152 Order Passerlfornics, Fainlli/ Meliphagidae. 



{('(ildiiKiiiUdis (■(iHijifstris \ from I'ort Aujiiishi, and an Aus- 

 tralian rii»it {AnihuK .{iistnilis) from C}ill<'s Plains wore also 

 sliown. The m<'ml)ers thanked Mr. Parsons for liis interest- 

 in*; d('S(ri])lions. 



Order Passeriformes, Family Meliphagidae, 

 Genus Melithreptus 



M(]itlircj)fiis! (/iilaris — The l»lack-cliinned IToney-eater. 

 Hv A. y\. MoiujAX. M.r,., lI.Cii. 



Description. — Tpjier surface of head Idack, bordered on 

 the oc('i])ut 1)Y a hand of white, startin.u on each side from the 

 hare skin behind the eye, followed by another band of bla<-k 

 startinji from the lores; back dull olive j^reen, becoming briiihter 

 yellowish green on the runij). Tnder surface, c-entre of chin 

 black, fading into grey on the chest and abdomen, the back chin 

 b(H-dered on eitliei- side by a baiul of white, flanks buttish grey, 

 ■ear coverts black. ^\■ing. ujtper surface brown; under surface 

 lighter, each of the jtrimaries. exce])t the first, with the inner 

 webb dull white. Tail, dark brown, the outer webb of the six 

 central feathei-s faintly edged with olive green. Legs and 

 feet bro\>'n, bill black, iris hazel. F>are skin behind eye metal- 

 lic bluish grefMi. Length (of skin) 15 c.m., wing S.Db c.m. 

 Female resembles the male. The y<mng have the u])i)er sur- 

 face of the liead brown, the white neutral band less distin<-t, 

 the chin streak dark grey, the itill bro\^■n, and tlie bar<> skin of 

 a dark-greenish blue. 



1 )isti-il)ution. — The greater jtart of South Australia where 

 large gum trees are to be found, but not in the dry country. 

 In similar situations in X'ictoria and New South Wales. Tt 

 is rej)resented in (^ueenshuuL the Northern Territory, and 

 NortIl-^^Vst Australia by closely allied sub-s])ecies. 



Habitat. — (^])en tind)ered country. It is rarely found in 

 lliick, sci'ubby. or mallee lauds. 



Habits. — This bird is one of a genus of short-billed Honey- 

 eaters, evidently ada])ted for feeding in the Eucalypt, where a 

 long bill is not a necessity. They are as much insect as honey 

 <'aters, and may often be seen clinging to the trunks of trees 

 like Tree-creejters, in search of insects under the bark. As a 

 rule they are found in ])airs or small Hocks of four or five. 

 They are liv<'ly and (|uarrelsome birds, and often hetray their 

 ]iresence by their jienetrating note (U' by their fights with other 

 bii'ds. som<'times much larger than themselves. 



