240 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



to be in good health. In the same month, near Colac, a 

 tremendously large flock, said to be a million of birds, was 

 preparing to go to a warmer latitude for the winter. Surely 

 the whole Victorian force had collected its units to move as 

 a body on their migratory course. 



Fest. — Open, loosely constructed of twigs, and lined 

 internally with hair, fur, &c. ; placed near the ground and 

 in a fork generally. 



Eggs. — Three to a sitting ; ground colour salmon-buff, 

 with chestnut markings upon it ; slaty-grey markings below 

 the surface. Length, 1-25 inches; breadth, 0-8 inch. 



LUNULATED HONEY-EATER 



(Black-headed Honey-eater), 



Melitlireptiis lunulatus, Shaw. 



Mel-i-threp' tus lun-u-la' tus. 

 Mel, honey ; threpsis, nourishment ; lunula, a little moon. 



Melithreptus lunulatus, Gould, "Birds of Australia," foL, vol. 

 iv.,pl. 72. 



Geographical Distribution. — Areas 3, 4, 6. 



Key to the Species. — Crown of head black ; white crescentic band 

 across occiput ; under surface white ; naked space above eye 

 scarlet; wing, 2-75 inches to 3 inches in length; bill shorter 

 than rest of head. 



The Lunulated Honey-eater is a species that is commonly 

 found in the south-east portion of the continent, broadly 

 speaking from Adelaide to Brisbane, and the country cast 

 of that line. If not the most active of the family, there is 

 little to choose between its speed in flight and the one 

 greater. It is an acrobat, and falls from one bough to 



