BRIDLED HONEY-EATER 
ground-colour, spotted and blotched, particularly at the larger ends, with reddish- 
brown, brownish-grey, and purplish-grey. Ovals in shape. Surface of shell 
smooth and slightly glossy. 25 by 17 mm. 
Nest. Cup-shaped, constructed of various climbing plants and portions of soft fern-stems, 
etc., and lined with fine fibre and other material. Dimensions over all nearly 4J 
inches across by nearly 3 inches in depth. 
Breeding-months. Probably October to January. 
This is one of Ramsay’s early discoveries, but his field notes are short: “ A 
very distinct and interesting species, procured near the township of Cardwell, 
feeding among the blossoms of the Eucalypti. It appears to be very scarce, 
only three being observed during our stay of six months.” 
Broadbent later wrote: “ Cardwell, in the winter time. This is a 
mountain bird; found it at 5,000 feet on Bellenden Ker, also round my camp 
at Herberton, highest country in the district. This is one of my new birds 
(1873) named by Dr. Ramsay.” 
Campbell and Barnard added very little to the above extremely scanty 
information regarding this species when they wrote : “ This dark-coloured 
Honey-eater is another of the fine feathered ‘ citizens ’ of CardweU, and one 
of the Broadbent discoveries. The discoverer states it ‘ is a mountain bird.’ 
We observed it at the creek courses in the hiHs, at the rear of Cardwell. 
Small parties used to come to the rocky pools to bathe. Sometimes a bird 
would peer inquisitively from behind a branch at the intruder before it would 
momentarily splash into the clear water.” 
Campbell added: “ I first saw this fine species in Dalrymple’s Gap, 1885, 
where numerous birds were feasting on the long branching, dark red flowering 
spikes of a graceful umbreHa tree ( Brassaia ).” 
I named 
Meliphaga frenata petersoni 
as differing from the typical bird in not being so decidedly marked on the 
sides of the head. 
479 
