354 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
by their slightly richer spotting, from those of the 
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater. 
SPINY-CHEEKED HONEYEATER 
Acanthagenys rufogularis cygnus 
The You Yangs, Batesford, and the coastal ti-tree 
from Queenscliff to Ocean Grove comprise the true 
homes of the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, and are the 
only places at which it is known to breed, if one 
excepts a pair or two which may at times rear broods 
in the Eastern Park. 
It exhibits a marked preference for the clumps of 
wild cherry tree which grow among the huge granite 
boulders at the Dog Rocks and on the sides of Flinders 
Peak, and here may be found all the year round, 
feeding as well on insects as on the honey which it 
extracts from the flowers of the Banksia and the 
various species of eucalyptus. 
While it bears a general resemblance to the Wattle- 
birds, it far surpasses them in vocal powers, having 
one of the sweetest and most liquid songs of any of 
our birds ; not loud, but full and varied, pouring out, 
as some one has said of the song of the Nightingale : 
" Like water bubbling from a silver jar." 
The upper surface of the bird is brown, black stripe 
behind eye and on sides of neck, and above the latter 
a stripe of dusky white ; curious white hairs on the 
cheeks (whence the name) ; throat and upper chest 
