Vol. V. 

 1905 



J Brent, The Black-headed Honey-eater. I X 



its way along on the underneath side of a branch, back down, and 

 pecking away the dry bark most vigorously in search of insects, 

 but when the spring 9.nd summer return, and the eucalyptus trees 

 begin to bloom, you will find it enjoying the nectar from the 

 blossoms once more. In spring the birds flock together in mobs 

 in the honey trees, but during the summer they live in pairs. 



It is not so bulky as a Sparrow, though rather longer, and 

 measures 5| inches from tip of bill to end of tail, and about 9 inches 

 across the expanded wings. It is whitish on the lower surface, 

 black on the head and part of the neck, greenish-yellow on the 

 back, and with the wings and tail of a slaty grey ; the eyes are 

 pinkish. The legs are pale brown in the young birds, but become 

 darker with age. 



Colours are not distinguishable between the sexes, except that 

 the male is a little brighter. But in flying the female always goes 

 first, the male following her in all her movements, and when she 

 settles on a branch he settles close up to her. 



The nest is usually placed on a horizontal branch, so hidden in a 

 hanging bunch of leaves as to be almost invisible, but is occasion- 

 ally built in upright branches. Peppermint and white gum are 

 the trees usually selected ; more rarely the stringybark. The tree 

 chosen is nearly always near a creek or waterhole, and the birds 

 go repeatedly to the water during the day and evening. The 

 position of the nest varies much, being sometimes low, and occasion- 

 ally very high. It is what is called a hanging one, and the birds 

 start at the to}) with a few fibres of wool, which are securely fastened 

 to the stems of the small leaves and branches, weaving them together 

 till the rim, or upper part of the nest, is made. From then onwards 

 most of the material goes inside, except for the finishing touches 

 on the outside. For this they use fine pieces of green moss woven 

 in with the wool. This gives it a greenish appearance, which 

 blends with its surroundings, and makes it very hard to detect by 

 the naked eye (some collectors use binoculars in searching for nests). 

 Sometimes fur is used in small quantities for lining, but the majority 

 of the lining used is wool, where this can be obtained, but when it 

 cannot be got thistle-down is often used, and the nests are strength- 

 ened with cobwebs and fibre. 



As to the habits of this species, during most of the year the birds 

 make a sharp, whistling noise, but in the nesting period the call is 

 quite different, and anyone accustomed to the birds can tell at once 

 by the call whether they have a nest or not. 



The birds, both male and female, after pairing, are most indus- 

 trious, and in a few days start to build the nest, and within a week 

 they will not only have built this, but will have stocked it with eggs. 

 If robbed, they will make another nest, and the fresh eggs will be 

 laid within a week if the old nest is torn about, and this they will 

 do at least three times. The eggs with each fresh clutch become 

 paler and with less numerous spots. 



The liirds build in November, and the eggs laid are three in 

 number. They are of a bright flesh colour, with a few small 



