BIRDS OF THE BLOSSOMS AND OUTER FOLIAGE 
95 
10. Yellow Honey-eater Meliphaga flava Gould 
fla-va — L., flavus, yellow. 
Distribution . — Northern Territory, northern and eastern Queensland 
to as far south as Mackay. 
Notes. Plentiful in open forest and scrub-lands, frequently visiting 
orchards and gardens. Its call-note is a merry “Whee-a, whee-a .” Food : 
insects, procured among the flowers and leaves ; also nectar. 
Nest. A comparatively shallow, cup-shaped structure, composed of 
strips of bark and grasses. Generally placed in a bush or small tree, 
sometimes within 5 feet of the ground. 
Eggs. Usually two, white, with a very pale pinkish tinge, well spotted 
and blotched with pale to dark reddish-brown and purplish-grey markings, 
which become crowded at the larger end. Breeding-season: August to 
November. 
11. Yellow-faced Honey-eater Meliphaga chrysops Latham 
chrys-ops — Gk, chrysos, golden ; Gk, ops , face. 
Distribution. — Eastern and south-eastern Australia, from Cairns 
(northern Queensland) to South Australia. 
Notes^ Also called Chickup. Plentiful in open forest and scrub- 
lands, feeding among the blossoms and leaves. It is a lively bird, and its 
cheery note “Chickup” is a common sound in the bush. Food: insects, 
nectar, and native fruits; it is troublesome to orchardists when fruit is 
ripening. 
Nest. — A neat, rather deep, cup-shaped structure, composed of bark, 
cobwebs, and moss, matted together; lined with grass and rootlets.' 
Usually suspended from the thin drooping branches of a bush or tree. 
Eggs. — Two or three, pinkish-buff, spotted and speckled, particularly 
at the larger end, with rich reddish-chestnut and purplish-grey markings. 
Breeding-season : July to January. 
12. Yellow-tinted Honey-eater Meliphaga flavescens Gould 
flav-es-cens — L., flavus. vellow. 
Distribution. — Northern tropical Australia. 
Notes. — Common in open forest and scrub-lands, feeding among the 
blossoms and leaves of the eucalyptus trees. Very similar in habits to the 
White-plumed Honey-eater. Food: insects, nectar, and pollen. 
Nest. — A small, cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of bark and 
grasses bound together with cobwebs, occasionally wool and hair; lined 
with rootlets or wool. Generally suspended from the thin twigs of a 
drooping branch of a small tree or bush. 
Eggs. — Usually two, pale salmon-pink, minutely spotted with very 
dark reddish-brown and pale purplish-grey markings. Breeding-season: 
July to the end of November. The breeding-season is influenced by the 
rains. 
