MYZANTIIA. 203 



AT^HE range of the Yellow-throated Miner extends right across the inland portions of the 

 J- Australian continent. In New South \\'ales it takes the place of Myzantha garrula in 

 the drier portions of the State. There are numerous specimens in the Australian Museum 

 collection, obtained on the Lachlan, Darling, Namoi and Mehi Rivers. Specimens were 

 procured by the members of the Horn Scientific Expedition in Central Australia in 1894. Mr. 

 G. A. Keartland informs me that he obtained examples in the Great Desert in Western 

 Australia, while with the Calvert Exploring Expedition in 1896. Mr. Edwin Ashby sent 

 specimens for examination collected by him at Callion, Western Australia, and Nackara, South 

 Australia. In the latter State Mr. George Masters, while collecting on behalf of the Trustees 

 of the Australian Museum, procured birds in the Flinders Range. From Port Augusta, Dr. 

 A. Chenery writes me: — " Myzantha flavigula is common here. I have taken nests in Sandal- 

 wood trees on plains and in the gum creeks of Flinders Range. I saw a pair building at the 

 Ostrich Farm in May, 1903." 



Relative to a trip made to the Mount Gunson District, in July and August, 1900, Dr. A. 

 M. Morgan writes me: — '" Myzantha flavigula was fairly common, both in scrubs and gum creeks. 

 Several nests were found: one on the 30th July with four slightly incubated eggs, two more on 

 the following day with three fresh eggs, and another in a mulga with three half-grown young. 

 Two nests were found on the 7th August at Elizabeth Creek in gum trees, one with three fresh, 

 the other with three incubated eggs. A nest found at Arcoona on the loth August contained 

 three eggs in an advanced stage of incubation, and another found at Port Augusta in a gum tree 

 on the 14th August had three nearly fresh eggs. During my visit, in company with Dr. A. 

 Chenery, to the Gawler Ranges, in August, 1902, this species was observed common everywhere 

 throughout the trip." 



At Tyndarie, Mr. James Ramsay procured sets of three and four, and one of five eggs. Mr. 

 Edward Lord Ramsay, who found this species breeding freely on Wilgaroon Station, in Western 

 New South Wales, took a nest on the 29th September, 1889, in a mistletoe of a "Leopard" tree, 

 twenty-five feet from the ground, containing four eggs; another was built twelve feet from the 

 ground in a lot of vines growing on a mulga, containing three eggs; another found the same day 

 and built in an "Ironwood" tree nine feet up, contained five fresh eggs. On the Namoi River 

 I saw this species feeding fledgelings in November 1S96, and in the same month of the following 

 year Mr. J. A. Thorpe and myself obtained adults and young on the banks of the Mehi and 

 Gwydir Rivers. In habits this species resembles M. gannla. At Woodside near Coonamble, 

 both this species and Myzantha garvula were very tame, bathing fearlessly after a shower of rain 

 in the spouting surrounding the verandah of the house, and only a few feet above our heads. 



Writing from the Mossgiel District in 1886, the late Mr. K. H. Bennett remarks: — "In the 

 early days of the occupation of this part of New South Wales Myzantha fiavigula was rarely met 

 with away from the river, but of late years, owing to the conservation of water, it has become 

 plentiful wherever there is timber. It commences to breed in August, and builds a somewhat 

 deep cup-shaped nest in a small tree, some eight or ten feet from the ground." Writing later on 

 the 13th October, 18S9, when resident on Yandembah Station, he remarks: — "x\ number of 

 Myzantha flavigula inhabit the clump of trees around the homestead, and many of them are often 

 in the house or on the verandah. At meal times they fly fearlessly into the room and alight on 

 the table, although half a dozen of us may be sitting at it. They perch on the sugar basin and 

 eat the sugar as unconcernedly as if no one were present. If the cover should be on the sugar 

 basin they will readily take sugar from the hand of any one at the table. It is also a common 

 occurrence to see the children when eating cake on the verandah surrounded by these birds, 

 who are busily engaged in picking up the falling crumbs, some of the birds even perching on them." 



The nest is somewhat roughly formed externally of fine twigs and plant stems, slightly 

 matted together with spiders' webs, the inside which is neatly cup-shaped, being lined with dried 



