THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Adult. Top of the head and hind-neck olive, tinged with grey, and blackish shaft-streaks 
to the feathers ; lores, eyelid, and a superciliary band, which extends to the sides 
of the neck, black ; the feathers behind the eye glossy-black ; ear-coverts sulphur- 
yellow ; back, rump, upper tail-coverts, scapulars, and upper wing-coverts dark 
olive-green, outer aspect of wing paler than the back ; flight-quills blackish-brown 
fringed with bronze-green on the outer webs and margined with buffy-white on 
the inner ones ; tail bronze-brown ; a whitish line below the eye; a blackish 
moustacial-streak ; under-surface pale olive-green with dark centres to some of 
the feathers including the throat, breast, abdomen, and sides of the body; thighs 
ochreous-brown; under tail-coverts whitish with brown centres; axillanes 
yellowish-green ; marginal under wing-coverts pale buff; under wing-coverts 
and inner margins of quills below pale yellow ; remainder of quill-lining dark brown • 
lower aspect of tail pale bronze-brown with white shafts. Bill black, eyes brown* 
tarsus brown, feet darker. Total length 195 mm. ; culmen 16, wing 101 , tail 85,’ 
tarsus 26. Figured. Collected on the Richmond River, Northern New South 
Wales, in September 1901. 
The sexes are alike. 
Eggs. Two to three eggs form the clutch, usually two. A clutch of two eggs taken at 
Booyong, Richmond River, New South Wales, on the 14th of October, 1899, is white, 
well spotted and blotched, particularly at the larger ends, with reddish-brown* 
some spots approaching almost to black. Ovals in shape ; surface of shell fine and 
rather glossy. 24 by 18 mm. A clutch of two eggs taken at Herbert’s Creek, 
near Rockhampton, Queensland, on the 14th of October, 1917, measures 21-22 bv* 
16 mm. J 
A est. A handsome cup-shaped structure, composed of decayed leaves, bark, and moss, 
warmly lined with a thick pad of a soft silky substance collected from seed-pods 
of various native vines and plants. Dimensions over all: 31 to 4f inches across, 
by 21 to 3£ inches deep ; and inside the egg cavity is 2 inches to 21 inches across’ 
by H to 2 inches deep. The nests vary in size according to the class of material 
used in their construction. 
Breeding-months. August to end December, and sometimes later. 
Gould s field-notes read: The \ellow-eared Honey-eater is very common 
in New South Wales, where it inhabits the thick brushes. I found 
it especially abundant in all parts of the river Hunter as well as on the Liverpool 
and other ranges. No examples came under my notice in South Australia, 
and I do not believe that it extends so far to the westward. In its habits 
and disposition it assimilates very closely to the Ptilotis flavigula of Tasmania. 
It prefers low scrubby trees to those of a larger growth. I have often been 
permitted to approach within a few yards of it while threading the dense 
brushes without causing it the least alarm. Like the rest of its genus, this 
species feeds on insects, the pollen of flowers, and occasionally fruits and 
berries. It is not celebrated for the richness of its notes or for the volubility 
of its song, but its presence, when not visible among the foliage, is always 
to be detected by the loud ringing whistle note, which it continually pours 
forth during the months of spring and summer.” 
Mi. J. W. Mellor has written me : “ This bird I have met with in Victoria, 
452 
