Vol. X. 

 igri 



j Whitlock, In the Stirling Ranges, W.A. 311 



Another pair were, I knew, building a nest near my Mt. Donelly 

 camp ; but the female was very cunning, and threw me off the 

 scent by conveying her materials to the nest in a roundabout way. 

 I had to shift camp before clearing the matter up, but on returning 

 to the locality ten days later I at once found the site, which I had 

 passed and repassed every time I went to fetch water to the 

 camp. The nest, however, was deserted, and appeared to have 

 been trodden upon by a horse. 



This Calamanthns must be an early breeder, as young were on 

 the wing when T arrived in the ranges. Young in nestling plumage 

 hardly differ from adults. Probably the species is double-brooded. 



Western Brown-headed Honey-eater {Melithreptus leucogenys). — 

 This Honey-eater seems to prefer the open country rather than 

 the forests of gums. I did not find it common anywhere. Where 

 it occurred it was usually flitting about in little parties of less 

 than half a dozen. It is a fussy, animated bird, and is constantly 

 uttering its rather unmusical and rattling notes. Its favourite 

 haunts appeared to be the sand-plain which had escaped the 

 general destruction and where there was a growth of stunted 

 jarrahs. Certain creeks whose banks were well clothed with 

 scrub of the mallee type were also much favoured, and it was in 

 such localities this bird seemed to find its food. I cannot recollect 

 ever having observed it extracting the nectar from flowers. Its 

 quest seemed to be more insectivorous, and the sprays of foliage 

 were assiduously searched in pursuit of its prey. It must be a 

 late breeder, as I saw the sexes more than once in the act of 

 pairing. This was in the beginning of October, when many 

 species had eggs. Unfortunately, I had to leave the locality a 

 few days later, otherwise I feel sure I should have obtained the nest 

 and eggs. 



Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater {Ptilotis cratitia). — Mr. Milligan 

 describes this bird " as local in a pronounced degree." I, on 

 the other hand, found it not uncommon. This may have been 

 due either to concentration brought about by the recent bush- 

 fires or to my having made a closer examination of the country 

 than was possible in his case. Wherever any extensive patches 

 of marlock or mallee had escaped the general destruction, there 

 I found this beautiful Honey-eater. 



It is hardly a bird likely to escape observation. If it may not 

 be described as inquisitive, like Ptilotis sonora, it is equally deter- 

 mined to make its presence known. In its general habits it re- 

 minded me of Ptilotis leucotis, or rather P. novcB-norcice, as our 

 interior form is called. It was equally noisy and active, and its 

 notes are heard here, there, and everywhere when an intruder 

 invades its haunts. Sometimes a single bird, or even a pair, 

 would approach closely and peer through the intervening branches 

 at the stranger, but more often they flew from point to point 

 in a circular course, continually calling to one another with their 

 unmusical notes. 



I found eight or nine nests in all, but their discovery was by 



