244 Mr. E. P. Ramsay on Birds breeding near Sydney. 



season also they visit us in great numbers, and many may be 

 seen fighting over the half-decayed fruit with which the ground 

 at that time is literally strewed. They seem very fond of ex- 

 ercising their pugnacious propensity upon the larger birds. 

 Should a Hawk, an Owl, or sleepy Goatsucker make its appear- 

 ance near them, it is sure to be attacked; and even their own 

 species, being wounded and crying out, often shares the same 

 fate. Ofttimes they may be seen to cluster upon the bare stem of 

 a branch, huddling up together, so that many tread one upon the 

 other, and scratching as if holding a jubilee over a vanquished 

 foe, until perhaps another from a neighbouring tree will dart into 

 the midst and put them all to flight. 



This species remains with us throughout the whole year, breed- 

 ing earlier than the generality of Honey-eaters. We have eggs 

 in our collection taken early in June, and as late as the end of 

 October, during which month they sometimes have a third brood. 

 August and September seem to be their principal months for 

 breeding. 



Upon referring to my note-book, I find that I captured two 

 young, well able to fly, upon the 18th July 1863, but during 

 some seasons birds breed here much earlier than in others. The 

 nest is a neat but somewhat bulky structure, open above, and 

 composed of strips of the Stringy-bark tree* {Eucalyptus, sp.). 

 The total length of the nest is about 4 inches by from 2^ to 3 

 inches wide, being 2 in. deep by 1^ in. wide inside. The eggs, 

 which are usually two in number, are of a pale flesh-pink, darker 

 at the larger end, where they are spotted and blotched with 

 markings of a much deeper hue, inclining to salmon-colour ; in 

 some the marking forms a ring upon the thick end, in others one 

 irregular patch with a few dots upon the rest of the surface. When 

 freshly taken, they have a beautiful blush of pink, which they 

 generally lose a few days after being blown. Their length is 

 from 10 to 11 lines by 7 to 8 in breadth. Some varieties have a 



* The innermost bark of this Eucalyptus is used much as ties for wood, 

 hay, and straw, &c. ; when twisted or plaited, it is found to make a toler- 

 ably strong rope. Almost all our birds use the inner bark of it for building 

 their nests, lining them with fine shreds of the same material, or some- 

 times with silky cotton from the native plants. 



