493 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



The Meliornis mystacalis is a native of Western Australia, 

 in which country it beautifully represents the M. sericea of New 

 South Wales. It is abundant in the vicinity of Perth and 

 Fremantle, and is sparingly dispersed over many other districts 

 of the Swan River colony ; according to Gilbert it is remark- 

 ably shy, and only found in the most secluded places in the 

 bush, or on the summits of the limestone hills running parallel 

 with the beach ; it generally feeds on the topmost branches of 

 the BanksicB, and is very pugnacious, defending its young from 

 intruders with the most determined courage. 



Its flight is very varied, and is occasionally characterized 

 by a great degree of rapidity : during the season of incubation 

 it frequently rises above its nest in a perpendicular direction, 

 and having attained a considerable height, suddenly closes its 

 wings, and descends abruptly until it reaches the top of the 

 scrub, when the wings are again expanded, and it flies 

 horizontally for a few yards, perches, and then utters its 

 peculiar sharp chirping note ; it also occasionally hovers over 

 small trees, and captures insects after the manner of the 

 Flycatchers. 



It is a very early breeder, young birds ready to leave the 

 nest having been found on the 8th of August ; it has also 

 been met with breeding as late as November ; it doubtless, 

 therefore, produces more than one brood in the course of the 

 season. The nest is generally built near the top of a small, 

 weak, thinly-branched bush, of about two or three feet in 

 height, situated in a plantation of seedling mahogany or other 

 Eucalypti', it is formed of small dried sticks, grass, and 

 narrow strips of soft bark, and is usually lined with Zamia 

 wool ; but in those parts of the country w^here that plant is 

 not found, the soft buds of flowers, or the hairy flowering 

 part of grasses, form the lining material, and in the neigh- 

 bourhood of sheep-walks, w^ool collected from the scrub. The 

 eggs are usually two in number. They are nine lines long by 

 seven lines broad, and are usually of a dull reddish buff, 



