ACANTHOUHYNCJLUS TENUIROSTKIS 



(Slender-hilled S^ine Bill.) 



Crown of the liead, lores, ear coverts, band on the sides of the chest, primaries, and six middle tail feathers, black; the rest of the 

 tail feathers, black, largely tipped with white; back of the neck, rufous chestnut, becoming brown on the upper part of the back; 

 secondaries, greater coverts, ramp, and upper tail coverts, grey; throat, white, with a large patch of light rufous in the centre, which 

 deepens into black at the lower edge; cheeks and chest, white; the rest of the under surface, rufous or fawn color; irides, scarlet; bill, 

 black ; feet, greenish black. 



Length, 5f inches; wing. 2f ; tail, 2i ; bill, 1; tarsus, |. 



This is a common and widely distributed species, and is found in Tasmania, South Australia, the isles of Bass' Straits, the whole 

 of New South Wales, and in Queensland. It is remarkable for the length and slenderness of its bill, which, from its form, has given 

 the bird the name of the " cobbler's awl " in some localities. It frequents the various flowering trees and shrubs, and, like other honey 

 eaters, extracts the luxurious nectar from the deepest recesses of the tubular flowers. The heath-like family Epacris is much favored by its 

 visits, and furnish this and other birds of similar habits abundance both of honey and insects. It is a frequent visitor in the gardens around 

 Brisbane, whither it is attracted by the numerous mellifluous flowers, and, by its graceful movements, excites much attention. The nest is a 

 pretty cup-shaped structure of moss and grasses, lined with feathers ; it is usually found in a low shrub a few feet from the ground. Eggs, 

 two, bufty white, much pointed, some having a zone of reddish brown and grey spots at the large end. Size, 9 by 6 lines. 



ACANTHORHYNCHUS SUPERCILIOSUS. 



(White-eye-hrowed Spine Bill.) 



Ceowf, back, wings, a,nd six middle tail feathers, greyish brown ; the rest of the tail feathers, black, tipped with white ; stripe over the eye, 

 and from the base of the bill half way across the neck, white, divided in the centre by a broad mark of blackish brown ; throat, chestnut, 

 followed by a band of white, w^hich is succeeded by another of black; back of the neck, huffish chestnut; abdomen and under tail coverts, 

 light greyish bufi^; bill, black ; irides, reddish brown ; feet, dark brown. 



Length, 5i inches ; wing, 2\ ; tail, 2\ ; bill, li ; tarsus, f . 



This species is an inhabitant of Western Australia, in every portion of which colony it is to be obtained. It is somewhat 

 plentiful, and, like its congener of the eastern colonies, frequents the flowering plants for food. The honeysuckle trees, or banksias, are 

 specially frequented by them, and furnish insects and honey in abundance. It is active in its motions, bufc its flight is zigzag and uneven. Its 

 note is pleasing, and uttered as it flies. It builds among the large leaved bankias, the nest being formed of grasses, narrow strings of bark, 

 and tendrils, mixed with zamia wool, and lined with feathers. Eggs, two, buff" or bluish white, speckled all over with reddish brown, frequently 

 forming a zone at the larger end. Size, 9 by 6i lines. 



MELICOPIIILA PICATA. 



(Pied Honey-eater) 



The whole plumage of the male, black, except the upper portion of the wings, the edges of the secondaries, the rump, under surftice of the 

 body, and the lateral tail feathers (excepting the tips), pure white; bill, bluish horn color; irides, reddish brown; feet, greenish grey. The 

 female has the wings and tail brown, general plumage light brown, and the under surface bufty white. 



Length, 6| inches ; wing, 31 ; tail, 3 ; bill, f ; tarsus, f . 



This shy and suspicious bird is found in South Australia and Western Australia. Its strongly contrasted plumage makes it a 

 very conspicuous object ; and its slow and plaintive note is repeated several times in succession as it perches on its favorite spot, the upper 

 part of a solitary bush, or the dead branch of a tree. 



