3f) Order Pa*i<riformi'^, Family Mflijihaijidn^ (lamLS Ai-init/,uijeni/$. 



Order Passeriformes, Pamily Meliphagidae, 

 Genus Acanthagenys, Goidd. 



.[(•(iiitli(uj('n!/s nifoguhtrix (Ooiild) Spiney-clieeked Houey 

 eater. Mv. (Ji-ejioi-y M. Mathews lias divided the species into 

 four suh-species. There is no doubt the inland form is lightet 

 ill colouration than those found near the coast. 



I)escrii»tion — Feathers of the head short, very S(|iiare at 

 the ends, and of a light grey with a darl< stripe <lo\vn 

 the centre; back of neck, back and nianlh', dark brown, each 

 feather margined with light grey; ui)i)er tail coverts, almost 

 white with a dark brown stripe down the centre ; i)rimaries dark 

 brown, narrowly edged Avith yellowish grey; secondaries almost 

 black edged and ti])ped with white; a black line passing from 

 the bill throngh the eye to the ear coverts; bare space under the 

 eye, ]»inkish Hesh colour below which there is a tuft of white 

 spines, ])art of these strange s]>ines are tinged with 'bright 

 yellow; base of bill, soft and fleshy and of a bright i>ink cobmr; 

 tip of bill, black; throat, rufous, with a black line down each 

 side; breast, yelloAvish white, a broad strijje of dark 

 brown down each feather, giving it a mottled ap))earance; tail, 

 brown, tipped with white; under tail coveits, white with a long 

 narrow stri]) of dark brown down the ceiiire; iris, binish; feet, 

 greenish yellow. 



Distribution — A wide distribution over the whoU' of the 

 interior and from New South Wales across to Western Austra- 

 lia. It is really a dry country bird, but at times it is found 

 right on the seacoast. where the rainfall is heavy. 



Habitat — Frefpients all classes of country from the big 

 gum country to the low bush on the seashore. 



Habits — A strange bird darting about in a most erratic 

 manner, and often seen hawking for insects in mid air. 



Flight — Very erratic, flarting about from one side of a 

 feeding tree to the other, and returning from whence it started 



Note — A very strange guttural, gurgling, broken sound, 

 with a short pause then continued. 



Food — Consists of honey, insects, wild fruits. inclndiniT 

 berries, and at times seeds. 



Nesting season — Varies according to locality. Near the 

 coastline they breed in October and November, in the interior 

 almost at any time the rain falls, generally from -Tnly to 

 I )ecember. 



Nest — ^A dee]) snug structure attached generally to a hori- 

 zontal fork or at the end of a branch amongst a thick mas.<« of 



