SOME BIRDS OF THE MANGROVES 
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Notes . — Inhabits the mangroves, tea-tree swamps, and scrubs ad- 
jacent to water, where it is to be seen among the leaves, twigs, and blos- 
soms searching for insects and honey; its call-note is sharp, shrill, and 
monotonous. 
Nest. — A dome-shaped structure with a hooded side entrance, com- 
posed of fine strips and pieces of paper bark, lightly bound with cobwebs 
and silk from cocoons ; lined with pieces of soft paper bark, and sus- 
pended from a small twig of a bush, up to 8 feet from the ground. 
Eggs. — Two or three, white, finely spotted and speckled with dark 
brown and almost black markings, chiefly at the larger end. Breeding-sea- 
son: August to April. 
7. Rufous-banded Honey-eater Conopophila albogularis Gould 
Co-no-popJi-il-a — Gk, conops, gnat; Gk, philos, fond of : al-bo-gu-ldr -is — 
L. } albus , white; L., gularis , throated. 
Distribution. — Northern Territory and northern Queensland; also 
occurs in the Aru Islands. 
Notes. — Inhabits the mangroves and paper-bark tree swamps; it is 
an active bird, constantly flitting from branch to branch and taking ir- 
regular flights, during which it utters its pretty song. Food: chiefly in- 
sects. 
Nest. — A small, cup-shaped structure, composed of fine strips of bark 
matted together with spiders’ webs ; lined with fine grass ; suspended from 
the extremity of a thin projecting branch, usually overhanging water. 
Eggs. — Two or three, white, finely spotted and speckled nearly all 
over with bright chestnut-red markings, particularly at the larger end. 
Breeding-season: October to January. 
8. Varied Honey-eater Meliphaga versicolor Gould 
Mel-iph’-ag-a — Gk, mcli, honey; Gk, phagein , to eat: ver-si-col-or — L., 
versicolor, different coloured. 
Distribution. — Northern Queensland, chiefly on the islands off the 
coast ; also occurs in New Guinea. 
Notes. — Inhabits the mangroves; it is an extremely active bird and a 
splendid songster; flits among the leaves and blossoms, searching for in- 
sects and honey. 
Nest . — A small, cup-shaped structure, neatly composed of dried sea- 
grasses, weeds, and dead leaves ; lined with fine rootlets. Frequently placed 
in the foliage of a mangrove tree. 
Eggs. — Two, pale pinkish-buff, possessing an indistinct cap of clouded 
and very minute spots of pale reddish-brown markings. Breeding-season : 
July to November. 
9. Mangrove Honey-eater M eliphaga fasciogularis Gould 
fas-ci-o-gu-la-ris — L., fascia , band ; L., gularis , throated. 
Distribution . — Northern and eastern Queensland, chiefly on the is- 
lands off the coast. 
