92 CARTER, Birds Occurring in the Region of N.W. Cape. [ is f Oct 



and inland. In 1898 they were particularly abundant. There is a large 

 plant growing thickly to a height of sometimes 10 feet, and bearing blue 

 flowers which contain honey, and in that year the patches of this plant 

 were alive with the active little birds, uttering their pleasing musical notes. 

 The birds were scarce in succeeding years. 28th July, 1899, found a nest 

 containing young, in the top of a large bunch of spinifex matted with 

 creepers, on the stony range. 



(57.) GLYCYPHILA OCULARIS (Brown Honey-cater). — The delightful, 

 cheerful, loud song of this bird could be heard almost all the year round 

 in the deep gullies of the ranges. This Honey-eater was only noted away 

 from the ranges on two occasions, when a single bird was seen, once inland, 

 and again in scrub on the coastal hills. 



(58.) ENTOMOPHILA LEUCOMELA (Pied Honey-eater). — One of the com- 

 monest winter visitors, both on the coast and inland. Immediately after 

 the first winter's rain its mournful, piping song could be heard wherever 

 any scrub grew. The nests are built 3 to 4 feet from the ground. Two 

 or three eggs are the clutch, which may be found about 21st July. One 

 early nest, containing one egg, was found on 27th June, 1901. 



(59.) PTILOTIS CARTERI (Carter Honey-eater). — In the white gum trees 

 and thickets along the river beds and creeks this was the commonest bird, 

 but it was never seen away from water. Its cheerful, liquid song, beginning 

 at early dawn and lasting until sundown, together with its active, inquisi- 

 tive disposition, prying and scolding about a camp, always attracted atten- 

 tion. The small hanging nests were built in the scrub which grows thickly 

 round waterholes. Two eggs are the clutch, and they may be found very 

 regularly from 1 ith to 20th July. The only nest seen out of that month 

 was one on 20th August, 1901, and contained two incubated eggs — probably 

 a second brood. 



(60.) Ptilotis SONORA (Singing Honey-eater, Pad-dern). — A common 

 resident species everywhere. The song consists of a loud double note, 

 constantly repeated. At first peep of dawn in the winter months a number 

 of these birds, singing one against another from different points, make 

 quite a pleasing chorus. During the remainder of the day they are con- 

 stantly uttering various single or double notes, but never unite in song 

 as at early daybreak. Two is the usual clutch of eggs, but on one occasion 

 three were found in a nest. The birds apparently lay after rain, as eggs 

 were taken on various dates from 3rd May to 30th September. There were 

 generally a pair or two of these birds in the vicinity of the house, where they 

 would become quite bold, and regularly visit the dining table on the verandah 

 to feed from the sugar basin or jam tin, but, becoming reckless, they usually 

 fell victims to some of the house cats. 



(61.) Ptilotis keartlandi (Keartland Honey-eater). — This sprightly 

 little Honey-eater was plentiful on the table-land behind the ranges and in 

 many of the deep gorges, especially that of the Yardie Creek. The stunted 

 desert gums which grow in these localities furnish these birds' chief food 

 supply, and they were never seen far away from their vicinity. I only once 

 found a nest containing eggs, viz., on 9th May, 1900, with two, much 

 incubated. It was suspended from the drooping leaves of a desert gum. 

 Judging from the various dates on which fledged young were shot, or noted, 

 the birds breed any time after rain. 



(62.) Manorhina flavigula (Yellow-throated Miner).— On 19th July, 

 1900, a pair of birds was shot off a nest containing two eggs, and built in 

 the upper twigs of a mallee tree, as recorded in The Emu, if I recollect rightly. 



