PLATE XYIII. 



PTILOTIS FLAVA (Gould.) 



YELLO W HONE Y- EA TEE. 



ONE of the officers of the surveying- ship "Beagle" discovered this bird on the north coast of 

 Australia, but although specimens have been obtained since then, no light has been thrown on 

 it with respect to its habits or distribution over the Continent. As regards appearance, it is simply 

 a representation of Ptilotis Flavescens on a considerably larger scale. 



The sides of the head and all the under surface are citron-yellow ; the rest of the plumage 

 olive-grey. 



Total length, G j inches ; bill, | inch ; wing, 3^ inches ; tail, '?>\ inches ; tarsi, f inch. 

 Habitat : North coast of Australia. 



PTILOTIS PENICILLATA (Gould). 



1 ! T H1TE- VIA WE D HONE Y- EA TEE. 



TP HE present species is abundantly distributed over South Australia, but outside of that colony is 

 J- very rarely seen. Unlike most of its congeners, it is not confined to the trees, although most of 

 its time is spent there, but may often be seen on the ground searching for insects and seeds. Wattle 

 and Eucalypti are the trees most favoured by it for procuring its food. 



In the breeding season three eggs are laid in a cup-shaped nest, constructed of grasses and 

 wool, and suspended by the rim to a twig of an Acacia tree. 



W hen I'ullv adult, the markings of the two sexes are alike, the female, as usual, being slightly 

 smaller than the male. 



The sides of the lace and ear-coverts are pale yellow ; behind the ear-coverts is a small tuft 

 of white silky feathers ; upper surface, yellowish-grey ; under surface, bright yellowish-brown; bill, black ; 

 irides, dark brown; legs and feet, brown. 



Total length, 6 { inches ; bill, | inch ; wing, 3 inches ; tail, 3 inches ; tarsi, £ inch. 



Habitats : South Australia and parts of New South Wales. 



