NESTS AND EGGS OF HONEY-EATERS. 593 
As Mr. C. C. Brittlebank discovered in the case of the 
Lunulated or White-naped Honey-eater on the mainland so it has 
been independently proved in Tasmania that the Black-capped 
Honey-eater will cling to its nest, more especially during windy 
weather, if the tree containing it be felled. 
Mr. Brent proceeds to state, ‘‘ A friend and I discovered one 
which was impossible to obtain by climbing at the extreme end of 
a horizontal branch of a large White-gum (Hucalypt). Our only 
way was to fell the tree or sling the branch with a rope. The 
latter course was decided upon. A noose was made round the 
limb and pushed with a stick as far out as possible, then the rope 
was passed over another branch higher up and the other end made 
fast at the ground. With a light saw the branch was severed. I 
thought to retain my hold at the butt end, but, alas, the bough 
proved too much for me, it tipped and swung down, the little bird 
remaining fast to the nest which was by this time completely 
upside down. We could not venture too near for fear of disturb- 
ing her, so I crept in under cover of the foliage and cut the branch 
again turning it upright, and in this way we took a full set of 
three eggs and an egg of the Pallid Cuckoo. 
“Since discovering this little fact, I have taken many nests 
of the Black-capped Honey-eater by felling the trees, but I must 
say not always successfully. My experience has taught me to 
choose a boisterous day ; even a good, steady breeze will suffice, 
for nature prompts the sitting bird to cling more closely to her 
nest. Care should be taken that the falling tree does not strike 
or foul another tree.” 
A nest, with eggs, kindly forwarded to me for description, by 
Mr. Brent, was taken in like manner, and when the poor bird was 
rescued from the fallen foliage, she was covering her own eggs, 
beside an additional burden—an egg of the Pallid Cuckoo. Date, 
21-11-96. 
Mr. Brent has also taken the egg of the Fan-tailed Cuckoo 
(C. flabelliformis) from the nest of the little Black-cap, it being 
a most unusual occurrence to find that cuckoo’s egg in an open 
nest. 
In the Appendix of the “ Catalogue” of the Australian Museum 
it is stated that Dr. Holden, of Circular Head, Tasmania, found 
several nests of the Black-capped Honey-eater in December (1889), 
One in particular was commenced on the 7th of that month, con- 
tained three fresh egzs by the 25th. One nest had no wool, but 
was chiefly composed of green moss and spider’s web, with a lining 
of flower-seeds. 
The male Black-capped Honey-eater, and doubtless many other 
kinds of birds, sometimes feed the female upon her nest, especially 
if the weather be windy. 
Breeding months from October to December. 
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