YELLOW-EARED HONEY-EATER. 
but more abundantly in New South Wales and Queensland ; in the latter 
place they were seen in numbers in the Blackall Ranges, where they like the 
bushed and timbered localities, and then’ loud clear whistling notes would 
resound again and again in the crisp early morning air. This was in October 
and November, 1910, while I was staying for a few weeks at Coorong, a small 
town in these densely clothed ranges. I noted these birds also in fair numbers 
in the Hawkesbury district along the Ourimbah Creek, which is thickly grown 
with subtropical vegetation, in November, 1911.” 
Mr. A. G. Campbell also wrote me : “ Found throughout the mountain 
gullies of \ ictoria, but rarely. A nest was discovered in November, 1897, in 
the Dandenong Ranges. It was lined with vegetable wool picked with great 
patience from the underside of the large leaves of the Blanketwood. In 
the same locality two other nests were subsequently taken, two eggs being the 
clutch.” 
Nr. F. E. Howe wrote me : “ The clear and loud ringing note of this elegant 
bird is often heard in the dense patches of hazel that occur at Fern-tree Gully. 
It is extremely shy and is rarely seen. On November 11th, 1907, I found a 
nest from which the young had already flown.” 
Dr. Cleland states that the note resembles dice rattling in a box. 
Mr. L. G. Chandler has also written me: “ This Honey-eater is rather a 
rarity in the Dandenong Ranges. It is fond of the gullies and creeks and is 
rarely found far from water. They are shy birds and always watch your 
movements suspiciously. I know of one locality in the Dandenongs where 
some fig-trees were growing along the banks of a creek, and when the figs were 
ripening you were certain to find two or three of these birds in attendance. 
They seem to have cultivated a great liking for ripe figs. Insects form a large 
portion of their food. 
Godfrey has recorded : “ A small party of three spent a Sunday about the 
middle of November, 1904, at Ferntree Gully. While partaking of our luncheon 
in a quiet spot in the heart of the Gully, we were much interested by the fearless 
actions of a bird, which we identified as the Yellow-eared Honey-eater (P. 
lewini). One of our party was eating a sardine sandwich, when the bird alighted 
on a small stick lying on the ground, and partook of the sandwich readily out 
of his hand, and then flew off with its mouth full, probably to feed a young 
family. This performance was repeated several times, the bird returning 
to where our tilings were spread each time. It not only relished sardine sand¬ 
wich, but showed a decided hiring for jam-roll and scone, and finished up with 
banana. The most amusing part was that the bird was not at all alarmed by 
our presence, as we were freely discussing its markings, and to what species 
it belonged, all the time it was filling its mouth.” 
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