Vol. VIII. 

 1909 



] Whitlock, Birds on the Pilbarva Goldfjeld. 183 



Banded Honey-eater {Myzomela pectoralis)l—\'^xy rare. Seen at 

 most only three times, and one shot on the upper Coongan and sent for 

 identification. 



Yellow White-eye {Zosterops luiea).—Ov\ arrival at Port Hedland 

 last May, I soon detected the notes of a Zosterops in the mangroves which 

 I knew were not those of Z. gouldi, our familiar "Greenie" of the south- 

 west. But it was not until after arriving at Condon in the following 

 October that I was able to finally identify the songster. When searching 

 for nests of PacliycepJiala lanioides in the sweltering mangrove thickets I 

 often had the little Zosterops within a few feet of my head. It is by no 

 means a timid species, and will pour forth a marvellous volume of song, 

 heedless of the presence of an intruder. Its plumage harmonizes wonder- 

 fully with the green leaves and the patches of sunlight on the foliage of the 

 mangroves. At a short distance, unless in motion, it is practically invisible, 

 or only to be detected by the sharpest eye, catching a glimpse of the white 

 ring round the eyelid. I think I was between broods, for the only nest I 

 could find, in spite of persistent efforts, was a much-battered one, from which 

 the young had flown. I could see no difference in its structure from that of 

 Z. gouldi. I had the greatest difficulty in obtaining two specimens of the 

 parents themselves. I was lucky enough at last in observing a pair where 

 the mangroves were low and open, and after some trouble got them both. 



Golden-backed Honey-eater {Melithreptus hetior). — This beautiful 

 species was a local bird on the upper Coongan, where it occurs in small 

 family parties, even during what must be its breeding season. On the 

 de Grey it was rare. I also obtained an example at a large creek not far 

 from the Shaw River. 



Its favourite haunt is clumps or a series of eucalypt saplings, and here its 

 remarkably loud call note inevitably attracts attention. I have no hesitation 

 in stating that the call of this species could be distinguished at a distance of 

 1,000 yards on a calm morning. It is a fussy, active bird, hurrying hither 

 and thither without apparent aim or object. 



I must confess I could make nothing out concerning its breeding habits. 

 I spent hours in watching it, but I saw no signs of building material being 

 conveyed to a nest or food to a young brood. It is possible it may be a late 

 breeder, and that I left the Coongan just before operations had commenced. 

 The gums were on the point of flowering, and it is possible this Honey-eater 

 may defer operations until such time as they are in full bloom. 



Least Honey-eater {GlycypJiila subociilaris). — Not uncommon on the 

 upper Coongan, but becoming scarcer down the river and on the de Grey. 

 One specimen I shot was remarkably small, hardly larger than a Mysomela. 

 Its favourite haunt was in thickets growing in the shingly bed of the river 

 where flood debris was abundant, and where permanent pools were to be 

 found. Here its song was to be heard from early sunrise to sunset. 



The tiny little nests are difficult to find. Several I discovered were 

 attached to wisps of herbage brought down by the floods ; another was in a 

 tall, cylindrical dead bush, where no one would have dreamed of looking 

 for it. I was rather unlucky as regards eggs. Several clutches were quite 

 unblovvable, owing to their advanced state of incubation. Under such con- 

 ditions one is practically helpless with such fragile eggs. 



It was a pretty sight to see these little Honey-eaters extracting their food 

 from the gorgeous flowers of the Sturt pea — the latter a feature in them- 

 selves, and worth much travelling to view in their natural surroundings of 

 rugged and dark basaltic rocks. 



Singing Honey-eater {Ptilotis sonora). — A rare bird on the Coongan. 

 Rather more common on the plains of the de Grey and in the mangroves at 

 Condon. 



