THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
of the species : “ Is often seen among the eucalypts in the parks, usually 
betraying its presence by its single plaintive whistle.” 
Campbell and Barnard wrote of the Cardwell form ; “It was refreshing 
to meet this well-known Honey-eater so far north. As expected, the bird is 
slightly smaller than southern birds of the same kind. Its well-known lisping 
notes are exactly similar.” 
Captain S. A. White wrote of Mallacoota, Victoria: “ Fairly numerous 
amongst the timber. When moving about on the tips of the very high trees 
they look more like bees than birds. This is a more robust bird in comparison 
to the South Australian subspecies.” 
Gould wrote regarding M. chloropsis: “ Tliis species differs from the 
Melithreptus lunulatus in being of a larger size, and in having the bare space 
above the eye of a pale green instead of red ; in other respects the two birds 
so closely assimilate, that they are scarcely distinguishable from each other. 
Individuals in a browner and more dull style of plumage, presenting in fact 
all the appearances of young birds of the first year, have occasionally been 
found breeding, a circumstance winch has induced many persons to believe 
them to be distinct; as, however, if I mistake not, I found in New South Wales 
individuals breeding in a similar style of plumage in company with adults 
of M. lunulatus, I am induced to regard these dull-coloured birds as merely 
precocious examples of the respective species, affording additional evidence 
of the extreme fecundity of the Australian birds. [This is interesting as 
apparently being the first notice of the West Australian form M. kucogenys 
Milligan, a very distinct species. The specimens Gould refers to appear to 
be now in the British Museum, acquired with Gould’s collection after his death.] 
The Melithreptus chloropsis is a native of Western Australia, where it is always 
found on the upper branches of the different species of Eucalypti, feeding upon 
the honey of the flowers and insects. Its usual note is a rapidly uttered twit, 
but it occasionally emits a harsh, grating, and lengthened cry.” 
Mr. Tom Carter has written me : “ Tins species appears to be confined 
to the heavily timbered south-west coastal areas, where it is common. Very 
few of these birds were observed at Broome Hill, where Melithreptus kucogenys 
meets it and is the more numerous of the species. Melithreptus chloropsis was 
never seen by me in the mid-west (Gascoyne district) and I do not think it 
occurs so far north, probably somewhere about the Moore River being its 
northern limit. 
Of M. albogukiris Gould wrote : “ This species, which inhabits the 
northern and eastern parts of Australia, is very abundant on the Coburg 
Peninsula, and I have received specimens from the east coast. The total 
absence of any black mark beneath the lower mandible and the pure whiteness 
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