28 Shvfulut, Material for a Study of the Megapodiidcs. [.sf"}",!)- 



Plate III. 

 Fig. 7. — Australian Mound-Fowl {Megapodius tumulus), Gould, 

 Northern Australia. Specimen in the U.S. Nat. Mus. 

 Photograph by author, much reduced. 



Plate IV. 

 Fig. 8. — Jobi Brush-Turkey {Talegallus johiensis), Meyer, South- 

 Eastern New Guinea and Island of Jobi. Specimen in the 

 U.S. Nat. Mus. Photograph by author, much reduced. 



Plate V. 

 Fig. 9. — Left lateral view of the head of Catheturus lathami ; adult 

 female. No. 21.1,617, Coll. U.S. Nat. Mus. 



Plate VI. 

 Fig. 10. — The Brush-Turkey {Catheturus lathami), Gray, Australia. 

 Specimen in the U.S. Nat. Mus. Photograph by the author, 

 much reduced. 



Plate VII. 

 Fig. II. — Right tarsus and foot of /Epypodius hruijni ; adult. Pale 

 brown in life. No. 146,767, Coll. U.S. Nat. Mus (obtained 

 from the Museum Boucard). 



The Black-throated Honey-eater (Melithreptus 



gularis). 



By p. a. Gilbert, R.A.O.U., Lakemba, N.SAV. 



The Black-throated Honey-eater is by no means a shy bird, but 

 if one happens to be under a tree wherein it is foraging for insects 

 it descends a branch or two, gives an inquiring look from one side 

 to the other at the intruder, and then, with composure, flies to a 

 neighbouring tree, and there renews its search for food. The 

 notes of this bird are clear, almost clarion, sometimes suddenly 

 changing to shrillness, but always well modulated when thus 

 varied. Its song, once learnt, could never be mistaken for that 

 of any other Honey-eater, nor is it possible to render in words 

 or music its wonderful versatility and variability of song. It is 

 really thrilling to hear the notes of these birds ringing out from 

 the topmost flowering branches of a lofty old gum-tree — a song 

 indicative of a superabundance of vigour. This volume of sound, 

 emanating from these virtual feathered mites, is a true mani- 

 festation that the vernal period has arrived, and an indication 

 of an annual event of great moment to the species. 



At no other time of the year do they appear in such good song 

 as that attained in early spring. As the spring months retreat 

 one by one their notes become correspondingly subdued, until 

 autumn finds them almost without a note. From January to 

 April they may be seen flying around in small flocks of from four 

 to eight, which are probalily mad(> np of one or two families. 



