82 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
and hair. Usually placed in a bush or tree at heights up to 20 feet or 
more from the ground. 
Eggs. — Three or four, pale pinkish-white, profusely spotted with 
reddish-chestnut and purplish-grey markings, chiefly about the largef 
end. Breeding-season: July to December or January. 
6. Dusky Miner Myzantha obscura Gould 
ob-scur'-a — L., obscurus, dusky. 
Distribution. — South-western Australia and the mallee country of 
South Australia and Victoria. 
Notes. — Usually in small parties, inhabiting open forest and mallee 
country. Similar in habits to the Noisy Miner. Food: chiefly insects; 
also native fruits and berries, procui ed both on the ground or in the 
vegetation. 
Nest. — A rather bulky, cup-shaped structure, composed of grass and 
dry twigs ; lined with fine grasses, hair, and other soft materials. Usually 
placed in a bush or small tree, up to 20 feet from the ground. 
Eggs. — Three or four, rich salmon-buflF, spotted with rich reddish- 
brown and pale purplish-brown markings, chiefly at the larger end. 
Breeding-season: July or August to February. 
7. Yellow-throated Miner Myzantha flazhgula Gould 
flav-ig'-u-la — L., flavus , yellow; L., gula, throat. 
Distribution. — Interior of Australia, coastal in north-western Aus- 
tralia, and on Melville Island. 
Notes. — Usually in small parties, frequenting open forest and scrub- 
lands. Very similar in habits to the Noisy Miner. It is a very tame bird 
and a constant visitor to the gardens of inland homesteads. Food : insects, 
nectar, native fruits, and berries. 
Nest. — An open, cup-shaped structure, composed of dried grasses 
and twigs ; lined with fine grasses, hair, and other soft materials. Usually 
placed in a bush or tree at heights varying from 6 to 20 feet or more 
from the ground. 
Eggs. — Three or four, rich salmon-pink, spotted, chiefly about the 
larger end, with reddish-brown and purplish-grey. Breeding-season : July 
to November or December. 
8. White-gaped Honey-eater Stomiopera unicolor Gould 
Stom-i-op’-er-a — “error for Stomioptera” — Gk, stoma, mouth; stomion, 
little mouth; pera, derivation unknown: u-ni-col-or — L., unicolor, of one 
colour. 
Distribution. — Tropical northern Australia, from Fitzroy River in the 
north-west to Leichhardt River in Queensland; also Melville Island. 
Notes. Fairly common in the scrubs bordering rivers and creeks ; it 
is very noisy, uttering a loud whistling call-note. Food: nectar, insects, 
native fruits, and berries. 
