NESTS AND EGGS OF HONEY-EATERS. 619 
No doubt before cattle were introduced to Australia this beau- 
tiful Honey-eater furnished its nest with the hair or fur of kan- 
garoos and other indigenous animals. 
Mr. C. F. Belcher has observed that the same pair of White- 
eared Honey-eaters will build within a few feet of the same spot 
year after year, 
Breeding months, from the end of August to December. 
PTrILOTIS COCKERELLI, Gould. 
‘“‘Cockerell Honey-eater.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., sep. pl. 43. 
feference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 241. 
Geographical Distribution.—North Queensland. 
Nest and Eggs.—Unknown. 
Observations. —Of this rare honey-eater Gould writes :—“ It is 
but an act of justice that at least one of the birds of Australia 
should be named after Mr. James Cockerell, inasmuch as he is a 
native-born Australian, has collected very largely in the northern 
parts of that great country, and discovered more than one new 
species, amongst which must be enumerated the present very 
interesting bird.” 
Mr. Cockerell found his namesake frequenting the little-explored 
parts of Cape York Peninsula, often in company with the Blue- 
bellied Lorikeet and the Yellow-spotted Honey-eater. 
When Mr. Harry Barnard was collecting for Mr. D. Le Souéf 
and others during the breeding season of 1896-7, at Cape York, 
he met with the Cockerell Honey-eater, but did not succeed in 
procuring its nest. 
Pritotis AURIcoMIs, Latham. 
“ Yellow-tufted Honey-eater.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. iv, pl. 37. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 242. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs. —Ramsay, This, vol. vi (1864), 
id. Gould, Bds. of Aust. Hdbk., vol. i, p. 512 (1865). 
Geogr aphical Distr ibution. —Queensland, New South Wales, and 
Victoria. 
Nest.—Cup-shaped, substantial ; constructed of fine strips of 
brownish-coloured bark (chiefly), and grass matted with cocoons, 
sometimes of various colours ; inside lined with grass, and on the 
bottoin with soft seeds—thistle, Clematis, &c. ; usually suspended in 
a creeper, sapling, or small tree in open forest country. Dimen- 
sions, 3}-4 inches over all x 21-3 inches in depth; egg-cavity 
21-91 ae x 14-2 ee deep. 
Eggs.—Clutch, 2-3; short in form,abru ptly compressed towards 
one end ; ; texture, fee faint trace of gloss on surface ; colour, rich 
