WHITE-FRONTED HONEY-EATER. 
Captain S. A. White states : “ This species is found mostly in the interior 
of South Australia, where it is often very common. On our 1913 trip to the 
MacDonnell Ranges we met with these birds amongst the fuchsia bushes (Correa 
speciosa) and we also saw them at sundown hawking for flying ants and other 
insects. In 1915 in the north-west of South Australia I came upon a number 
in the Eremophila bushes which were in flower ; they often darted about amongst 
these bushes in a most erratic manner. The note is mournful and long drawn 
out.” 
Recording the results of a trip to the Gawler Ranges, he again wrote : 
“A few were met with on the south side of the ranges, but were so wary that 
we could not identify them ; but later on, when returning further north, we 
found quite a number amongst the low shrubs that grew on the banks of dry 
water-courses. One of their chief feeding plants is the very pretty tree fuchsia 
{Correa speciosa), and from its many-coloured flowers the birds seem to collect 
quite a quantity of honey and insects. They have the true Glyciphila zigzag 
flight, and utter a sharp, loud note. The very strange habit of darting about 
with outstretched neck and the body swaying from side to side, so common 
to other members of the genus, is also very marked in this bird. Stomach 
contents: Three small bees (heads and parts of abdomen).” 
Mr. Sandland has wTitten me : “ Common at Burra, South Australia. 
Retires to the scrub to breed and comes out into the plains in November. 
The nests are hard to find as they always build low down in a thick bush. 
The birds are very shy and have a distinct metallic note and, were it not for 
this, would not be noticed much.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor notes: “ These birds are more often found towards 
the interior and more northern parts of South Australia, but when the dry 
weather sets in and during some seasons becomes too excessive, they are forced 
southwards, and I have seen them plentiful about the Cleve Ranges on Eyre 
Peninsula, inland from Arno Bay. They were in the tall mallee country .and 
now and then sallied into the air to catch an insect. They were also feeding 
on honey, but as the flowers were scarce at this time of the year (June), being 
mid-winter, this food was limited and they apparently fed on insects as 
well.” 
From the Wongan Hills, West Australia, Milligan wrote : “ Were very 
numerous, and we obtained and saw many nests and eggs. They are restless, 
vivacious, swift-flying birds, with a variety of call-notes. One in particular 
(their feeding note) resembles the repeated monosyllables, ‘ chink, chink.’ 
I shot two young birds in different localities, each of which had a bright yellow 
throat. The bill of one of these two birds was abnormally long, even as 
compared with adult birds of the same species. 
VOL. XI. 
361 
