l8 Hii-i-, Birds of Ararat District. [ist^'juiy 



Birds of Ararat District. 



By G. F. Hill, Wellington, N.Z. 



Part II. 



White-throated Tree-creeper (Climacteris leiicophcea). — Found in 

 the timbered localities throughout the district, but more plentiful 

 near the mountains than on the lower country. 



Brown Tree-creeper (Climacteris scavdens). — A commoner species 

 than the preceding one, especially on the scrubby ridges away from the 

 mountains. The nests are often built in hollows very near the ground, 

 and contain three or four eggs, usually the latter number. 



Black-capped Tree-runner {Sittella pileata), — A rather uncommon 

 bird. The nests are built in upright forks of dead branches and 

 covered with small pieces of bark of the colour of the branch. Gum* 

 is used freely in the construction of the nests, both to stick the 

 foundation to the branches and to attach the small pieces of bark to 

 the outside. At least four birds assist in the building of a nest. 



Spine-bill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirosiris). — This species is found 

 throughout the district at certain times of the year, but during the 

 nesting season it retires to the mountains. 



White-eye (Zosterops casrulescens). — A common bird during the 

 fruit season, but one which is not often seen in the nesting period 

 except in the mountains. 



White-naped Honey-eater (Melithreptus hmulatus). — A spring 

 arrival, which, like the next species, arrives in small flocks, leaving 

 again after nesting. 



Brown-headed Honey-eater (M. brevirostris). 



Black-chinned Honey-kater (M. gularis). — Four birds only were 

 noted here. 



Warty-faced Honey-eater {Meliphaga phrygia). — In 1906 these 

 birds arrived in flocks on i8th October, flying from the south, and eggs 

 were taken on 25th and 30th November. Their arrival was later than 

 usual, eggs being taken as early as 2nd October in previous years. 

 The nests arc built of rough pieces of stringy-bark (eucalypt) and grass, 

 lined with fine bark, grass, and sheep's wool. They are invariably 

 placed in the forks of stringy-barks about 25 feet from the ground. 

 Three eggs are generally laid. 



White-eared Honey-eater {Ptilotis leucotis). — Numerous at the 

 foot of the mountains, but scarce in most other localities. They arrive 

 in the early spring and leave again when the nesting season is over. 



Yellow-tufted Honey-eater {Ptilotis auricomis).—! am unable to 

 say if these Honey-eaters arrive in pairs or in flocks, but I believe it is 

 in pairs. Nesting commences in July, and continues through August, 

 September, and October. The nests are generally built from 3 to 

 6 feet from the ground, in thick box scrub, and are made of bark, grass, 

 and wool in varying proportions. When bark is used almost exclus- 

 ively it is noticeable that the nests are large and roughly built, but 

 when sheep's wool or grass predominates they are generally smaller 

 and closely woven, l^abbit's fur, sheep's wool, grass, and bark are 



* Tliis is a sccieliun from ihe mouth of the bird. — Eds. 



