630 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
I had found a nest in the upper forked branches of a similar tree. 
This nest contained a pair of fully-fledged young, for which the 
parents were very solicitous, and gave me a good opportunity of 
identifying the species. 
Breeding months, probably from August to January. 
MELIORNIS AUSTRALASIANA, Shaw. 
Crescent Honey-eater.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. 1v, pl. 27. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. rx, p. 252. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs.—Campbell, Southern Science 
Record (1883). North Cat. Nests and Eggs, Austn. Mus., p. 
195 (1889). 
Geographical Distribution.—South Queensland, N. 8. Wales, 
Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and intermediate islands in 
Bass Straits. 
Nest.—Cup-shaped, deep with thick-built sides; composed of 
somewhat broad strips of (Melaleuca, &c.) bark, protected with a 
loose but goodly supply of twigs ; firmly lined inside with fine 
grass, and on the bottom with fine reddish flowering stalks of moss ; 
usually placed low in thick underscrub, in sword-grass, or in ferns, 
in forest. Dimensions over all, 4-5 inches by 3 inches in depth ; 
egg cavity, 1} inches across by 14 inches deep. 
Hggs.—Clutch 3; oval, slightly compressed towards one end ; 
texture of shell fine ; surface very slightly glossy ; colour, delicate 
fleshy tint, darker on the apex, which is boldly spotted and marked, 
usually in the form of a belt, with rich pinkish-red or reddish- 
chestnut, and dull purplish-brown or grey. Dimensions in parts of 
an inch of a clutch taken in Tasmania, (1) ‘79 x 56; (2) ‘78 x°58. 
A set taken in Victoria are smaller in size, and beautiful for their 
delicate character and lovely markings, measure—(1) 75x54; (2) 
73x54; (3) 72 x °55. 
Observations.—This splendid little Honey-eater dwells in the 
depths of forests, especially where the thick undergrowth grows 
in moist or swampy places, or in mountain water-courses. The 
bird has a range from South Queensland to Tasmania. 
It seems a misnomer to call the bird Tasmanian, for although 
it is numerous on that island, itis by no means uncommon in 
favoured localities on the mainland. The black lunar-shaped mark 
down each side of the breast of the male naturally suggests 
“Crescent” or “ Horse-shoe” as a more appropriate and at once 
distinctive name for this Honey-eater. 
The female is, however, destitute of the herse-shoe markings, a 
fact in favour of separating the species, as it was formerly, under 
the genus Lichmera, from the Meliornes, which have the sexes 
alike in plumage. 
