PLATE 



GENUS MELIORNIS (G. R. Gray). 



rjlHE members of this genus are confined to the southern part of Australia and to Tasmania. 



MELIORNIS 8 E RICE A (Gould). 



WHITE-CHEEKED HONE Y-EA TER. 



AMONG the brushes and forests of New South Wales and Victoria this species is pretty abundant, 

 but it is never found in the interior. 



Like its near congener, Meliornis Mystacalis, it is very shy, so that it requires a great 

 amount of patience and care to procure specimens. 



It breeds from about August till the end of October or besrinnine of November. 



On account of the very distinctive markings of the plumage, it is very conspicuous, and cannot 

 be confounded with anv other member of the genus. 



Crown of the head, throat, chest and space round the eye are black ; a band of white crosses 

 the forehead and passes over each eye ; a plume of white feathers spreads over the cheeks and 

 ear-coverts ; back, dark brown : under surface, white, each feather having a longitudinal mark of black ; 

 wings, blackish-brown, the outer edge of all the primaries and secondaries margined with yellow ; tail, 

 brownish-grey ; irides, light brown ; bill, legs and feet, black. 



Total length, 6\ inches ; bill, inch ; wing, 2f inches. 



Habitats : New South Wales and Victoria. 



MELIORNIS MYSTACALIS (Gould). 



MO USTA CHED HONE Y-EA TER. 



T11HIS is the Western Australian representative (and a truly beautiful one) of the Meliornis Sericea 

 JL f) f New South Wales. It is most abundant about the vicinity of Perth and Premantle, but 

 is not found in the northern part of the colony, nor in the interior. 



In disposition it is very shy, and is found only in secluded parts of the forest, generally 

 seeking for food on the top branches of Banksia trees. During the period of incubation it becomes 

 verv pugnacious, and no bird is permitted to approach the tree in which the nest is. 



