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PLATE XXXII. 



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MELIOKNIS LONGIROSTBIS (Gould). 



LONG-BILLED HONE Y EA TER. 



THIS is the western representative of Meliornis NovcB-Hollandiee, which it resembles much in size, 

 colouring and habits. In fact, it is so like that almost the only differences are the greater 

 size of the bill and the less sharply defined patch of white on the face. 



It breeds from the beginning of July till the end of November. The eggs, either two or three in 

 number, are laid in a nest composed of small dried sticks and fibrous roots, with a lining of Zamia 

 wool or soft buds of flowers. The nest is sometimes found on one of the brandies of a small tree, 

 and at other times in a clump of grass or a bush. The eggs are a pale buff colour, tinged at the 

 larger end with red, where also a zone is formed of spots of chestnut-brown and red. Their length 

 is nine lines and their breadth seven lines. 



The female is smaller than the male, but is alike in plumage. 



Crown of the head and cheeks, black, with minute white feathers on the forehead, round 

 the base of the upper mandible ; a superciliary stripe, a moustache at the base of the lower mandible, 

 and a tuft of feathers behind the ear-coverts, white; feathers on the throat, black, bordered with 

 white; upper surface, brownish-black; wings, brownish-black, the outer edges margined . with yellow; 

 tail, brownish-black, margined externally with yellow ; under surface, greyish-white, broadly striped with 

 black ; irides, white ; bill and feet, black. 



Total length, 7 inches ; bill, 1 inch ; wing, | inch ; tail, .'U inches ; tarsi. 'I inch. 



Habitat : Western Australia. 



MELIOKNIS NOV M- 1 1 LLANDI M (G. R. Gray). 



NEW HOLLAND HONEY-EATER. 



TITHE present species seems to be confined to Tasmania and the south-eastern portion of Australia. 

 -L in both of which places it is very common. It is found in nearly every garden, among the 

 shrubs of which it often builds its nest, and wherever the Banksia (honeysuckle) tree -rows this 

 bird may also be looked for confidently. It is very seldom found on high trees. 



Its motions, while procuring food among the branches, are exceedingly graceful, and show off' 

 to great advantage its fine plumage. 



During the breeding season, lasting from August to January, it rears two and sometimes 

 even three broods. The nest, which is placed in a low bush, very often in a garden, is constructed 

 of small sticks, grasses, and strips of bark woven together, and lined with the blossoms of some 

 plants. The eggs are pale buff-colour, with small, thinly distributed .spots of chestnut-brown. They 

 are two or three in number, and are nine lines and a half long and seven lines broad. 



