284 UiLL, Field Notes on Birds of Kinibeyley, N.-W. Aiist. [..ft'jan. 



Melithreptus l/etior (Golden-backed Honey-eater). 



Flocks of from 12 to 18 birds passed the station on 4th to 28th November, 

 flying south-west. From the latter date to i6th February, 19 10, none was 

 seen, but on 17th February two flocks of about 20 birds passed. Between 

 17th February and 30th June I frequently saw or heard them in some open 

 forest, but they were generally in parties of two or three pairs, and showed 

 no desire to commence nesting. The notes of this species are similar to 

 those of J\f. brcvirostris (Brown-headed Honey-eater), though stronger, 

 and audible at a greater distance. 



Measurements of birds in mm.: — 



Total length. Wing. Tarsus. ISill. T;iil. 



^ ... 134 ... 70 ... 16 ... 12 ... 51 

 $ ... 164 ... 83 ... 19 ... 15 ... 62 



Myzomela erythrocephala (Red-headed Honey-eater). 



A resident and fairly plentiful species in the mangro\'es from Derby 

 northwards. They rarely leave the mangroves, and when they do so it is 

 only to visit flowering eucalypts close by. The denseness of the foliage 

 renders it almost impossible to watch their movements or to locate their 

 nests, which are generally placed in the tops of the highest mangroves. A 

 nest taken from such a position at Napier Broome Bay, on 26/3/ jo, contained 

 two beautifully marked eggs, which were, unfortunately, too far gone to blow. 

 The nest was 35 feet from water level, and was built of fine bark, covered on 

 the outside with leaves of a coastal shrub {Calycothrix microphylla)., and lined 

 with hair-like rootlets. A second nest was placed in a cluster of Loranthns 

 growing in a mangrove 20 feet from water level, and was built of fine pieces 

 of bark, sea-weed, and spider web, lined with bark and rootlets. The heads 

 of female birds are always tinged with red (see Hall's " Key," p. yj). 

 Dimensions of nests in inches :— («) Outside — length 23, breadth 2, depth 

 1.5 ; inside— length 1.5, breadth 1.3, depth 1.2. {b) Outside— length 2.3, 

 breadth 2, depth 1.7; inside — length 1.6, breadth 1.3. depth 1.4. 



A regular supply of honey is obtainable from the mangrove flowers, and it 

 is from these that most of their food is obtained throughout the year. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



MvzOMELA NIGRA (Black Honey-eater). 

 A single specimen only was noticed. 



Myzomela pectoralis (Banded Honey-eater). 



The first arrivals appeared at Napier Broome Bay on 26/12/09, when the 

 first crop of CrV^w7/^<i flowers opened, and their numbers 'increased largely 

 during the next few weeks. As the flowers failed their numbers decreased, 

 until none remained in the first week of February. However, they returned 

 in the middle of March, when the second crop of flowers opened. The 

 majority went away again as the food supply decreased, but a few pairs 

 remained until the end of July, when my observations ceased. Two nests 

 only were found, the first of which contained two fresh eggs (10 5/10), and 

 the second two young (20/7/10). The early arrivals were accompanied by 

 many birds of immature plumage (see note by Mr. A. J. Campbell, Emu 



