594 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
PLECTORHYNCHUS LANCEOLATUS, Gould. 
“Striped Honey-eater.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. iv, pl. 47. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 208. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs.—Gould, Bds. of Austr. (1848), 
also Hdbk., vol. i, p. 526 (1865). North, Cat. Nests and Eggs 
Austn. Mus., p. 209 (1889). 
Geographical Distribution.—Queensland, New South Wales, 
Victoria, and South Australia, 
Nest.—Cup-shaped, deep; composed of fibrous roots and grasses, 
interwoven with wool or cotton-like texture of flowers and feathers ; 
inside lined sparingly with grass and hair; usually suspended at 
the extremity of a branch of Casuarina, Myall (Acacia), or other 
tree in open timbered tracts of the interior. Dimensions of a nest 
given in the Australian Museum Catalogue are—interior 3 inches 
across by 4 inches deep. 
Lggs.—Clutch, 3-4, occasionally 5 ; lengthened in form, some- 
what pointed towards one end; texture fine; surface slightly glossy ; 
colour, warm white minutely spotted with reddish-brown or chest- 
nut and purplish-grey, the markings being more numerous about 
the upper quarter. Dimensions ofa pair in parts of an inch (1) 98 
x 68; (2) 98 x 67. Of a larger-sized set—(1) 1:04 x 69; (2) 
1:04 x 68; (3) 1:03 x -69, 
Observations.—This unique and interesting form of Honey-eater 
is strictly a denizen of the interior provinces from Queensland to 
South Australia where it loves the pine ridges, and open tracts of 
Casuarina, Acacia, &c. The bird is the possessor of a loud whistling 
note, and is usually found in pairs. 
On one occasion only did Gould discover the nest, which was 
suspended from the extreme tip of a Casuarina branch overhanging 
a stream. 
In 1880 I received from Mr. R. Macfarlane, then at Mallee 
Cliffs Station (N.S. W.), a full set of four eggs of the Striped Honey- 
eater. September the following year Mr. A. J. North reports he 
received from the Wimmera district, Victoria, a beautiful nest 
together with a set of eggs, while it is stated the late Mr. K. 
H. Bennett found this Honey-eater breeding plentifully in the 
neighbourhood of Ivanhoe and Mossgiel in the interior of New 
South Wales. 
On the 9th October, 1893, Mr. C. Barnard found in Queensland 
a nest of the Striped Honey-eater with the unusually full comple- 
ment of five eggs. 
Mr. J. W. Mellor, (South Australia), writes me that he took 
about the end of September, 1894, near Lakes Alexandrina and 
Albert, a nest of this species containing four eggs. Both parents 
were secured for Museum purposes. 
