V °i'go 11 1 Australasian Ornithologists' Union. (6 



6 



the Aust. O.U. Foremost was the Strong-billed Honey-eater 

 (Melitkreptus validirostris), an active bird with pronounced song 

 and call-notes. Several clutches of fledglings were observed, 

 perched in short scrub, the youngsters appearing very pretty, 

 with flesh-coloured bills and yellow face-stripes, which ornamenta- 

 tions disappear in the adults. One member of the Union, who 

 keeps successfully a Honey-eater aviary, cast longing eyes on a 

 sleek set sitting side by side on a low branch, where their parents 

 fed them incessantly. " Ah, I shall bag these," said the Honey- 

 eater man, and, sneaking up through the thick undergrowth, 

 all but had his hand on the coveted prize when a discharge of a gun 

 down the gully scattered the young Strong-bills instantly, like- 

 wise, the hopes of the Honey-eater man. Another Melithreptus 

 — M. melanoce phalus (Black-headed Honey-eater) — usually flew 

 high amongst the taller trees. The fine Yellow-throated 

 Honey-eater (Ptilotis flavigularis) is a showy bird. Almost in 

 every timber tract its curious " chuck "-like call-notes and whistle- 

 like purring songs were heard. A nest with young was observed 

 in the sprouting suckers at the head of a gum stump. The Spine- 

 bill (Acanthorhynchus) is somewhat different from the mainland 

 species, being richer in colour, especially the markings on the 

 throat and chest, and shorter in the bill. We are not sure whether 

 or not we heard the gurgling notes of the large Yellow Wattle- 

 Bird (AcantkockcEra inauris), but the Brush Wattle-Bird (A. 

 mellivora) was not uncommon along Distillery Creek, near 

 Launceston. Yellow Wattle-Birds are sold in the markets when 

 in season at yd. each. The other Honey-eaters observed common 

 to both Tasmania and the mainland of Australia were the White- 

 bearded (Meliornis novce-hollandie?), the Crescent (M ' . austral- 

 asiana), and the Miner yManorhina garrula). The honey-loving 

 White-eye (Zosterops coerulescens) was fairly common. 



Two Pardalotes were collected — P. punctatus and P. afflnis ; but 

 the only endemic species — P. quadragintus — was not once seen. 

 Tasmania's only Finch (Zonaginthus bellus) was flushed along 

 the tea-tree creeks, also on some open land beside the 

 Presbyterian Cemetery in Launceston. A White-bellied Sea- 

 Eagle (Haliaetus leucogastcr) passed within 20 feet of the 

 place where these birds were seen, just as they were 

 flushed. A nest containing a full complement of six eggs 

 was taken recently by a local member of the Union. A White 

 Cockatoo (Cacatua galeritd) was heard screeching upon a range, 

 while Green Parrakeets (Platycercus flaviventris) and Rosellas 

 (P. exirnius) were observed on the lowlands. Along the river 

 flats Blue Coots (Porphyrio melanonotus) and Native-Hens (Tri- 

 bonyx mortieri) were noted from the train, as was a flock of six 

 Wattled Plovers (Lobivanellus lob at us) and a flock of about a score 

 of Black-breasted Plovers (Zonifcr tricolor), the latter seen in an 

 old cultivation paddock. 



