BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 55 



especially about the apex, with rich brown and a little purplish- 

 grey. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch: — (1) 20.5 x 14.5, (2) 19 x 

 13, (3) 19.5 X 14. 



Breeding Season. — October to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, King Island, Furneaux 

 Group, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and 

 Queensland. 



Observations. — When hovering Humming Bird-like in front of 

 a flower, the tail is widely spread, plainly displaying the white tail 

 feathers on either side. This Honey-eater is one of if not the most 

 plentiful of its kind in many parts of the island. It is one of the 

 species that most frequently visit the suburban gardens and pay 

 attention to the blossoms of salvia, abutilon, fuchsia, and flowers 

 of a hke nature. Its vocal capacities are practically restricted to 

 one note, which is uttered slowly at first then increases in rapidity 

 and volume until it becomes decidedly shrill. For some reason 

 this species is known to boys as the " Painter." 



Sub-Farnily — Meliphaginae. 



*STEONG-BILLED HONEY-EATEE 



(Melithreptus validirostris, Gould). 



Male. — Crown of the head, ear coverts, and back of the neck 

 black; a band of white traverses the occiput, terminating at each 

 eye; back, including rump, yellowish-olive; tail brownish-olive; 

 wings brown; chin black; throat white; rest of under surface 

 greyish-brown ; bill black ; feet pale brown. Dimensions in mm. : 

 —Length, 148; bill, 15.5; wing, 76; tail, 63; tarsus, 19. 



Female. — Similar in plumage to male. Dimensions in mm. : 

 Length, 148; bill, 14.5; wing, 81; tail, 63; tarsus, 19. 



Young. — "In the young bird of this species the mantle is 

 tinged with greenish-olive; the cheeks, lunar mark behind the 

 head from eye to eye, and the centre of abdomen are light yellow, 

 and the bill, cere, and legs are straw-yellow in colour, the black 

 head, ear coverts, and throat remaining prominent ' ' (A. G. 

 Campbell). 



Nest. — Cup-shaped and deep; composed of strips of soft bark, 

 wool, and grass-stems ; the inside lining is usually the soft flowering 

 heads of grasses. The top of a sapling is very frequently chosen 

 as a site. 



Eggs. — Clutch three usually; approximately oval in shape; 

 texture of shell fine; surface without lustre; colour fleshy-pink, 

 more or less spotted and blotched with reddish-brown and dull 

 purplish-brown, the majority of the markings being in the region 

 of the apex. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch: — (1) 22 x 17, (2) 

 22 X 16, (3) 21 X 17. 



Breeding Season. — August to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania and King Island. 



