Vol. XI 

 19 ij 



j Wilson, Additional Notes on Helmeted Honey-eater. 253 



were sometimes all perched by the nest at the same time. Observa- 

 tions this year substantiated my theory that these Honey-eaters 

 are kept greatly in check by the Pallid Cuckoos (C. pallidus), as in 

 nearly every case where nests were observed they either contained 

 an egg or young of this Cuckoo. One nest in i)articular contained 

 two Cuckoos' eggs, one having been built into the lining. As far 

 as I am able to ascertain. Cuckoos are the only birds credited with 

 devouring hairy caterpillars, but on one occasion I witnessed a 

 Helmeted Honey-eater catch and eat a hairy caterpillar close 

 beside me. 



P. cassidix frequently lays one egg only, as several instances of 

 this have come under my notice. 



During the winter months these birds are exceedingly quiet, 

 and, although frequently seen, it is rarely that they give utterance 

 to a note of any kind. This year the birds in the Beaconsfield 

 district started laying exceptionally early, nests being noted in the 

 middle of August, a month earlier than 1 have seen them in 

 previous seasons. 



The following note illustrating the pugnacity of these birds was 

 obtained during the breeding season : — A flock of Sittellas (5. 

 chrysoptera), in their search for food, happened to enter the domain 

 of P. cassidix, who immediately attacked them with such vigour 

 that they were all forced to take wing, when in sheep-dog fashion 

 he rounded the stragglers into the centre of the flock and kejjt 

 them well bunched together till he had driven them from the 

 locality. 



I was also able to All in two gai)s in the immature stages of 

 P. cassidix : — Two days old. — Gape lemon-yellow ; throat orange- 

 yellow ; crown, dorsal and wing tracts covered with blackish-grey 

 quills ; eyes just opening ; primaries and secondaries just emerg- 

 ing from quills ; a faint line of quills extending down each side of 

 abdomen, and legs slightly downy; feet bluish. Nine to ten days 

 old. — Gape lemon-yellow ; long quills on crown breaking, olive- 

 yellow, with the down still adhering; quills of ear coverts break- 

 ing ; yellow feathers on throat, and breast pale olive-green ; 

 primaries and secondaries black, edged with ohve-green ; abdomen 

 and legs bare ; back covered with dusky downy feathers ; legs 

 and feet bluish ; irides light brown. 



While taking the description of this immature bird, the parents 

 returned with food. Knowing this pair of adult birds to be very 

 tame, I gently extended my hand containing the young one 

 towards one of them, and was dehghted to see her alight upon my 

 hand and feed the chick there. 



I am indebted to Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley for the illustration 

 accompanying these notes. 



