FLOWERPECKER, OR MISTLETOE-BIRD. 
few of these birds seen to date and on Jan. 14th, 1912, very few were seen 
on the north side of the island.” 
Barnard found it: “A common bird in most localities about the McArthur. 
It was very often seen feeding in the mistletoe which is very plentiful in that 
locality. Several nests suspended from twigs at the top of tall stringy-bark 
saplings were found.” 
McLennan noted: “ King River. An occasional bird seen in patches 
of scrub and amongst bushes at springs. Port Bradshaw. An occasional 
bird seen in the forest country.” 
MacgiUivray simply observed: “ Common in the Gulf country and at 
Cape York.” 
Campbell and Barnard observed from the Rockingham District: “ The 
cheery chirps of the Dicaeum often betrayed its presence.” 
Lawrence and Littlejohns have published a detailed account of the Nesting 
Habits of the Mistletoe-Bird, accompanied by delightful photographs of the 
birds at their nest feeding young. This should be referred to by everyone at 
all interested in this subject. 
Le Souef and Macpherson record from Sydney, the first locality whence 
this bird was described : “Is a fi'iendly little bird and not much disturbed 
by human presence.” 
There is little to record in connection with the technical history of this 
species. 
It was first described by Shaw and Nodder in the Naturalists' Miscellany, 
and Latham in his Suppl. Index Ornith. accepted this specific name but 
transferred the species to the genus Sylvia, at the same time describing Sylvia 
rubricollis thus: “ S. caerulea subtus alba, jugulo pectore que coccineo-rubros : 
Crimson-breasted Warbler, Gen. Syn., Sup. II., p. 250, 37. 
Habitat in Nova Hollandia. 
Crimson-breasted Warbler. Size uncertain ; bill and legs brown ; plumage 
above blue; beneath white; fore-part of the neck and breast fire- 
crimson. 
Inhabits New South Wales.” 
When G. R. Gray examined the Lambert drawings he identified the 
one upon which this name was based as of Dicaeum, hirundinaceum without 
any doubt. 
W hen Sharpe examined the Watling drawing he wrote: 
No. 204. Swallow Warbler, Lath., Gen. Syn., Suppl. II., p. 250. 
Sylvia hirundinacea Lath., Ind. Om. Suppl., p. lv. 
Dicaeum hirundinaceum (Shaw and Nodder) Sharpe, Cat. B. x., p. 19. 
No. 205. Swallow Warbler, Lath.” 
179 
4 
