Vol. IV. 

 igo4 



] Fletcher, Bird Notes from Wihnot, Tasmania. I 5 



the spot since that date, so do not know if the nests were used 

 for the season now closed. Two years ago, on a patch of heath- 

 covered ground, these Thrushes were so numerous as to be 

 remarked upon by many people who were not naturally ob- 

 servant. For what food they were searching I could not find out. 

 Observations were made very difficult by the numbers of bull- 

 dog ants that frequented the spot. But the birds did not seem 

 to eat the ants. 



The mention of heath brings to remembrance the little Honey- 

 eaters. It is a great happiness to stay quietly on a log and watch 

 these merry little birds. My great regret is that we in Tasmania 

 have so few varieties of them. Conspicuous by its lively action 

 the first Honey-eater noticed will be the Crescent (jVleliornis 

 atistralasiana). In a patch of "stink-wood" scrub I found, 

 last October, five of their nests. One was quite finished but 

 contained no eggs. The owner was there also, and made a 

 great fuss until the human stranger had gone. The nests were 

 very slender, and covered on the outside with tiny clumps of 

 moss, which resembled the stinkwood leaves in colour. 



The Black-headed Honey-eater {Melithreptus melanocephalus) 

 and the Fulvous-fronted Honey-eater {Glycyphila fulvifrons) are 

 both to be found in this district ; the former generally amongst 

 the young saplings, the latter on the more open heathy patches. 

 The Black-headed is the bolder bird and will go on merrily 

 chirping while hunting for food, heedless of an intruder, whereas 

 the Fulvous-fronted seeks shelter or a hiding place at once. 

 Last November I tried hard to find a nest of the Black-headed 

 which I knew was being built in a clump of eucalyptus saplings, 

 but I was not successful. 



Amongst the young growth and shrubs in the clearer pad- 

 docks several pairs of the Strong-billed Honey-eaters {Meli- 

 threptus validirostris) may always be seen. I have found their 

 nests built in ferns and fireweed bushes. 



During the breeding season the Yellow-throated Honey-eaters 

 {Ptilotis flavigulciris) keep in pairs to a particular and restricted 

 spot. Here they build their nests. Their loud, cheerful call 

 quickly betrays the locality and a little patience on the part 

 of the watcher will result in the finding of the nest. One evening 

 I watched one of these birds filling its mouth with hairs from 

 the back of a cow. A tug and a hop, a tug and a hop, and as 

 soon as it had sufficient of this unpleasant tickling burden it 

 flew ofT to a clump of tree-ferns. I followed it, and in a little 

 time found the nest artfully concealed in the dead pendent 

 fronds of a tree-fern. A visit paid to it a week afterwards found 

 the bird sitting on two eggs. 



Last autumn I noticed the Brush Wattle-Birds {Acantho- 

 chcBva mellivora) in an orchard on the banks of the River Forth. 

 I also heard they had built there this season, but did not see 

 the nests to verify them. 



The little White-eye {Zostcrops ecvruleseeiis) is a frequenter 



