INSESSORES. 525 



Genus PLECTORHYNCHA, Gould. 



Of this singular form only one species has yet been 

 discovered. It inhabits the plains of the eastern portion of 

 Australia, where it dwells among the Eucalypti and AcacicB, 

 and is a very noisy garrulous bird. 



The sexes are alike in plumage, and the young assume the 

 adult plumage at a very early age. 



Sp. 323. PLECTORHYNCHA LANCEOLATA, Gould. 



Lanceolate Honey-eater. . 



Plectorhyncha lanceolata, Gould iu Proc. of Zool. Soc, part v. p. 153. 

 Melithrepiuslanceolaius,Gva.y, Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 128, Melithi-eptus, 

 sp. 11. 



Plectorhyncha lanceolata, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iv. 

 pi. 47. 



The Liverpool Plains and the country immediately to the 

 northward are, I believe, the only portions of the Australian 

 continent in which this bird has been seen. I found it rather 

 sparingly dispersed over the forests bordering the rivers 

 Mokai and Namoi, and it appeared to increase in number as 

 I descended the latter stream towards the interior. It was 

 generally observed alone, or in pairs, keeping almost exclu- 

 sively to the Acacics and Eucalypti. Its chief food is the 

 pollen of flowers and insects, for procuring which and for 

 constructing its beautiful nest its pointed spine-like bill is 

 admirably adapted. I find it stated, in my notes taken on 

 the spot, that this bird possesses the peculiar habit of sitting 

 motionless among the thickest foliage of the topmost branches 

 of the highest trees, where it cannot be seen without the 

 closest observation, although its immediate locality is indicated 

 by its powerful whistling note. Upon one occasion only did 

 I discover the nest ; it was suspended from the extreme tip 



