98 
The Emu. 
[There is here a eucalypt of low scrubby growth that is 
honey-laden in the six weeks of its flowering season. It is 
remarkable for the amount of sweets within the blooms. While 
this species of bird is feasting continuously among the higher 
branches the aborigines below are as continuously sucking the 
flowers for the honey within. It sings well.] 
15. Myzomela nigra (Gould), Black Honey-eater, 
Mysomela nigra^ Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pi. 66 (1848). 
Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 138 (1884). 
Adult male, 1/2,00; adult female, 25/3/00 ; and young, 
1 9/1/00. 
[It is strange no record (1900) has hitherto been made of the 
finding of this species in the North-West, because it appears to 
be very common. The Black Honey-eater perches on the top 
of a blooming eucalypt, and judging by its motions one would 
take it to be a fly-catcher fluttering after small native bees which 
are being attracted by the honey-laden flowers. On opening the 
stomachs of several I found them crammed with bees, while 
from each of others a spoonful of honey fell from the bird when 
it was held downwards by the feet.] 
16. Ptilotis keartlandi (North), Keartland Honey-eater. 
PtiloHs keartla7idi^ North, Ibis (1895), P- 34° '■> Report Horn Scient. 
Exp. Cent. Aust., part ii. — Zoology, p. 93, pi, 6 (1896). 
Seventeen specimens, showing six distinct stages in plumage 
development, and in addition five prominent phases, are to 
hand. 
a. Nestling female, 23/5/00. 
b. Nestling male, 24/6/00. 
c. Nestling (no sex given), 28/7/00. 
d. Well-developed nestling, 5/8/00. 
e. Young male, 28/7/00. 
/. Young female, 2/2/00. 
g. Young male, — /i/oo. 
//. Young female, 1/2/00. 
i. Young male, 1 1 '4/00. 
j. Adult female, 17/2/00. 
Adult male, 30/4/00. 
In addition to the remarks supplied by Messrs. North and 
Keartland in the Horn* and the Calvert^f" expedition reports, the 
following may be added : — One adult (7 ) has a rich yellowish 
throat, chest, and breast, with only an indistinct trace of lines 
upon portions of them. They seem to have disappeared with 
age ; yet this specimen has the basal half of the lower mandible 
pale yellow, with the distal portion nutty-brown, as on the 
* Horn Exp. Cent. Aust., 1896, part ii. — Zoology, p. 93. 
+ Trans. Roy. Soc. South Aust., vol. xxii., pi., part ii., p. 148. 
