Vol. VI 



igoc 



''^■1 Cornwall, Bird<^ Found Breeding near Mackay,N.Q. 130 



very robust species, and may be found all over the forest 

 country. They are early breeders ; well-grown nestlings were 

 noted on 20th October, and a clutch of three eggs which was 

 found on 23rd October was very hard set. After that date 

 many young birds were noted, but no eggs were found. 



Our lovely little representative of the large family of 

 Humming-Birds, the Sun-Bird {Cmnyns frenata), may be noted 

 almost everywhere. Its dainty pensile nest is quite a common 

 object in outbuildings or verandahs, both in town and countr)', 

 whilst many are found suspended over water in the swamps or 

 snugly hidden away amongst the dense thickets of Lantana, 

 When robbed of their eggs they sometimes lay again in the 

 same nest. A friend of mine took four pairs of eggs from the 

 same nest at intervals of exactly seven days. They laid a fifth 

 pair, and reared their young, my friend considering that their 

 pertinacity had been fairly tested and was worthy of reward. 

 The nesting season extends from September to February, but 

 odd pairs may be found breeding both before and after those 

 dates. Two eggs form the usual complement, but on 26th 

 December last a nest was found which contained the unusual 

 number of three eggs. 



Of a modest and retiring disposition is the White-breasted 

 Honey-eater {GlycypJiila fasciatd), and to find it at home one 

 must again brave all the discomforts of swamp work. The nest is 

 a pretty dome-shaped structure, made of tht* paper-like bark of 

 the Melaleuca, and suspended over water at the extremity of the 

 most slender twigs, where they are safe from snakes and other 

 vermin. The Square-tailed Cuckoo {Cacomantis variolosus) 

 often chooses the nest of this bird in which to deposit its eggs, 

 and it is particularly noticeable that when the Cuckoo's &g'g is 

 deposited the Honey-eater lays two eggs only, but when left to 

 itself the usual clutch is three. They are very late breeders. 

 We were through the swamp at frequent intervals after the early 

 part of October, but it was not until the 26th of December that 

 they were seen to be building. After that date they were 

 plentiful enough in the localities which suited them, and we 

 found fresh eggs up to the middle of February. 



On the fringes of the mangroves, more especially where they 

 merge into open forest country, the little Brown Honey-eater 

 {GlycypJiila ocularis) is particularly abundant. All they lack in 

 brilliance of plumage finds ample compensation in volume of 

 sound, for surely never before was so small a body endowed 

 with such powerful vocal abilities. They nest amongst the 

 mangroves, and generally choose the time that the latter are in 

 bloom — September, October, and November. The nest is a 

 pretty little cup-shaped structure, and those I have found have 

 been placed about 4 or 5 feet from the ground. Two eggs con- 

 stitute the clutch. 



