^'iQiI^'] FLirrcHKR, Honey-eaters of Cleveland District, Tas. 1 00 



old or deserted. A climb u|) the decs rcwalrd in one a beautiful 

 pair of Wattle-Bird eggs, and ol I he other two oiu- contained two 

 eggs of the Brush Wattle-Bird, while the second had a pair of 

 young with a little tlown upon them. 



During one ramble in the past season I found a nest of the 

 Brush Wattle- Bird with three fully-fledged young ones. One 

 seldom comes across three in a clutch. 



In all the nests of the Yellow Wattle-Bird which I have found 

 the builders have exhibited a great fancy for sheep's wool, not as 

 lining, but in the construction of the nests ; and it was woven in 

 most untidily. Pieces of all lengths and sizes could ofttimes be 

 seen hanging from sides and bottom, the sterner fabric of the 

 nest being branchlets of wild " thyme," with shredded bark and 

 fine rootlets for the lining. Only in one instance did I find a 

 Brush Wattle-Bird using wool as building material. This species 

 delights in soft shredded bark as the inner lining, which is built 

 into a framework of " thyme " twigs. Both species of birds are 

 very " touchy," and they frequently desert their nest if it is in- 

 spected during the process of building. Twice last season there 

 came under my notice the remarkable instance of the Brush 

 Wattle-Bird removing the nest completely because it had been 

 touched by me. The first nest was taken piece by piece and 

 rebuilt some distance off. The second nest removed was added 

 to the top of another nest in the next tree, the whole forming 

 a most remarkable structure. In the bowl of this strange 

 pyramid the usual pair of eggs was laid. 



Both species are close sitters, and do not readily leave their 

 nests. In fact, when sitting on chipping eggs or young they 

 will almost permit of being touched by the hand. They fly off 

 with a quick, nervous call, to which the mate speedily answers. 



Both male and female birds assist in the incubation of the 

 eggs, which, from my observations, lasts 12 days, and also in the 

 feeding of the nestlings. I also noted the second egg was laid after 

 the interval of a day, and the bird generally commences to sit 

 that evening. Three weeks was the longest period which I 

 observed a finished nest to be left before it was used, but generally 

 only a few days pass ere the first egg is laid. 



These general observations, unless specially mentioned under 

 a particular species, refer to both Wattle-Birds. I believe the 

 sitting bird is fed while on the nest by its mate, but could not 

 say with certainty. 



Food of Cockatoos. — The Chief Inspector of Fisheries and 

 Game in Melbourne (Major Semmens) would like to know from 

 country members what is the principal food of Cockatoos through- 

 out the year. His address is Railway Buildings. Flinders-street. 

 He wishes to find out whether the good they do in eating the roots 

 of detrimental plants, such as the RomnJea or onion weed, &c., 

 is compensated by the damage they do in eating freshly-sown 

 grain. 



