THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Nest. A handsome cup-shaped rather deep structure, composed of bark, cobwebs and 
moss well worked together, and lined with grass and small roots. Dimensions 
over all: 3 inches to 3 J inches across by 2h to 2f inches deep ; inside, 2 inches to 
21 inches across by 2 to 21 inches deep. 
Breeding-months. July to January. 
The earliest field-notes appear to be those given by Gould, which are neces¬ 
sarily short on account of the sameness of the habits of members of this group. 
Thus Gould wrote : “ May be regarded as one of the commonest species of 
Honey-eaters inhabiting the colonies of New South Wales and South Australia, its 
distribution over those countries being almost universal. On reference to my 
journal I find that it was equally abundant in the gardens of Sydney, in the 
brushes near the coast, in the district of the Upper Hunter, and on the Liverpool 
range ; and that in South Australia it w r as quite as numerous in the mangrove 
thickets on the coast as in the interior of the country. It is very animated 
and sprightly in its actions, and during the months of spring and summer is 
constantly engaged in singing, its melodious song being poured forth while 
the bird is perched on the topmost branches of the trees.” 
On the Watling drawing upon which the first description was based appears 
a note : “ It has a brush tongue, and is a lively little bird ; it fives a good deal 
on honey.” 
This note was adapted by Latham who wrote : “Is a lively species, and is 
supposed to five principally on honey, as those birds whose tongues are jagged 
at the end are found to do.” 
Mr. I. P. Austin has written me from Cobbora, New South Wales : “ Not 
at all a common species here, in fact it is rather rare and what few there are 
about are more often heard than seen. They are only found in the low scrubby 
country in the heavy forest, its cheerful notes suddenly ringing out from some 
lov scrub near the ground. Only twice have I found it breeding here, the 
dates being September 17th and November 16th.” 
Mi. 1. E. Howe writes from Victoria : “ This very lively bird is exceedingly 
plentiful all through the district. It is frequently met with in the open timber, 
but it usually prefers the thick tea-tree scrubs. It is rarely far away from 
v atei and here they delight to place their mossy nests in some overhanging 
bough. The eggs are generally tliree and it is not uncommon to find the egg 
of Cucidus inomatus accompanying them, and in this case only one or two eggs 
of the foster parent. The breeding-season extends from September to January 
and they rear two broods. Both sexes help to build the nest and also to feed the 
young.” 
Mr. L. G. Chandler also wrote from Victoria: “ This species becomes 
troublesome to orchardists when the fruit is ripening, but for the remainder of 
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