q5 Agnew, The Birds of Peel IslaniU [isf "oct 



winter months these birds are mostly seen, and when nesting-time 

 comes they disappear till about the end of each autumn. 



Ground-Thrush (Oreocincla heinii). — Rare. A pair visits us 

 every winter, Beautiful song. 



Grass- Warbler (Cisticola exilis). — This bird inhabits mainly the 

 grassy and swampj^ parts of the island, and breeds here. Its nest is 

 placed low in a small shrub, among long grass. The nest of this bird 

 which I found was 6 inches from the ground, sewn to two broad leaves 

 of a native shrub, and woven to the leaves with cobweb. The lining 

 was of thistledown, and very cosy for the young. The three eggs were 

 blue in colour with reddish spots. Unfortunately, several days 

 after the female began sitting a fire demolished nest and eggs. The 

 song is very pleasing, and is better when the bird is on the wing. 



White-rumped Wood-Swallow (Artamus leucogaster). — Common. 

 This bird is generally seen in flocks of a dozen or so, clinging to the 

 branches of trees. This species nests here, in the fork of a tree or 

 in the hollow branch of a mangrove. Egg of Artatmis leucogasler 

 has a neutral ground colour, and is dashed, speckled, and blotched with 

 different shades of brown. 



Masked Wood-Swallow {Artamus personatus). — Several of these 

 birds visited us last winter. 



Wood-Swallow (Artamus sordidus). — One specimen has been seen 

 flying about paddock. 



Pied Grallina. or Magpie-Lark (Grallma picata). — Common Nests 

 here. Very tame. 



White-throated Tree-creeper (Climacteris leucophcea). — One only 

 observed. 



White-eye {Zosterops dorsalis). — Common in winter. When not 

 breeding, flocks of White-eyes may be seen feeding in the mangroves. 



Mistletoe-Bird (Dicaium hirundinaceum). — Common. This bird 

 generally inhabits the topmost branches of trees, and is very hard 

 to distinguish at times, especially on a windy day. It has a clear 

 song. 



Spotted Pardalote. or Diamond-Bird (Pardalotus puncfatus). — 

 Common. Nests on island. Very timid bird. 



White-naped Honey-eater (Melithreptus lunulatus). — Several speci- 

 mens have been seen. 



Sanguineous Honey-eater (Myzomela sanguineolenta). — Common 

 This bird is generally known as the " Blood-Bird," because of its 

 blood-coloured head. 



Yellow-faced Honey-eater (Ptilotis chrysops). — Common. Breeds 

 here. Nest made of tea-tree bark, cobwebs, lined with leaves and 

 moss. Nests found were all suspended from branches of tea-tree. 

 Eggs buff in colour. 



White-bearded Honey-eater {Meliornis novcs-hollandicc). — Common. 

 Very active bird, and is always near dweUings. A pair was resting 

 in my room one day for half an hour. Nest made of tea-tree bark, 

 leaves, moss, cobwebs, &c. Eggs, two in number, arc buff in colour 

 and slightly darker on larger end. 



Friar-Bird, or Leatherhead {Tropidorhynchus corniculatus). — 

 Common. Breeds here. Most of their nests are found in tea-tree 



