BY COLONEL W. V. LEttGE, E.A., ETC. 91 



31. Melithreptus melanocephalus, Gould. 

 Abundant not far from the settlement (L). 



This species is one of the most gregarious of our honey- 

 eaters. I have seen it in the Domain in large flocks during 

 the autumn, the members of which keep up a constant 

 repetition of their cheerful, chirping notes. It is plentiful 

 in the lake district, and on the Western Mountains, and I 

 have seen it at Lake St, Clair and along the track to 

 the King River, where I met with it in numbers in the 

 Valley of the Collingwood. 



32. Melithkeptus validieosteis, Gould. 



The Strong-billed Honey-eater is numerous in the bush (L). 



33. Ptilotis elavigtjla, Gould. 



Common in the gum " bush " of the island (L). 



34. Meliornis Austealasiana, Shaw. 

 Found in abundance in the island (L). 



I noticed this honey-eater in vast numbers in the scrub 

 lining the shores of the lower part of Lake St. Clair. Like 

 most of the smaller birds in the West Country it was very 

 tame, flying about in the young honeysuckles near Boathouse 

 Bay within a few feet of the observer. 



35. Meliornis nov^ hollandi^. Lath. 



This showy Honey-eater was seen in the scrub in the creeks 

 running into the West Coast (L). 



This species is far less numerous in the south than the afore- 

 mentioned; but on the North and on the East Coasts it is more 

 plentiful. Its favourite resort appears to be honeysuckle scrub 

 and ti-tree thickets when there are honey -bearing shrubs in 

 their vicinity. In 1868 I procured an interesting Albino of 

 this bird on Mount Nicholas. The yellow parts of the 

 plumage were slightly more extended than in normal examples, 

 and the only dark part was the head, which was pale earth- 

 brown ; the throat and chest stripes were paler still, and the 

 back-feathers grey, edged with white; iris, white; bill, pinkish 

 white ; legs and feet, vinous brown. 



36. Anthoch^ra inauris, Gould. 

 The Wattle-bird is abundant (L). 



Note. — Though the brush wattle-bird was not observed, it 

 doubtless inhabits the island in company with its congener, 



Signor Bernacchi informed my son that the Miner was not 

 found on the island. That the commonest form of honey-eater 

 in Tasmania should be absent from an island only separated 

 from the mainland by seven miles of water is a noteworthy 

 fact in connection with the distribution of this species. Like 

 the magpie it is not fourid in wild districts covered with 



