632 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
including islands in Bass Straits, the birds thinning out to South 
Australia on the one hand and up to Southern Queensland on the 
other. 
The coastal scrubs of Leptospermum (Ti-tree) interspersed with 
Banksias are the delight of the familiar New Holland, where its 
loud, shrill, and scolding note is always heard. It regales itself 
on the nectar of the flowering cones or ‘‘ honey-suckles ” as they 
were first called of the Banksias, while through half the year 
individuals may be found nesting in the warm Ti-tree scrub. 
These interesting birds may frequently be seen airing their 
golden-edged wings in the private gardens of Toorak, as well as in 
more public domains near Melbourne. It is also pleasing to 
observe this attractive bird in the dry and arid Mallee tracts 
when that scrub is intersected with belts of dwarf Melaleuca 
(Ti-tree) bearing puce-coloured flowers. In such country I found 
two nests with a pair of eggs each during October, 1884. 
The principal breeding months are from August to December 
or January, but individuals occasionally lay much earlier in the 
season, as the following dates prove:—On the 24th May, 1885, 
my friend and sportsman, Mr. J. F. Bradly, while shooting at 
Mordialloc, observed a nest of a New Holland Honey-eater con- 
taining two fresh -eggs ; while Mr. Scott, on Ist July, 1884, saw 
a nest with young birds. 
T well recollect the first nest of this species I chanced to find. 
It was situated in a thick bush near Brighton, November, 1880. 
It is interesting to note the variation of materials used in nest- 
lining in different localities. The Mallee nests were lined with 
rabbit fur and soft grass-seeds. Another nest from the Upper 
Werribee was furnished entirely with small calyxes of soft 
yellowish-white flowers belonging to some shrub. 
I have never found more than three eggs or young in a nest 
of this Honey-eater, but Mr. A. E. Brent informs me he has 
occasionaliy found four to a clutch in Tasmania. 
I have observed the egg of the Narrow-billed Brown-cuckoo in 
the New Holland Honey-eater’s nest. The honey-eater is also a 
foster parent of the Pallid Cuckoo, 
MELIORNIS LONGIROSTRIS, Gould. 
“ Long-billed Honey-eater.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. iv, pl. 24. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 254. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs.—Gould, Bds. of Australia 
(1848); also Hdbk., vol. i, p. 489 (1865). North, Cat. Nests and 
Eggs, Austn. Mus., p. 192 (1889). 
Geographical Distribution.—South and West Australia. 
