NESTS AND EGGS OF HONEY-EATERS. 649 
During a delightful excursion to the Lower Murray, beginning 
of November, 1892, Mr. J. Gabriel and I found a Blue-faced 
Honey-eater’s nest in the topmost branches of a small Red-gum by 
the river. Our host, Mr. G. H. Morton, climbed the tree for the 
pair of eggs. After a consultation the three of us agreed that the 
nest had evidently been constructed by the bird itself. Mr. 
Morton, 3rd December, following year took another nest, appar- 
ently made by the Entomyza. Clutch, two eggs. 
Mr. A. J. North, although he has not recorded having taken a 
nest of the Entomyza, says: “I have never heard of this bird 
constructing a nest itself, but relines the deserted tenements of 
Myzantha garrula (Minah) Acanthochera carunculata (Wattle- 
bird), or a depression in the top of the dome-shaped nest of 
Pomatostomus temporalis (Chatterer).” 
Here is the story of my venerable friend and acute field 
observer, Mr. Hermann Lau, respecting the Blue-faced Honey- 
eater, from the Dowling Downs (Q.): “It is one of our most hand- 
some forest birds, and lively by nature. When other birds—The 
Soldier (Minah), Leatherhead, &c.—are building, this nest-robber 
either goes out foraging the material to make its own nest, gather- 
ing it from its neighbours, or puts itself in possession of their 
whole edifice—tkat is, supposing the neighbour is a weaker bird, 
and before the latter deposits its eggs. Once I witnessed a sight 
never to be forgotten. A Butcher-bird when returning with 
building stuff found an Entomyza deftly pulling away at its (the 
Butcher-bird’s) property. The Butcher-bird drove off the other 
and kept it at bay, when to its horror the mate of the Entomyza 
arrived to help at the thievish work. Evidently a thought struck 
the Butcher-bird, so that it placed itself in the middle of the nest, 
which enabled that bird with its formidable beak to put both 
enemies to flight. Such is the habit of the Entomyza, the sequel 
being that its nest is like that of a Minah (Myzantha), in which 
2-3 eggs are placed, and is hung fairly high. Twobroods. Septem- 
ber, 1874.” 
Breeding month, August to January, and sometimes, Mr. 
North states, as Jate as February. 
ENTOMYZA ALBIPENNIS, Gould. 
““White-quilled Honey-eater.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. iv, pl. 69. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 269. 
Geographical Distribution.—Northern Territory and North 
Queensland. 
Nest and Eggs.—Unknown, but probably similar to those o 
Entomyza cyanotis. 
LI@RaRY 
Rp & Qe 
(a TY 
