PIED HONEY-EATER. 
dark brown; breast, abdomen, and sides of body silky-white; thighs and under 
tail-coverts buffy-wbite with dark shaft-lines on the latter ; axillaries and under 
wing-coverts dusky-brown ; under-surface of flight-quills pale brown ; lower aspect 
of tail similar to its upper-surface. Collected at Kalgoorlie, West Australia, on 
the 27th of November, 1898. 
Eggs. Two to three eggs usually form the clutch. A clutch of three eggs taken at Borewell, 
East Murchison, Western Australia, on the 6th of September, 1909, is of a pale 
yellowish-white, well marked all over with spots and specks of dark umber and dull 
slaty-grey, and more closely resemble the eggs of the common Wood-Swallow 
( Artamus sordidus ) than those of a Honey-eater. Swollen ovals in shape ; surface 
of shell fine, and slightly glossy. 21-23 by 15 mm. 
Nest. A shallow cup-shaped structure, composed of fine grasses, and lined with finer 
grasses. Dimensions over all, 4 inches ; egg cavity inside nearly 2 inches across. 
Placed in a small bush or tree, at heights varying from 5 to 15 feet or more. 
Breeding-months. October to February, June and July. 
Gould introduced a new genus and species for this form writing: “It 
possesses many singular habits, and differs from most other species of the 
MelipJiagidce in the totally different colouring of the sexes.” He did not 
state that he met with it himself, but wrote : “ The actions of tins bird when 
on the wing are extremely varied, and some of them very graceful; it 
frequently ascends in a perpendicular direction to a considerable height 
above the trees, when the contrast presented by its black and white plumage 
renders it a conspicuous and pleasing object. It is at all times exceedingly 
shy, and invariably perches on the top of an isolated bush or dead branch. 
It usually utters a peculiar plaintive note, slowly repeated several times in 
succession ; it also emits a single note, 'which so closely resembles that of 
the Myzomela nigra, as to be easily mistaken for it. It is at all times extremely 
difficult of approach, and the female is even more shy and wary than the 
male. Gilbert states that this species assembles in vast flocks, wdiich continue 
soaring about during the greater portion of the day. It is a periodical 
visitant to Western Australia, wdiere it arrives in the latter part of October. 
It also inhabits the plains around Adelaide in the neighbouring colony. 
T his last sentence is interesting hi view of later events. 
Mr. Tom Carter has written me : “ In your ‘ Reference List,’ 1912, the 
range is given as being West Australia generally. I have never seen any 
of these birds in the south-west, nor about Broome Hill, and I do not think 
they occur in big timber country. The above remark also refers to the 
Gascoyne district. About Point Cloates and the Northwvest Cape, this 
species was one of the commonest and most conspicuous birds in the winter 
months, after rain. Few were seen in dry seasons. The male birds have a 
habit of perching on the top twigs of a high bush, and are restless and wary. 
They continually keep soaring up in the air, and while descending to their 
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