THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
among the fruit trees, particularly figs, of the seeds of which it appears to be 
very fond. It also feeds upon insects which are principally sought for among 
the branches ; but it frequently seeks for them and small seeds on the ground, 
when it hops around the boles and beneath the branches of the trees in a most 
lively manner. Its natural notes are full, clear, and loud, and may be heard 
at a considerable distance. In South Australia I heard it in full song in the 
midst of winter, when it was one of the shyest birds of the country. It is 
exceedingly pugnacious in disposition, often fighting with the Wattle Birds 
( Anthochcerce ) and other species even larger than those. The breeding season 
commences in August and terminates in December.” 
Captain S. A. White has sent me the following note: “ This bird ranges 
over the whole of South Australia from the sea-coast to the boundary with 
the Northern Territory. At one time most local ornithologists believed that 
this bird was only found in the coastal fringe, but that is quite altered now. 
There is no doubt they love the low bush which grows over the sand-dunes in 
so many places along our coast line, so much so that one cannot help associating 
this bird’s call with the scent of the sage bush and the blossoms of the currant 
bush, both prominent features in the flora of the sand dunes. I hardly think 
there is any part of South Australia that I have visited and have not found 
this Honey-eater. There are skins from all parts in my collection, but there 
seems to be little variation. Their habits seem the same everywhere, be it on 
the coast amidst a big timbered country with a mean average rainfall of 30 inches, 
or in the almost treeless interior of not more than 4 inches. Near the coast 
fine they are early nesters and often begin early in August, and have often 
seen their nests with young late in November, which would lead one to suppose 
that they bring out two, if not three, broods in the season. The nest is placed, 
as a rule, in an upright fork in the centre of a thick bush, and is composed of 
dry grass, cobwebs, often lined -with thistledown. The eggs are generally 
three, and the Pallid Cuckoo is very fond of laying her eggs in the nest, the 
two eggs being very much alike. The note is loud and musical. The food 
consists mostly of insects, but it also takes honey from the flowers and I have 
found small berries in the stomachs.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor’s note reads: “The singing Honey-eater is one of the 
common birds to be seen along the sea-coast. It loves to dwell amongst the 
sand-dunes, where brush and stunted trees are the main vegetation and where 
the honeysuckle tree grows. Here its loud singing call enlivens the scene 
and acts as a melody in marked contrast to the raging roar of the billowy ocean 
close at hand, but although these buds were generally supposed to be found 
only along tho coasts I have seen them several hundreds of miles from it, in 
dry and arid regions, for while in the far north-west of South Australia out 
