38 ' Wu.sos, Oologisfs inihe Mallee. [,sf"j"iy 



Dicseum hirundinaceum. Mistletoe-Bird. — A solitary specimen of this 

 sylvan gem was obser\'cd at Ouyen, where we noticed a few mistletoes 

 growing. 



Pardalotus ornatus. Red-tipped Pardalote. — Common everywhere, the 

 birds having just started nesting operations. 



Pardalotus xanthopygius. Golden-rumped Pardalote. — This pretty little 

 form was always present on the sand-hills, where many of them had started 

 nesting. At Ouyen nests were found containing incomplete clutches, but 

 at Kow Plains they were not so forward, having just started tunnelling. 

 Several of their excavations were noticed along the tracks that do service 

 as roadways. Their bell-like note is exactly similar to that of F. picnctaius, 

 but not quite so loud. 



Melithreptus brevirostris. Brown-headed Honey-eater. — Another familiar 

 friend that we frecjuently met ; although differing but very slightly from the 

 southern representative of the species, it is not of such a stout build. 



Plectorhamphus lanceolatus. Striped Honey-eater. — A few pairs were seen 

 amongst the pine clumps near the Kow Plains homestead. 



Glycyphila melanops. Tawny-crowned Honey-eater. — When searching for 

 nests of Anivtornis we often found nests of these birds built upon the top 

 of the porcupine grass. One clutch taken from a nest built in a turpentine- 

 bush was unusual in being perfectly white. 



Glycyphila albifrons. White-fronted Honey-eater. — Seen in great numbers 

 in the Kow Plains district, where many nests containing eggs and young 

 were found. They nested freely in the turpentine -bushes, but the most 

 favoured site was on the top of a porcupine-grass tussock. In the latter 

 case there was always a small sapling close to the nest upon which they 

 alighted before going to the nest. 



Ptilotis sonora. Singing Honey-eater. — A few pairs were located in the 

 pine clumps near the homestead. 



Ptilotis novae-norciae. (Milligan). I obtained two skins at Kow Plains 

 which I think must be referable to this Western Australian species. It 

 will, however, be necessary to get more skins to ascertain if the differences 

 are constant. Three clutches of eggs were obtained, which are considerably 

 smaller than those met with in southern Victoria. Both Mr. Howe and 

 myself also noticed that the call notes of this bird were not so loud as those 

 we were accustomed to hear of P. leucotis. 



Ptilotis cratitia. Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater. — This very distinct bird 

 was seen on one or two occasions in the neighbourhood of the boring camp 



Ptilotis ornata. Yellow-plumed Honey-eater. — This graceful Honey-eater 

 was observed in numbers throughout the trip, and nests containing both 

 eggs and young in various stages of maturity were discovered. 



Myzantha melanotis. Black-eared Miner. — This new species (see Emu^ 

 vol. xi., page 124), which closely resembles M. obscura^ of Western Aus- 

 tralia, was fairly common in the neighbourhood of the boring camp, one 

 flock in particular often being seen feeding just close to our tent doors. 

 Their notes and general habits are not unlike those of M. garrula. We 

 were too early to obtain eggs, but a nest being built was found when 

 tracking back to Kow Plains from the camp. The female is similar to the 

 male, but is slightly smaller. 



Acanthochaera carunculata. Red Wattle-Bird. — Although not common, a 

 few pairs of Wattle-Birds were seen in most places visited, and nests 

 containing eggs noticed. 



Aeantliogenys rufigularis. Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater. — Occasionally seen 

 near the soak, a few miles north of the camp. 



