124 Ingle, Birds of Merrtman's Creek, South Gippsland. \^^™q^^ 



CoACHWHiP-BiRD {Psophodes crepitans, Vig. and Hors.) — Only two 

 pairs of this bird are known to me. They bred in their usual haunt 

 during the spring of 1909. 



White-fronted Chat {Ephthianura albifrons, Jard. and Selby). — 

 Common in the open country, where they breed freely. 



White-backed Magpie (Gymnorhina leuconota, Gould). — Far from 

 uncommon. Large flocks pati^ol the open country. 



BuTCHER-BiRD {Cracticus destructor, Temm.) — Common, and breeds 

 freely ; as many as five eggs to the clutch. 



Yellow-bellied Shrike-Tit (Falcunculus frontatiis, Lath.) — 

 Rather scarce. A few pairs were found nesting in eucalypts, at the 

 summits of the trees. 



White-throated Thickhead {Pachycephala gutturalis, Lath.) — 

 Fairly plentiful in the scrubs. Many nests are seen each season. sj- 



Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Pachycephala rufigularis , Gould). — 

 Arrives here in numbers during September, breeds freely, and departs 

 about the middle of March. 



White-throated Tree-creeper {Climacteris leucophcsa, Lath.) — 

 Breeds freely. 



Orange-winged Tree-runner {Sittella chrysoptera, Lath.) — • Not 

 common. In winter small flocks, generally numbering 10, frequent 

 the open country where casuarinas are abundant. 



Spine-billed Honey-eater (Acanihorhynchus tenuirostris , Lath.) — 

 Common, although nests are not often seen, probably owing to the 

 birds' habit of placing it in the top of a dense tea-tree. The clutch 

 seems to be composed invariably of two eggs. 



Silver-eye (Zosterops ccerulescens. Lath.) — Very common, especially 

 during the autumn months. Only a few breed in the district. 



Lunulated Honey-eater (Melithreptus lunulatus, Shaw). — Plenti- 

 ful along the creeks or round swamps, providing there is a good supply 

 of eucalypts. 



Brown-headed Honey-eater (Melithreptus brevirostris, Vig. and 

 Hors.) — Seen mostly during midwinter. I have known odd individuals 

 to stay through the breeding season, but have seen no nests or young. 



Warty-faced Honey-eater (Meliphaga phrygia, Lath.) — An 

 occasional visitor. 



Yellow-faced Honey-eater {Ptilotis chrysops, Lath.) — The 

 common Honey-eater of the district. Arrives during August, starts 

 to breed early in October, and is gone by the middle of May. 



White-eared Honey-eater {Ptilotis leucotis, Lath.) — Fairly 

 numerous, though not nearly so many now as there were about three 

 years ago. 



Crescent Honey-eater {M eliornis australasiana, Shaw). — Common. 

 Breeds early in August and September, and disappears before December, 

 returning about March. 



New Holland Honey-eater {Meliornis novcs-hollandice. Lath.) — 

 This species only visits the district occasionally. One season a pair 

 remained, and I found their nest, containing eggs. 



Bell Miner {Manorhina melanophrys, Lath.) — Several colonies of 



