194 MELlPHAGIDiE. 



partly resting with the rim of the nest attached to the branches 

 holding it in position, but it is often found in orange trees in 

 gardens, in which case the nest is always slung by the rim. 

 Eggs two in number for a sitting, of a beautiful flesh colour before 

 being blown ; when emptied of their contents, the ground colour 

 approaches to a very pale yellowish-buff, finely but distinctly 

 spotted with reddish-chestnut, in some instances forming a zone 

 towards the larger end, in others scEittered over the surface of the 

 shell. Length (A) 0-81 x 0-57 inch ; (B) 0-81 x 0-56 inch. Taken 

 at Dobroyde by Dr. Ramsay, 18th September 1864. Another set 

 taken in the same locality in 1858 give the same measurements. 



Two eggs taken by Dr. Hurst on the 28th of June 1884, at 

 Sandringham, near the mouth of the George's River, New South 

 Wales, are of a reddish-buff ground colour ; one specimen being 

 thickly freckled with nearly obsolete markings of chestnut-brown; 

 the other is more boldly marked with the same colour, particularly 

 towards the thicker end, where the markings become larger, and 

 form an irregular shaped zone. Length (A) 0-8 x 0-58 inch; (B) 

 0-8 X 0-59 inch. 



The breeding season of this species commences in June and 

 continues during the four following months. 



Hah. Rockingham Bay, Wide Bay District, Richmond and 

 Clarence Rivers Districts, New South Wales, Victoria and South 

 Australia. ( Uamsay?) 



2 MELIORNIS MYSTACALIS, Gould. 



Moustached Honey-eater. 

 Gould, Handhh. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 299, p. 491. 



" The Meliornis mystacalis is a native of Western Australia, it 

 beautifully represents the M. serieea of New South Wales. It is 

 a very early breeder, young birds ready to leave the nest having 

 been found on the 8th of August ; it has also been met with 

 breeding as late as November ; it doubtless, therefore, produces 

 more than one brood in the course of the season. The nest is 

 M— 2 



