Vol: X. 



] Hill, Field Notes on Birds of Kimberley, N.-W. Aiisi. 285 



vol X., p. 167), so that I presume the two nests found in May and July were 

 late broods. The nests were very lightly constructed of fine grass, bark, 

 and spider web, and were lined with grass. 



Dimensions of nests in inches : —Outside— length, 2.2; breadth, 2; 

 depth, i.g. Inside— length, 1.6; breadth, 1.4; depth, 1.6. 



The food appears to consist entirely of honey. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



Glvcvphila fasciat.v (White-breasted Honey-eater). 



Were noted in the Napier Broome Bay district only, where the first 

 arrivals appeared on 1/ 12/09. By the 26th they were plentiful near all the 

 creeks and springs, and on i/i/io nineteen nests were commenced along one 

 small creek. The first set of eggs was taken on 5/1/10, and the last on 

 1 8/5/ 10. Two eggs are invariably laid, excepting in cases where a nest 

 contains a Cuckoo's egg. I believe that when a Cuckoo's egg is the first or 

 second egg to be deposited in the nest, the Honey-eater does not lay her 

 full clutch, but proceeds to incubate the Cuckoo's egg only, or the Cuckoo's 

 egg and one of her own. I noticed that where a nest contained a full clutch 

 of Honey-eater's eggs and a Cuckoo's egg the former were always in a more 

 advanced state of incubation than the latter. My supposition is based on 

 the following records and se\eral more of similar nature : — A nest taken on 

 7/ i/io contained two slightly incubated Honey-eater's eggs and one fresh 

 egg of Cacomantis flabclliformis (Square-tailed Cuckoo). A second nest 

 taken on 13/1/10 contained one Honey-eater's egg and one egg of C.flnbelli- 

 for??iis, both of which were somewhat incubated. A third nest, which was 

 commenced on i/i/ioand taken on 13/1/10, contained only a slightly incu- 

 bated egg of C.JiabelUformis. A fourth nest, taken on 3/2/10, contained one 

 egg of each species, both showing signs of incubation. The nests are built 

 of cajaput bark throughout, and are so closely woven that they are practi- 

 cally rain-proof. Nearly all have a strongly built resting place below the 

 opening, upon which the birds alight before entering the nest and when 

 feeding their young, and from which frequently hang several broad pieces of 

 bark, varying in length from 4 to 9 inches. Similar pieces sometimes hang 

 from the sides and bottom also. I noticed several instances of these birds 

 having abandoned their first nest to build another on the same branch, or on 

 one in close proximity to it. In three cases abandonment appeared to be 

 due to the presence of a Cuckoo's egg in the nest, and in others to the 

 fact that I had examined or taken eggs from the first nest. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



