STRIPED HONEY-EATER. 
Gotild named this distinct genus before he went to Australia, and his 
field-notes constitute the first record of its history. He wrote: “ The 
Liverpool Plains and the country immediately to the northward are, I believe, 
the only portions of the Australian continent in which this bird has been seen. 
I found it rather sparingly dispersed over the forests bordering the rivers 
Mokai and Namoi, and it appeared to increase in number as I descended the 
latter stream towards the interior. Tt was generally observed alone, or in 
pairs, keeping almost exclusively to the Acacicc and Eucalypti. Its clfief 
food is the pollen of flowers and insects, for procuring which and for constructing 
its beautiful nest its pointed spine-like bill is admirably adapted. I find it 
stated, in my notes taken on the spot, that this bird possesses the peculiar 
habit of sitting motionless amongst the tliiclcest foliage of the topmost branches 
of the highest trees, where it cannot be seen without the closest observation, 
although its immediate locality is indicated by its powerful whistling note . . . 
So closely do the sexes resemble each other in colour, that by dissection alone 
can they be distinguished ; the male, however, rather exceeds the female in 
size. . . The young, of which I killed several specimens in the month 
of January, had even at that early age assumed the general markings of the 
adult; and the circumstance of there being fully-fledged young and eggs a t 
the same time, proves that these birds rear at least two broods in the season. 
Mr. Thos. P. Austin has written me from Cobbora, New South Wales: 
“ I found this species very numerous in the Bourke district; but here they 
are rather rare, though of late years there are always a few pairs to be met 
with in suitable country. I have seldom found them far away from sandy 
country where there are native cypress trees growing. They are usually 
met with in pahs or single birds. They have a loud shrill whistling note which 
is sometimes kept up off and on the whole day. When nesting some birds 
are very close sitters ; for instance, on September 23rd, 1917, I found one 
of their nests about 30 feet from the ground at the extreme end of a long, 
thin, drooping branch of a large ironbark tree with the bird sitting. As I 
had no scooping rod or wire with me and was a long way from home I climbed 
the tree and cut off the branch, hoping to be able to hold it, but it was a 
little too heavy, so I had to let it go. Before I reached the ground I saw one 
of my spaniels go up to the nest and, much to my surprise, flushed the sitting* 
bird, which had sat on the nest all the time. There were four eggs in the 
nest and only one was broken.” 
Mr. F. E. Howe wrote me: “ This bird was exceedingly plentiful in the 
Mallee in October, 1909, and a few nests containing young were noticed, also 
one nest building. They much prefer the pines, and at the extremity of the 
limb suspend the nest.” 
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