512 BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA. 



tribe, tlie Yellow-tufted Honey-eater is very partial to fruit, 

 and during the latter end of February, and throughout the 

 month of March, the pear-trees swarm with this and many 

 other species. During the orange season also they visit us in 

 great numbers, and many may be seen fighting over the half- 

 decayed fruit with which the ground at that time is literally 

 strewed. 



The JPtilotis auricomis " remains with us throughout the 

 whole year, and breeds earlier than the generality of Honey- 

 eaters. Eggs have been taken early in June, and as late 

 as the end of October, during which month they sometimes 

 have a third brood ; but August and September appear to be 

 their principal breeding months. The nest is a neat, but 

 somewhat bulky structure, open above, and composed of 

 strips of the Stringy-bark-tree. The eggs, which are usually 

 two in number, are of a pale flesh-pink, darkest at the larger 

 end, where they are also spotted and blotched with markings 

 of a much deeper hue, inclining to salmon colour ; in some 

 these markings form a zone, in others one irregular patch, with 

 a few dots upon the rest of the surface. When taken 

 they have a beautiful blush of pink, but it generally disappears 

 a few days after they are blown. Their length is from ten to 

 eleven lines by seven to eight in breadth. Some have a few 

 obsolete dots of faint lilac ; others are without markings, save 

 one patch at the larger extremity. The site selected is usually 

 some low bushy scrub among the rich clusters of Tecoma 

 australis, or amidst the thick tufts of Blechnum cartilagineum, 

 which often covers a space of many square yards in these clumps, 

 where it clings to the stems of the ferns. I have several times 

 found two or three pairs breeding at the same time within 

 a few yards of each other. The ferns and Tecoma seem to 

 be their favourite places for breeding ; but the nests are often 

 found suspended between forks in the small bushy oaks 

 {Casuarince). 



" In the nest of this Honey-eater I have several times found 



I 



