INSESSOUES. 519 



Sp. 318. PTILOTIS PENICILLATA, G-o^/f/. 



White-plumed Honey-eater. 

 Meliphaga penicillata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part iv. p. 143. 



Ptilotis penicillatus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv. pi. 43. 



This species, which is rarely met with in New South Wales, 

 is very abundant in South Australia ; I met with it even in 

 the streets and gardens of Adelaide ; and it doubtless enjoys 

 a wide range over the interior of the country. From what I 

 observed of its habits, it appears to differ from the generality 

 of Honey-eaters in the partiality it evinces for the ground ; for 

 although most of its time is spent among the leafy branches of 

 the gums and wattles, it is often to be seen hopping about 

 under the trees in search of insects and seeds, wdiich with the 

 pollen of the flowers of the Eucalypti and AcacicB constitute 

 its food. 



Its silvery white neck-plumes present a character by which 

 it is at once distinguished from all other known species. The 

 smaller size of the female is the only external diflPerence 

 between the sexes, for when fully adult their markings are 

 precisely alike. Some of the specimens killed had the bill 

 entirely black, while others had the base yellowish white, 

 which is doubtless indicative of immaturity. 



Its slightly-constructed nest, formed of grasses and wool, is 

 cup-shaped, and is suspended by the rim, like those of the other 

 Honey-eaters. " The Ptilotis penicillata,'' says Mr. Angas, 

 " builds in the Acacias close to my house at Collin grove, near 

 Angaston. I can sit at dinner and watch the young ones 

 being fed. One female sat hatching close to the window 

 with the strong light of a moderator lamp shining on her at 

 night. The eggs are three in number." 



Sides of the face and ear-covei-ts pale yellow ; behind the 

 ear-coverts a small tuft of white silky feathers ; upper siu'face 

 rich yellowish grey, the outer edges of the quill- and tail- 



