Vol. XII. 

 1913 



Flinders Island Camp-out. 1 63 



Malurus samueli (Mathews, vide A. A. Record, No. 4, vol. i., p. 93). 

 Flinders Blue Wren. — Blue Wrens were plentiful amid the thick under- 

 growth on the borders of swampy ground, and in the tangled mass of giant 

 bracken on the hill and mountain sides. Colour of mantle and crown of 

 head is a distinct shade of blue to A^. cyaneus. Found nesting ; tgg fresh. 

 Nests much more open at entrance, and larger in bulk in comparison with 

 those of other members of the genus. 



Zosterops lateralis.* Southern White-eye. — Were very plentiful, and 

 were observed tripping over the ground amongst low berry-producing 

 plants ; at other times seen diligently searching for insects amid the 

 stunted gum (eucalypt) and other bushes. 



Pardalotus afflnis. Yellow-tipped Pardalote. — Numerous on Flinders 

 Island. Met with in -the big timljer and scrub country alike. 



Pardalotus punctatus. Spotted Pardalote. — This Pardalote was not so 

 numerous as the preceding species ; found in stunted gums (eucalypts). 



Melithreptus validirostris. Strong-billed Honey-eater. — These birds 

 were met with in the large timber on mountain sides, and were in small 

 companies from three to six, flying from tree to tree. Unlike that of 

 M. gularis, of the mainland, their call is feeble and not often repeated. t 



Melithreptus melanocephalus. Black-headed Honey-eater.— Met with 

 in low dwarf eucalypt scrub. Very silent birds, and not at all plentiful. 



Acanthorhynchus dubius. Tasmanian Spinebill. — Spinebills were 

 scarce, although it was apparently an ideal country for them, because low 

 flowering shrubs and grass-trees abounded. 



Glycyphila crassirostris. Tasmanian Tawny-crowned Honey-eater. — 

 Although a fair number of these birds was noted, their characteristic call 

 was seldom heard. Many fully fledged young were seen, which were 

 adorned with a bright yellow throat. Found in swampy country. 



Ptilotis flavigula. Yellow-throated Honey-eater. — This fine Honey- 

 eater was fairly numerous, and its somewhat frog-like call was often heard 

 in the thick undergrowth. In habits it much resembles P. Icucotis of the 

 mainland. 



Lichmera australasiana. Crescent Honey-eater. — The loud, well-known 

 call of the Crescent Honey-eater was heard amid the thick undergrowth in 

 swampy places. A specimen was not procured, but there is little doubt of it 

 being the Tasmanian variety. 



Meliornis novsB-hollandise. White-bearded Honey-eater. —Thinly dis- 

 tributed over the island ; frequents banksia trees near swampy localities. 



Anthus australis. Pipit. — Thinly distiibuted over the island. Specimens 

 were secured, as expected, much darker on the back and darker marked on 

 the breast in comparison with those from Australian specimens or more 

 open localities. 



Zonseginthus bellus. (?) Fire-tailed Finch. — On comparison it is found 

 that this Flinders Island bird resembles the one on Kangaroo Island {Z. 

 bellus samiicH, Mathews, A. A. Record, vol. i.. No. 4, p. 102) in general 

 colouration, but the shade of crimson on rump is decidedly lighter than the 



* I have minutely examined a large series of Zosterops from South Australia, 

 Kangaroo Island, Tasmania, and Flinders Island, and I am of the firm opinion that 

 Z. lateralis, Z. westeriiensis, Z. tasmanica, and Z. halniatiirina are not separable. — 

 S.A.W. 



1 1 located a nest at a great height in the thick young shoots (which had grown 

 after fire) of a blue gum {E. glohtchis). After a stiff climb I found that it contained 

 two young birds almost naked, only a scanty covering of brownish down. Nest 

 placed close to limb, composed of grass, leaves, rootlets, and bark fibre. — S.A.W. 



