Vol. XVII 



I9I7 



] Campbell and Barnard, Birds of N. QiteeusUnul . QQ 



perplexed ornithologists much. Ihere was even a difference in two 

 males which we collected in the same locality, but they were smaller 

 than southern males. Again, the males are the larger of the two 

 sexes, and possess more gi'eyish heads than the females. 



A characteristic nest, lined with a downy substance and containing 

 a pair of almost spotless eggs, was taken in a Callistemon overhanging 

 Kirrama Creek. 



Ptilotis gracilis. Lesser Yellow-spotted Honey-eater. 

 Microptilotis gracilis imitatvix. 



The smaller Yellow-spotted Honey-eater was frequently noticed. 

 It sometimes came into gardens after the flowering orange-trees, and 

 was generally amongst the honey-eating birds that gathered about 

 the flowering trees of the scrub. A nest was secured at the edge of 

 a scrub, in a' low tree. It contained a pair of fresh eggs, and was 

 lined with a snow-white downy material (? from seed of the Lyonsia, 

 climber), the same as that used for the same purpose by the larger 

 Yellow-eared Honej'-eater {Ptilotis chrysotis). 



We witnessed one of these Honey-eaters attacking a large spider 

 upon its web. The bird made several attempts to take the spider, 

 wliich always fenced with its legs and kept the bird at bay. After 

 several more atteinpts at c;ipture by the bird while on the wing, 

 without success, the doubtful morsel was abandoned. 



For nest see Plate VIII., left-hand figure. 

 Ptilotis fusca. Fuscous Honey-eater. 

 Pavaptilotis fusca dawsoni. 



These birds were always observed in lorcst country, and lret[uented 

 the tall trees Although not typical, this bird most resembles 

 P. fusca, with its dark-coloured bill and breast, while its habits and 

 call are identical with that bird's. Possibly it is the bird that 

 Mathews has recorded from Cairns as Ptilotula flavescens subgermana, 

 which is another species. 

 Ptilotis notata. Yellow-spotted Honey-eater. 



For remarks see next issue of Emu. 

 Ptilotis macleayana. Yellow-streaked Honey-eater. 

 Caloptilotis luarleayana . 



This rare and fine Honey-eater was of especial interest to us, as 

 it was first collected here by Broadbent, and Gould described one 

 of the specimens from Rockingham Bay in 1875 as P. flavostriaia — 

 a \exy (lescriptivc name ; but Ramsay anticipated him earlier in the 

 year by a specimen from Cooktown with the name P. macleayana. 



It was interesting watching these birds feeding on the large, 

 wreath-like, whitish flowers of Darlingia and among the honey-laden 

 flowers of a climbing Pisonia. 



Ptilotis versicolor. Varied Honey-eater. 



MelipJiaga versicolor. 



This equally interesting large and yellowish Ptilotis we found in 

 the mangroves, jiarticularly near the mouth of the Meunga Creek. 

 This bird has a loud and rather melodious call, and was seen feeding 

 on the floweiing inangroves. 



[These birds also frequent the mangroves of Charo Bay, Cape 

 York, where they were breeding in loio. — H. G. B.] 



Ptilotis barroni. Tesser Yellow-faced Honey-eater. 

 Paraptilotis chrysops barroni. 



Although we heard the famihar " chrysops " calls along the Kir- 



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