588 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
Nest.—Cup-shaped ; composed of fine grasses and bark webbed 
together with spiders’ nests (Ramsay) ; usually suspended in the 
forked twigs of a leafy tree. 
Eggs.—Clutch, 2-3 ; inclined to oval, but more compressed at 
one end ; texture, fine; faint trace of gloss on surface ; colour, 
delicate or pale buff, moderately spotted with chestnut and dull 
purplish-brown, the markings being chiefly on the apex. Dimen- 
sions of a clutch in parts of an inch (1) ‘78 x ‘57; (2) ‘75 x °55. 
Observations.—The Black-chinned Honey-eater is one of the 
larger species of its genus, approaching next in size to the Strong- 
billed Honey-eater of Tasmania. It ranges chiefly over the southern 
half of Australia ; but is not usually found in the vicinity of the 
coast or in thick forest. 
I never recollect identifying this bird in the open; but have 
had skins kindly forwarded for my examination from Mr. Wm. 
White, of South Australia, and more recently (1896) from Mr. 
H. E. Hill, who collected the bird in the Bendigo district, Victoria. 
Eggs, however, I received from Mr. H. O. Lang, Dubbo district, 
New South Wales. The specimens are somewhat smaller than I 
expected to see ; but I find Dr. Ramsay gives even smaller dimen- 
sions (°73 x ‘55 inches) than those of the specimens I have described. 
Gould has only described the nest and eggs by analogy. 
MELITHREPTUS VALIDIROSTRIS, Gould. 
“ Strong-billed Honey-eater.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. iv, pl. 70. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 206. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs.—Gould, Bds. of Aust. (1848) ; 
also Hdbk., vol. 1, p. 565 (1865). North, Cat. Nests and Eggs, 
Austn. Mus., p. 225 (1889). 
Geographical Distribution. —Tasmania and King Island. 
Nest.—Cup-shaped, deep, round ; composed chiefly of wool and 
grasses, in some instances of stringy-bark ; inside lined with a few 
flowering portions of grass, &c.; usually suspended in the topmost 
branches of a sapling or other tree. 
Lggs.—Clutch, 3 usually; nearly oval, slightly compressed 
towards one end; texture, fine; surface, without gloss ; colour, 
beautiful flesh tint, moderately but boldly blotched and spotted, 
and chiefly about the apex, with rich, reddish-brown or chestnut 
and dull purple-brown. Dimensions of a pair in parts of an inch 
(1) ‘88 x ‘66; (2) 86 x ‘63. 
Observations.—This fine Honey-eater—the largest of a most 
interesting genus—is peculiar to Tasmania and King Island, where 
