INSESSORES. 535 



tion into a distinct genus or subgenus, as ornithologists may 

 think fit to designate the division. 



The Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater ranges very widely over the 

 interior of Australia. I observe it to be very numerous on 

 the Lower Namoi to the northward of the Liverpool Plains 

 in New South Wales. It was the commonest species of the 

 Melipha(/idcB I met with in the interior of South Australia ; 

 and I have also received a pair of this or a closely allied species 

 from the interior of Western Australia; as, however, some 

 difference exists between these latter and the birds from New 

 South Wales, I refrain, until I have seen other examples, from 

 stating that it goes so far to the westward as the Swan River 

 Settlement. Like the Brush Wattle-bird it is rather a shy 

 species, but its presence may at all times be detected by the loud 

 hollow whisthng note which it frequently utters while on the 

 wing, or while passing with a diving flight from tree to tree. 

 It appears to give a decided preference to the Banksia and 

 other trees growing upon sandy soil ; its presence therefore is 

 a certain indication of the poverty of the land. It is very 

 active among the branches, clinging and creeping about with 

 the greatest ease and elegance of position. 



The nest, which is a round, rather deep, cup-shaped struc- 

 ture, is suspended from a fine branch of a low tree, and is 

 composed of long wiry grasses, and now that the sheep is a 

 denizen of the country, matted together both internally and 

 externally with wool. The eggs are three in number, of a 

 dull olive-buflp, strongly dotted with deep chestnut-brown and 

 bluish grey, the markings being most numerous at the larger 

 end. The average length is one inch, and breadth nine lines. 



The sexes are so much alike, that, with the exception of the 

 female being slightly inferior to the male in size, no difference 

 is perceptible. 



Crown of the head, back, and wings dusky brown, each 

 feather margined with pale brown ; upper tail-coverts with 

 each feather dusky brown in the centre ; stripe behind the 



