THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Nest. Closely resembles that of M. 1. lunatus. 
Breeding-months. July to December. 
Eggs. Two eggs usually form the clutch. A pair taken at Cooktown, North Queensland, 
on the 22nd of October, 1899, is of a very pale salmon ground-colour, spotted and 
speckled with reddish-brown, chiefly at the larger end of each egg. Swollen ovals 
in shape, surface of shell smooth, and possesses very little gloss. 18 mm. by 14. 
Nest. Very similar to that of M. 1. lunatus. 
Breeding-months. August to January. 
Apparently this species was not named before the drawings made by 
Watling and his friends (?) were brought to England. Watling’s note reads: 
“ It is a lively little bird ; frequently contends with small Parrots for flowers.” 
Caley’s observation is “ This bird is called Golden-Eye by the settlers. 
I shot it at Iron Cove, seven miles from Sydney, on the Paramatta road.” 
Gould’s notes are rather brief: “ The Lunulated Honey-eater is very 
abundantly dispersed over New South Wales and South Australia, where it 
inhabits almost every variety of situation, but gives a decided preference to 
the Eucalypta and Angophorce trees, among the smaller branches of which 
it may be constantly seen actively engaged in searching for insects, winch, 
with the pollen and honey of the flower cups, constitute its food. It is a 
stationary species, and breeds during the months of August and September; 
its beautiful, round, cup-shaped, open nest is composed of the inner rind of 
the stringy-bark or other allied gum-trees, intermingled with wool and hair, 
warmly lined with opossum’s fur, and is suspended by the rim to the small 
leafy twigs of the topmost branches of the Eucalypti. . . . Like the young 
of M. chloropsis, the young birds of this species breed some time before they 
have attained their green livery ; at all events I have found examples breeding 
in a state of plumage, which I believe to be characteristic of youth.” 
This last sentence is of interest as apparently it refers to the very distinct 
species which was confused by most workers up to Gould’s time with this 
one. 
Mr. Thos. P. Austin has written me from Cobbora, New South Wales: 
“ As far as this district Is concerned the present species is entirely a migratory 
one, small flocks arriving some years in the spring, many of them being quite 
in immature plumage, but they never remain here long. In a few' weeks they 
will all have disappeared, then perhaps none will be here again for years.” 
Captain S. A. White has written me : “ill. lunatus has a wide range but 
likes the heavily timbered country w'here it is to be seen moving about in 
small parties amongst the tree tops. It has a clear bird note, but when feeding 
calls in a low and soft voice. A common bird in the Mount Lofty Ranges.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor’s notes state “ This is the most common Melithreptus 
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