The Emu. 
99 
upper mandible. Certain of the tail feathers are also much 
decomposed, while others are quite new, which shows a moult 
of a bird lately incubating, a to e (inclusive) are nestlings 
with pale yellowish-brown bills and bright yellow gapes ; / and 
o- have the basal half of the lower mandible pale yellowish- 
brown ; remainder black. 
The breast of the youngest bird (a) is deep lemon-yellow, 
while the breasts of nine others (all except one), including an 
adult, are very pale yellow in comparison. The whole under 
surfaces of the youngest five birds are mealy in appearance. 
The foreheads and crowns of all but j and k (adults) are 
greenish-yellow, and the upper surfaces of all but j and k are 
greyer in appearance. 
a. — Wing, 2.25 inches. [Irides light blue-grey ; cutting edge 
of bill and basal portion yellowish, distal portion brown ; legs 
and feet fleshy-grey.] 
c. — Wing, 2.6 inches. [Irides grey : basal part of bill 
yellowish, distal part brown ; feet and legs fleshy-grey.] 
e. — Wing, 3 inches. [Bill nutty-brown, yellowish at proximal 
parts ; feet and legs leaden grey.] 
The dates of skins show a wide range in the breeding season 
of the species. 
A clutch of two eggs collected on 4th June, 1900, were zoned 
and spotted, one to a considerable extent, the broader end being 
salmon-coloured while the smaller was flesh colour. 
[This is one of the most plentiful of Honey-eaters here. They 
are everywhere. A while ago (prior to 8/2/00) they were feeding 
upon the mistletoe blossoms, which grow plentifully in a small 
wattle, but they deserted as soon as the eucalypts came into 
bloom. On 24 7 00 three nests were found in wattle trees, close 
together, and all in similar positions — a slender, horizontal fork. 
A clutch of two eggs I found on 4/6/00. On 29/11/99 I saw 
a very large number of this species. A well was being cleaned, 
but only this bird seemed to drink. It was very tame. While 
standing quietly on the brace-head of the well one alighted 
upon my hat, and another upon one of my boots. Soon after 
this I saw as many as fifteen upon the rim of the bucket, and 
several more hovering over their heads, impatiently waiting 
their opportunity. I longed for a camera and the knowledge 
to w^ork it.] 
17. Ptilotis leilavalensis (North), Lesser White-plumed 
Honey-eater. 
Piilotis cartcri, Campbell, Vict. Nat., vol. xvi., p. 3 (1899). 
Ptilotis leilavalensis^ North, Rec. Aust. Mus., vol. iii., No. 5, p. 106 
(1899). 
Adult male and female, 27/1/01. 
Immature male, 26/1/01. 
The adult female and immature male are moulting. The 
