OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 267 



LUNULATED HONEY-EATER 



(Black-headed Honey-eatei?), 



JUelitlireptiis liiiiuhitii^, Sliaw. 



Mel-i-tlirep'ttis lun-nla'tys. 

 Mel, honey; threptos, nourishment; lunula, a httle moon. 



Melithreptus lunulatus, Gould, "Birds of xNustraHa," fol., vol. iv., 



pi. 72. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 3, 4, 0. 



Key to the Species. — Crown of head black ; white crescentic band 

 across occiput ; under surface white ; naked space above eye 

 scarlet; wing, 2.75 inches to 3 inches in length; bill shorter than 

 rest of head. 



The Luniilated Honey-eater is a species comnionly found in 

 the south-eastern portion of the continent — broadly speaking, 

 in the country east of a hne drawn from Adelaide to 

 Brisbane. 



It is one of the most active of the family, flying from tree 

 to tree with astonishing speed, and, moreover, its performances 

 as an acrobat are by no means to be despised. It seems to 

 fall from one bough to another with unerring aim and little 

 effort, and if while in a pendent position it can reach a desired 

 position a few inches below by a somersault, it does not 

 hesitate to perform this acrobatic feat, immediately on land- 

 ing proceeding in its search for food, or perhaps engaging in 

 battle with a rival, without loss of time. 



The nests are cup-formed structures, neatly built and 

 usually carefully hidden in the topmost bough of the highest 

 branch of a tree. One I found to be almost completely lined 

 with a layer of sheep's wool and ornamented exteriorly with 

 wool taken for the purpose from a house near by. Eucalyptus 

 trees are the favourite positions for the nest as well as for the 

 hunting ground for its food. 



