from Western Australia. 183 



owing to the arrangement of the lateral parts of the webs. 

 The nasal groove occupies nearly one half of the length 

 of the mandible (0*35 inch), just as it does in the adult 

 (0"6 inch) ; the feet are bluish, more so than in the adult. 



Spechnen A. — The peculiarity is here a faint flush of olive- 

 green upon the lower breast and abdomen. Even though 

 the parent of C, it still retains the colour indicative of 

 youth ; moreover, the youth of this particular specimen is 

 evidenced by faint yellow on the breast and abdomen. 



This bird was tolerably numerous upon the sand-plains, 

 which are richly decorated at the above time of year with 

 a great variety of blossoms and teem with honey-laden 

 shrubs, herbs, and Banksia -trees. 



36. Ptilotis sonora. Singing Honey-eater. (HalFs 

 Key, p. 41.) 



One adult male. 27.10.99. Geraldton. 



An orchid owner spoke of this species as quite a grape- 

 stealer ; but such a failing is not confined to the western 

 bird alone, as a similar statement has been made in the 

 eastern colonies. 



37. Ptilotis LEILA VALENsis. Lesser White-plumed Honey- 

 eater. (HalFs Key, p. 43.) 



Wing. Tail. Bill. Tarsus, 



in. in. in. in. 



A. Ad. c?. 27.10.99. Geraldton ... 29 2-65 0-5 0-8 



B. Ad. c?. 14.10.99. „ ...305 285 0-5 0-8 



C. Ad. (J. 27.10.99. „ ...3-1 30 5 08 



Average 3-01 2*83 0-5 0-8 



Averageof sixskinsofP./JemciV/a^a . 3'19 3*13 0*43 0*8 



In these specimens the black at the base of the post- 

 auricular patch is variable in position. A nest found at 

 Geraldton on Oct. 29th contained two unfledged young. 

 Exteriorly it was formed of the filament-bearing seeds of 

 Clematis and interiorly of white horsehair. Eggs collected for 

 me by Mr. Douglas Darling at Geraldton agree tolerably well 

 with the description given by Mr. A. J. Campbell in the Vict. 

 Nat. vol. xvi. p. 87. 



