32 Campbell and Barnard. Birds nf N . Queenslavd. [ .„|'"j"] 



We could not separate it from the southern form, the reasons for 

 separation given by Mathews being the extension of red further down 

 the abdomen. This trivial reason was not convincing. 



Myzomela pectoralis. Banded Honey-eater. 



Cissoinela pectoralis incerlu. 



This truly northern bird was noted on tlie table-land. Kamsay also 

 saw one specimen. 



It e\'identlv extends right across to the >s'()r(hern Territory, as it 

 is a common bird on the INlacartliur River, where it was found 

 breeding in the latter end of 191, ^ 



Myzomela obscura. Dusky Honey-eater 

 Melomyza obscura harterti. 



This dark-plumaged Honey-eater was always in evidence, and 

 lively. It occasionally visited the gardens of our lodging at Card- 

 well, and dipped into the bluish bells of a Tecoma-like creeper 



Mathews's munna which == harterti . is loo near the type locality 

 of obscura for scientific separation. 



The Duskv Honey-eater is amongst the many birds that feign 

 lameness or a broken wing when the vicinity of its yoimg is invaded. 



Acanthorhynchus cairnsensis. Cairns Spinel)ill. 

 , J caiit/iorhviic/nis toutirostris cairnsensis. 



The Spinebill w-as observed on the table-land. It, in general, is a 

 smaller bird than the southern species, and the throat markings are 

 nearly obsolete, but our specimen was not paler-coloured on tlie 

 under-sui'face, as mentioned by Mathews. 



Glyciphila modesta. Brown-backed Honey-eater. 



Ramsayoriiis modest us ramsayi. 



This modest-coloiu-ed Honey-eater was a common bird, and many 

 of their elongated, covered-in nests were seen, si;spended chiefly in 

 tea-trees overhanging water or creek beds. 



We believe this Honey-eater to be a true modesta. If Mathews 

 thinks it is sub-specifically distinct, and should bear another name, 

 he should have used Ramsay's sub-Jasciata (P.Z.S., 1868, p. 385;, 

 and not his own ramsayi Sub-Jasciata Avas from Rockingham Bay, 

 not Cape York, as indicated in 3Iathews's " 191 3 List," page 267. 

 However, Ramsay, in his " Talnilar List" ('1888) states that " G. 

 sub-Jusciata = G. modesta." Broadbenl, in his "List," mistook it 

 for the other species — G. fasciata. 



A nest of Glyciphila modesta, taken in a wattle-tree, was composed 

 chiefly of shreds and pieces of paper (Melaleuca) bark, with an ad- 

 mixture of spiders' web and cocoons. The structure was partially 

 hooded, with side entrance. Dimensions: — Length over all, 

 7 mches ; body of the nest, y^ x 3 inches ; entrance, 2 x -J inches. 

 (See illustration of same, Plate VII.) 



It is remarkable that only two species of all the Honey-eaters 

 construct covered nests — this and Glyciphila fasciata. A photograph 

 of the latter may be seen in The Emu, vol. xv., pi. xxx. 



Mr. Mathews is probably correct in separating these two singular 

 nest-builders from the true Glyciphilce, which construct open nests, 

 usually in low situations. 

 Stigmatops ocularis. Brown Honey-eater. 

 StiiJDiatops indistiucta ouida. 



The various races of this plain-coloured but sweet songster have 



