THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
under wing-coverts; under-surface of flight-quills dark hair-brown with pale 
margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Feet grey, bill black. 
Wing 60 mm. Collected at Normanton, Gulf of Carpentaria, North Queensland, 
on the 31st of March, 1914. 
Eggs. Two eggs usually form the clutch. A pair taken at Pilbarra Goldfield, Coongan 
River, Mid-west* Australia, on the 4th of July, 1908, is white in colour, with a 
few minute specks of pale chestnut scattered about the larger end of each egg. 
Short ovals in shape, very compressed and pointed about the smaller end ; surface 
of shell fine, and slightly glossy, 17 by 12 mm. 
Nest. Small cup-shaped structure, constructed chiefly of soft bark, lined with a soft 
downy vegetable substance, and suspended in the small fork of a shrub, and often 
leaning over water. Dimensions over all, 2J to 3 inches across by 2\ to 3 inches 
deep ; egg cavity 1J inches across by nearly 1| inches deep. 
Breeding-months. (June) July to January. 
Gould wrote the first field-notes regarding this species as follows: “I met 
with the Brown Honey-eater in abundance on Baker’s Island at the mouth 
of the Hunter, and on the banks of the Namoi in the interior of New South 
Wales ; and Gilbert records that he found it equally numerous at Swan River. 
In its actions and manners it displays the usual activity of the Honey-eaters 
generally, creeping and clinging among the branches with the greatest ease, 
and particularly affecting those most laden with blossoms, into which it inserts 
its brush-like tongue to procure the sweet pollen ; like other species of the 
group, it also feeds with avidity upon all kinds of small insects. Its powers 
of song are considerable, the most frequently repeated note being remarkably 
shrill, rich, clear, and distinct in tone. While the female is sitting upon her 
eggs the male sings all day long with scarcely any intermission. September, 
October and November constitute the breeding-season.” 
Ramsay wrote from the Cardwell district: “ This species seems plentiful, 
inhabiting the mangroves and margins of the scrubs on the water’s edge. They 
betake themselves to almost any of the forest trees when they are in bloom, 
attracted by the honey and insects. In the neighbourhood of Sydney they 
frequent the orange-groves, and occasionally breed among the branches during 
the months of October and November. Their cry is peculiar, but not unpleasant, 
and at times varied.” He later added a note stating that the latter part of the 
above remarks referred to 8. ocularis , the Sydney species, differentiating the 
Cardwell bird as S. subocularis. 
Berney has recorded from the Richmond district, North Queensland: 
“ Found a nest containing two eggs, white and spotless, on 2nd June, 1905, 
winch is, I think, an unusual date. They are sweet singers. From experience 
I can quite bear out Gould’s statement that ‘ while the female is sitting on 
her eggs the male sings all day, with scarcely any intermission.’ The little 
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