BIRDS OF THE BLOSSOMS AND OUTER FOLIAGE 
in 
A otes. Usually in pairs, frequenting the tropical scrub, hunting 
about among the leaves and branches for insects and their lame. The 
young birds have four peculiar head-plumes, which they have the power 
ot erecting and quivering vigorously— probably a protective device. 
, ^ es *'~ jA compact, pear-shaped structure with a hooded entrance near 
the top, and a tail-piece ; composed of palm-fibre and bark, held together 
with spiders webs and lichen ; lined with soft materials. The nest of this 
species is suspended from the thin leafy branch of a tree, and built adjacent 
to a wasp s nest. 
Eggs . — Two or three, fleshy- white, speckled nearly all over with pur- 
plish-brown or red markings. Breeding-season : January. 
9. Western Warbler Gerygone fusca Gould 
fus’-ca — L., fuscus, brown. 
Distribution. — From Perth (Western Australia) to north-western 
Australia, northern South Australia to southern Queensland and to Ruth- 
erglen (north-eastern Victoria). 
Notes. Usually in pairs, frequenting open forest and scrub-lands. In 
New South Wales it is a migrant, arriving in the spring and departing 
again early in h ebruary. It is an active bird, constantly searching among 
the leaves and branches for insect-life, or catching insects on the wing; it 
has a sweet but feeble song, and is said to be a ventriloquist. 
Nest.— A pear-shaped structure with a short tail-piece and an en- 
trance near the top, slightly sheltered by a small hood; composed of 
very fine strips of bark, dried grasses, and spiders’ cocoons matted to- 
gether ; lined with dried grass and a few feathers. The nest of this species 
is suspended from the thin leafy branch of a tree, and often placed near 
the nest of a small yellow wasp. 
Eggs. Three, pinkish-white, with reddish-brown markings which 
predominate at the larger end. Breeding-season: October to January. 
10. Mistletoe-bird Dicaeum hirundinaceum Shaw — 10A. Female 
Dx-cae'-um — Gk, dicairon, an Indian bird: hir-un-din-a-ce-um L., 
hirundinaceus, like a swallow. 
Distribution. — Australia generally. 
Notes. — Also called Flowerpecker and Dicaeum Swallow. Usually in 
pairs, frequenting the topmost branches of trees, or among the blossoms 
of the different species of mistletoe ( Loranthus ). This species is a me- 
dium for distributing these harmful parasitic plants. It has a pretty warb- 
ling song. Food : insects and berries, chiefly those of the mistletoe. 
Nest. — A neat, pear-shaped structure with a slit-like entrance in the 
side ; composed of spiders’ egg-bags, downy plant seeds, and the sawdust- 
like excreta of various wood-boring insects, matted together with cob- 
webs. Usually suspended from a thin branch of a leafy tree up to 30 feet 
from the ground. 
Eggs. — Usually three, pure white. Breeding-season: September to 
December or January. 
