ME LLOR— Notes upon the Brush Wattle Bird. 231 



they squat at the slightest sign of danger, that it is almost ini 

 possible to pick them out unless they move. The old birds 

 are very cunning in their efforts to draw the attention of the 

 intruder from their nest, and will sometimes fly straight at 

 one, when well away from the nest, to make believe the nest is 

 Hose handy. 



Notes upon the Brush Wattle Bird 



(Anthochaera zhrysoptera intermedia) . 

 (Bv J. W. Mellor, R.A.O.U.) 



[The following Notes came to hand too late to be included 

 in the description given of this bird in the last number. Ed. 

 Committee.] 



A comparatively few years ago the Brush Wattle Bird was 

 only an occasional visitor to the Reedbeds, coining for a short 

 time only, and then departing ; but about ten or twelve years 

 ago a pair took up their quarters in our front garden at Fulham 

 and nested. They were strictly protected, and from then onward 

 they have kept with us throughout the year, and so increased 

 that they are now quite a common bird, and each year several 

 pairs breed in the garden or orchard, they prefer an orange or 

 lemon tree to any other, although they do not keep to these 

 trees, they place their nest quite close to where we are working 

 the ground, and sit upon their nest until any one passes close 

 to them, then they merely slip off to a neighbouring tree or 

 bush, and back again in a few minutes. The clutch is in- 

 variably two eggs here, but in other parts I have found occa- 

 sionally three eggs, I have known a pair to start early, and end 

 late in their domestic duties, and bring up three broods. The 

 young are seen about in the trees near to where they were bred, 

 and feed on insects, etc., although the food of the old birds con- 

 sists chiefly of honey obtained from the flowers. The young 

 for some time after leaving the nest make a peculiar plaintive 

 squeaking note while being fed. I have noticed them both in 

 the hills and plains country, but always when it is well bushed, 

 as they are not long flyers, merely going from tree to tree. They 

 are very noisy birds, especially in the spring time, when the 

 eucalypts are in blossom, and like other members of the family, 

 will drive all other birds from a particular feeding tree. Their 

 call is a harsh guttural one uttered often Avhen in a tree, but 

 not upon the wing. 



