so ASHBY—Tasmaniun NoU,. 



liar note of M. brevirostris. The first specimen shot was in 

 immature plumage, the crown being brownish green, instead of 

 the typical black. Next to the Melithreptus, the commonest bird 

 in the patch of timber adjoining the river was the Tasmanian 

 Yellow-throated Honey-eater (Nesoptilotis flavicollis flavigula 

 Gould) ; this handsome Honey-eater, with its grey-green to 

 bright, yellowish-green plumage and brilliant yellow throat enli- 

 vens the bush with its constant loud calls. 



One picks out notes that remind one of the White-eared 

 Honey-eater, and also the loud whistle of the Singing Honey- 

 eater, but in addition it has a repertoire all its own, full, rich, 

 melodious notes, one series of which has been likened to the 

 words "get over," repeated many times. 



Another bird common in this scrub was the Tasmanian 

 Crescent Honey-eater {Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera inornata 

 Gould) why inornata I cannot imagine. For a specimen shot 

 later on South Bruny Island has a jet black crescent mark, deli- 

 cate pencilling on the throat, and bright yellow on the wings, 

 forming a combination as vivid and effective as the best speci- 

 men I have seen from the mainland. 



A specimen of the charming Fire-tailed Finch {Zonaegin- 

 thus hellus hellus Lath.) was shot; its scarlet rump shone 

 with intense lustre in the sunshine, and when handled, the deli- 

 cate olive scalloped marked back, and ;grey scalloped marked 

 underside, make it easily one of Tasmania's handsomest birds, 

 and one of Australia's most charming finches. The next bird 

 to be collected was the Dusky Fantail (Rhipidura flabellifera 

 albiscapa Gould) ; many of these little "gnat catchers" were flit- 

 ting about with ever restless movement, uttering their call — 

 "chit chit." I think that completes the list of species collected 

 in that spot, but Scarlet-breasted Robins were represented by 

 several pairs ; a large flight of Spine-tailed Swifts were hawking 

 at a considerable height, and every now and again swooping 

 down between the tree tops. I was intending to get a specimen, 

 or rather, try to, after I had secured specimens of several of the 

 smaller birds, but in half-an-hour's time all the Swifts had 

 -cleared out, and T saw no more of them during my stay in Tas- 

 mania. Musk Lorikeets and Tasmanian Minahs were busy in 

 a neighbouring orchard. 



A Tasmanian White-bearded Honey-eater [Meliornis novae- 

 hollandiae canescens Lath.) was collected; it diverges some- 

 what from others I have collected in Tasmania ; but I doubt, 

 if a series of the insular birds were mixed up with the 

 mainland ones, that they could be separated except by means of 

 their labels. 



