BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 59 



spot of white on the inner webs at the tip ; wings blackish-browri, 

 primaries and secondaries margined externally, especially at their 

 bases, with golden-yellow ; a black stripe passes from the base of 

 the bill through the eye, and a lunar-shaped mark of the same 

 colour traverses each side of the chest and nearly meets in the 

 middle ; a narrow • stripe above the eye, one behind the lunar- 

 shaped m.ark, and the throat and chest white; a narrow streak of 

 brown traverses the centre of each feather on the latter; centre 

 of the abdomen also white; flanks and under tail coverts dusky 

 grey; bill, legs, and feet black. Dimensions in mm.: — -Length, 

 155; bill, 15.5; wing, 77; tail, 81; tarsus, 22.5. 



Female. — Both upper and lower surfaces are nearly uniform 

 duskj'-brown ; no stripe over the eye, nor white spots on the lateral 

 tail feathers ; golden-yellow on the wings reduced to a tinge only ; 

 lunar-shaped mark on chest practically absent ; throat pale 

 brownish-grey. Dimensions in mm. : — Ijength, 152 ; bill, 15 ; wing, 

 70; tail, 62; tarsus, 22. 



Nest. — A stout and deep cup-shaped structure, composed of 

 strips of bark and twigs ; the lining consists of soft grass and the 

 flowering stalks of certain mosses. It is placed either among 

 bracken ferns or else in the centre of a clump of sword-grass. 

 Occasionally the nest is ornamented on the outside with tiny 

 clumps of moss of the colour of its surroundings. 



Eggs. — Clutch three" generally, four sometimes; roundish oval 

 in shape ; texture fine ; surface slightly glossy ; colour delicate 

 fleshy-pink, spotted and blotched round the apex with reddish- 

 brown and dull purplish-brown. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : 

 —(1) 19 X 14.5, (2) 19 X 14, (3) 19.25 x 14. 



Breeding Season. — August to December. 



Oeographical Distribution. — Tasmania, King and several other 

 islands in Bass Strait, New South Wales, Victoria, South Aus- 

 tralia, and South Queensland. 



Observations. — Not only is this species fairly plentiful on open 

 heath (Epacris) and honeysuckle (Banksia) clad country, but also 

 among tea-tree scrubs, where its sharp whistling notes are very 

 frequently to be heard, especially during the breeding season. 

 Its movements are quick, as also is its flight. In disposition it is 

 fairly tame, allowing one to approach to within a short distance 

 before taking flight. 



Even during the spring and summer months, when flowering 

 plants are plentiful, it is an adroit pursuer of flies and the like. 

 During the autumn and winter months it lives almost entirely on 

 insect diet. Like the Spinebill, it is often a common object in 

 suburban gardens, feeding on the nectar from various flowering 

 shrubs, and making its presence known by its loud and sharp 

 (slightly metalUc) whistle, which is almost invariably uttered from 

 the top of a tree or bush. The Tasmanian Honey-eater is perhaps 

 the commonest and most noisy species of Honey-eater that 

 frequents suburban gardens, though the Spinebill runs it close. 



