rare Eggs of Australian Birds. 463 



light purple. The eggs measure: A OUOx 0*69_, B 0-85 x 

 0-67 inch. 



9. Melithreptus albigularis Gould. (White-throated 

 Honey-eater.) 



This Honey-eater is found right across the northern 

 portion of Australia^ and is a lively active bird. Mr. R. 

 Hislop found its nest on October 23rd in a melaleuca-tree 

 about 15 feet from the ground ; it was suspended near the 

 end of a branch, and is a very pretty structure, being com- 

 posed of very fine light-coloured shreds of melaleuca-bark, 

 interwoven with small lumps of white silky-looking spiders'- 

 web and thin white pieces of paper-bark, and also lined 

 with the latter material ; it is fastened on to the branches 

 with cobweb. It measures — external diameter 2^ inches, 

 internal 1|; external depth 2 inches, internal 1|. The 

 two eggs of the clutch vary in colour, one being much 

 lighter than the other; the ground-colour is reddish pink in 

 one and pinkish white in the other, with light reddish 

 markings round the larger end, where they are confluent. 

 The eggs measure : A 073 X 0-54, B 0*70 x 0-53 inch. 



10. Glycyphila subocularis Gould. (Least Honey- 

 eater.) 



These little birds are plentiful in suitable localities of 

 Northern Australia, and Mr. R. Hislop found two of their 

 nests containing eggs last season, one on October 3rd, and 

 the other on June 1 4th. The latter was suspended from a 

 fork near the end of a branch in a melaleuca-tree, about 20 

 feet from the ground ; it is a light structure, and composed 

 of fine shreds of bark interwoven with very thin white pieces 

 of so-called paper-bark and a small amount of cobweb on 

 the outside, which helps to fasteu it on to the branch ; it is 

 lined Avith a white downy-looking substance, and measures — 

 external diameter 2j inches, internal 1^ ; external depth 2|- 

 inches, internal 2. The two eggs of the clutch vary both in 

 size and colour, one being pure white, Avith a few very faint 

 specks round the larger end, while the other is a very delicate 

 reddish pink, with a faint zone of reddish markings round 



