. 



