THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Captain S. A. White’s note reads: “ This is not a common bird in South 
Australia and is found very sparsely in the southern part of the state; observed 
on the lower reaches of the River Murray where I have found it breeding in 
the native pines (Calitris), a beautifully woven hanging nest composed of 
dry grasses, cobwebs, lined with flower down. The clutch is invariably three.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor has sent me the following note: “ These birds are 
nowhere seen in great numbers like some other members of the Honey-eating 
family, their habits being to dwell in pairs or scattered individuals, and 
prefer the moderately timbered country where their musical and warbling 
note is very pleasing to the ear and reminds one much of that of the Oriole, 
in fact at times I have been deceived by the near resemblance of the notes 
of this bird to those of the Oriole family. I have met the Striped Honey- 
eater in a number of places, more especially about the Lakes district of 
Lakes Alexandrina and Albert in South Australia where the country is 
timbered with scattered she-oak ( Casuarina ), backed up by tall mallee in the 
distance. The birds, I found, selected the pendent leaves of the sbe-oak in 
which to place their nests ; these are somewhat peculiar in appearance, as 
the birds I noted used invariably a quantity of sheeps’ wool in their construction, 
which reminded me of a white woolly ball of seed on the tree, and a marked 
contrast to the narrow, dark, green leaves of the she-oak, and could be seen 
at some distance away, consequently their nests are not hard to find in such 
localities as described. I have seen the bird at times at the Reedbeds, near 
Adelaide, during the winter, but I have never known it to breed here. The 
note is a beautiful, full, silvery warble of some volume, and is extremely 
pleasing to listen to on a fine crisp day, the notes having a peculiarly watery 
and melodious sound.” 
Ramsay wrote from the Rockingham Bay district in 1875: “ Although 
I was not fortunate enough to meet with this fine species myself, I saw some 
fine specimens which, had been procured some sixty miles inland. This species 
appears to confine itself to the west of the coast-range, and is met with 
occasionally about the heads of the Burnett River.” 
Chandler, from the Kow Plains, Victoria, wrote: “ A common species. 
These shy birds frequented the pine forests to a large extent, and their nests 
were found suspended at the ends of pine branches. They made a great din 
in the morning, and their noisy notes were often heard through the day.” 
Campbell and Barnard have mentioned : “ The occurrence of one or 
two of this usually inland species on Goold Island, near Hinchinbrook Island, 
and about 10 miles from the mainland, surprised us. We secured a specimen 
for identification, and saw it nowhere else. However, Ramsay stated it was 
to be found GO miles inland. There had been a drought the previous season, 
