392 APPENDIX. 



commenced on the 7th of that month, and had three fresh eggs in 

 it on the 25th ; another nest found on the 8th of December had 

 three half fledged ones in it, and one found on the 31st December, 

 1888, had been lately left by a brood of young. Another 

 nest at Circular head was taken on the 27th November, containing 

 three newly hatched young. 



" All the nests were built among the leaves of small gum 



trees, and were fastened to the leaves and their stems at the rim 



and sides at a height from twenty-fire to fifty feet from the ground 



which renders them very difficult to procure, being at the end of thin 



branches. One nest was made of green moss, mixed with wool, 



firmly felted together and lined with a little hair, on the exterior 



a little lichen and cobwebs ; the nest was a deep cup-shaped 



structure, and measured externally three inches and a half in 



length by three inches in width, depth inside two inches and a 



quarter. 



• 

 " Another nest had no wool, and was chiefly composed of green 



moss and cobwebs, with a lining of flower seeds. The colour of 



the nests renders them very difficult to be found among the leaves 



to which they are attached. 



"The eggs are flesh coloured, with a ring of a darker tinge at 

 the thicker end, and a good many dull red spots, all more or less 

 in a ring together with a few faint purplish spots. The eggs are 

 in colour more like those of Lichmera than of Meliomis, which 

 are the two common Tasmanian Honey-eaters, but the reverse as 

 to shape. They are not easily distinguished from those of either 

 of these birds." 



Eggs three in number for a sitting, an average specimen received 

 from Mr. E. D. Atkinson of Table Cape, Tasmania, agrees very 

 well with the description given by Dr. Holden, but in this speci- 

 men the markings are more evenly distributed towards the larger 

 end, and do not assume the form of a zone. Long diameter 0'72 ^^r' 

 inch, short diameter 0*53 inch. 



Hah. Tasmania. 



