NESTS AND EGGS OF HONEY-EATERS. 621 
tint of colour. The site selected for the nest is usually some low 
bushy shrub, among the rich clusters of Zecoma australis, or care- 
fully hidden in the thick tufts of Blechnum (L. cartilayineum), 
which often cover a space of many square yards. In these clumps, 
where it clings to the stems of ferns, I have several times found 
two or three pairs breeding at the same time within a few yards 
of each other. The ferns and Zecome seem to be their favourite 
places for breeding, although the nests may often be found placed 
suspended between forks in the small bushy oaks (Caswarine). In 
the nest of this Honey-eater, I have several times found the egg of 
the Cuculus inornatus (pallidus ).” 
The following is an interesting note kindly sent to me by Mr. 
C. C. Brittlebank :—“ Yellow-tufted Honey-eaters’ nests have been 
observed in the trees and shrubs as under: ‘Old man’ Saltbush, 
about three feet from the ground (9th November— young) ; Wattle- 
tree, about seven feet from the ground; Tronbark (Eucalypt), at 
about forty feet ; Aster, with a leaf like Rosemary (18 October— 
eggs) ; Gray-box (Kucalypt), about fifty feet high (26 October— 
old birds feeding young). Nests in all cases were built of moss, 
root-fibres, grass, and spiders’ cocoons. In one instance the birds 
were working at their nests while I was within 6 feet of them. 
The nests as built here greatly resembles that of the Yellow-faced 
Honey-eater (P. chrysops), but are thicker towards the bottom. 
One nest had several pieces of bark woven through the structure 
and over the branches to which it hung. Have only seen these 
nests in one part of this district (the Upper Werribee River), and 
only in a tract of country about half a square mile in extent.” 
PTILOTIS CASSIDIX, Jardine. 
“‘ Helmeted Honey-eater.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. iv, pl. 39. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 243. 
Previous Description of Eggs.—Campbell, Southern Science 
Record (1885). 
Geographical Disiribution.—V ictoria. 
Nest.—Substantial, cup-shaped, deep, with bulging sides; con- 
structed of soft strings or strips of brownish bark (£. obliqua), 
with a few spider’s cocoons and a leaf or two inserted ; inside lined 
with fine bark and other soft material such as hair, Clematis seeds, 
&c. ; usually suspended in the branch of a low tree or bush near 
or overhanging a stream, in thick forest. Dimensions over all, 
34 to 4 inches by 4 inches in depth ; egg cavity, 2} inches across 
by 22 inches deep. 
L£ggs.—Clutch, 2; well-shaped, oval, slightly compressed towards 
one end ; texture, fine; surface, slightly glossy ; colour of a fleshy 
