52 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



dark brownish, the feathers conspicuously centred with white; bill 

 black; legs and feet blackish-brown. Dimensions in mm.: — 

 Length, 145; bill, 16; wing, 81; tail, 63; tarsus, 18. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Young. — -Differs from adult in having the forehead slightly 

 rufescent ; rump and upper tail coverts distinctly rufous ; abdomen 

 washed with rufous. 



Nest. — Within a hollow limb or tree trunk; composed of fine 

 bark, grass, and moss, and lined with fur or feathers. 



Eggs. — Clutch three usually; roundish in shape; texture fine; 

 surface slightly glossy ; colour white, sparsely blotched on the 

 stouter end with reddish-brown and purplish-brown. Dimensions 

 in mm. of a pair:— (1) 21 x 16, (2) 20.5 x 16. 



Breeding Season. — September to December, 



GeograpJiical Distribution. — Tasmania, New South Wales, Vic- 

 toria, Queensland, and South Australia. 



Observations. — The right of this species to appear on the per- 

 manent Tasmanian list has now been practically settled, for, 

 although no specimens have been secured, I have seen it in the big 

 forests in the north-east of the island ; Col. Legge feels sure he has 

 seen it in the myrtle forests at the back of Quamby Bluff and on 

 the track to the Great Lake ; and Miss J. A. Fletcher is practically 

 certain of it being among the big timber in the Wilmot district. 



BEOWN TEEE-CREEPER 



{Gliviacteris scandens, Temm.) 



At one time I was under the impression that this Tree-creeper, 

 in addition to the White-throated species, was a frequenter of our 

 forests; now I am convinced I made an error in identification. At 

 the same time I am induced for several reasons to include it, at 

 least provisionally, among the birds of Tasmania. 



FAMILY-MELIPHAGID/E (11 species). 



Sub-Family — Zosteropinae. 



* WHITE-EYE (Silver-eye) 



(Zosterops coerulescens, Lath.) 



Male. — Crown of the head olive-green; circle of short white 

 feathers round the eye ; back green tinged with brown ; upj^er tail 

 coverts brownish; tail greenish-black; wings similar, outer webs 

 of quills greenish-yellow ; chest greyish ; centre of abdomen and 

 under tail coverts white ; sides of the breast brown ; irides brown ; 

 bill blackish; legs and feet pale brown. Dimensions in mm.: — 

 Length, 110; bill, 10; wing, 60; tail, 47; tarsus, 15.5. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



