618 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
Prinotis LEucoTIs, Latham. 
‘‘White-eared Honey-eater.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol. vol. iv, pl. 36. 
feference.—Cat. Bds., Brit. Mus.,.vol. ix, p. 240. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs.—Campbell, Southern Science 
Record (1883). North, Cat. Nests and Eggs, Austn. Mus., p. 201 
(1889) ; also app. 11 (1890). 
Geographical Distribution.—Australia in general, except north. 
Nest.—Cup-shaped, deep; well constructed of fine bark and grass, 
matted together with spiders’ cocoons ; lined inside with a warm 
ply of cow or other hair; usually placed near the ground in a thick 
bush or in low scrub. Dimensions over all 34 to 4 inches, by 
24 to 34 inches in depth; egg cavity 2 inches across by 1} inch 
deep. 
L£qgs.—Clutch, 2 usually ; oval, compressed towards one end ; 
texture fine, surface slightly glossy ; colour, almost white, but 
sometimes of a delicate flesh tint, sparingly but distinctly marked 
and spotted with pinkish-red, the spots being more about the upper 
quarter. Dimensions of a clutch in parts of an inch: (1) ‘86 x 
"64; (2) 85 x 63. 
Observations.—This fine, showy Honey-eater, with conspicuous 
white ears, is not an uncommon bird in lightly timbered and 
heathy tracts of country in Victoria and other southern parts. It 
is a scarce bird in Western Australia. I fancy Dr. Ramsay’s 
north-west habitat for this species needs verification. 
The bird is an early breeder. I had always to be afield in the 
coastal scrubs about the beginning of September if I wanted fresh 
eggs. The nest is difficult to find amongst the acres of thick, short 
scrub, and frequently is only detected by watching the movements 
of the bird, which at all times is exceedingly wily. My greatest find 
of White-eared Honey-eaters’ nests in one season was in 1883, if I 
recollect rightly—the year when I found three nests all situated 
about a foot from the ground, and lined with a thick warm ply of 
cow-hairs wonderfully woven. 
It is interesting to watch the birds plucking hair off while 
perched on the backs of cattle, and rather a difficult task it proves 
for the bird to effect lodgment, especially if the cow patronised 
be not in an amiable mood, when she tosses her head angrily and 
switches her tail from flank to neck, while the bird, fluttering over, 
waits an opportunity to dodge the cow’s tail, and between each 
lash plucks a few hairs till a mouthful is obtained, then flies to 
its nest. 
Mr. G. E. Shepherd, Somerville, Victoria, has enjoyed a some- 
what comical experience with nest-building White-eared Honey- 
eaters. They have actually plucked hairs from his horse when he 
was riding through the country. 
