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THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
18. binging Honey-eater Meliphaga vires cens Vieillot 
vir-es-cens — L., mrescens, greenish. 
Distribution. — Australia generally (inland in New South Wales). 
Notes. — Also called Dairy-bird. Usually in pairs, frequenting chiefly 
low scrub-lands such as mulga, neelia, and mallee, and flowering scrub 
trees. The name “Singing Honey-eater” is misleading, for its song is 
limited; its usual call-note is “Preet, preet, preet;” another call is a 
plaintive mew. Food: insects, seeds, native fruits, and berries. 
Nest. — A well-made, cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of 
bark and grasses; lined with fur, wool, or other soft materials. Usually 
suspended from a fork of a low bush. 
Eggs. — Two or three, pale pinkish-buff, with a few minute brownish 
specks scattered about the larger end. Breeding-season: August to 
December ; the breeding-season in inland districts is regulated by the rains. 
19. Bridled Honey-eater Meliphaga frenata Ramsay 
fren-a'-ta — L., frenatus, bridled. 
Distribution. — Northern Queensland (Cairns and Cardwell districts). 
Notes. — In pairs or small flocks, chiefly frequenting the flowering 
eucalypts of the mountain ranges. Food: insects, nectar, native fruits, 
and berries. 
Nest. — A cup-shaped structure, composed of twigs from various 
climbing plants and portions of soft fern-stems ; lined with fine fibre and 
other materials. Usually suspended from a scrub tree. 
Eggs. — Two, white, spotted and blotched, particularly at the larger 
end, with reddish-brown, brownish-grey, and purplish-grey markings. 
Breeding-season: probably October to January. 
20. Helmeted Honey-eater Meliphaga cassidix Gould 
cas/-i-dix — L., cassidix , helmeted. 
Distribution. — Southern Victoria (Dandenong and Gippsland 
Ranges). 
Notes. — In small parties, inhabiting the scrubs during the spring 
and summer and the big timber in the autumn and winter. An extremely 
pugnacious bird, vigorously attacking other species which enter its terri- 
tory; it has a variety of call-notes, which are uttered while feeding or 
when flying from tree to tree. Food : chiefly insects, procured among the 
leaves, in crevices of bark, or on the wing. 
Nest. — A deep, cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of bark, fine 
grass, and leaves; lined with soft bark and other materials. Usually 
suspended from the branch of a bush or small tree. 
Eggs. — Usually two, pale flesh-coloured, with rounded spots of 
reddish-brown and purplish-grey markings, particularly at the larger 
end. Breeding-season : August to December. 
