THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Adult female. Similar to the adult male. 
“ Immature birds resemble the adults, but are duller in colour ; there is only a slight 
indication of the whitish tips to the feathers on the hind-neck, and the remainder 
of the markings on the upper-parts are less distinct; on the under-parts the feathers 
on the fore-neck and upper breast are almost a uniform dull olive-yellow and 
destitute of the narrow yellow central streaks.” (North.) 
Eggs. Two eggs form the clutch. A clutch of two eggs, taken in the Tinaroo scrubs, west of 
Cairns, North Queensland, on the 2nd of December, 1909, is of a pale flesh-buff ground¬ 
colour, well spotted and blotched, particularly at the larger ends, with reddish- 
chestnut, intermingled with lilac and dull slate markings. Rather long ovals in 
form, surface of shell fine and glossy. 25-26 by 16 mm. 
Nest. A deep cup-shaped structure, chiefly composed of fibre, leaves, etc., lined with fibre 
and rootlets, suspended by the rim and placed in a bush. 
Breeding-months. October to end December. 
Ramsay described this species simultaneously with Gould, but his name 
appeared in print first. His field notes and full account reads: “ This fine 
species is one I mentioned previously as Ptilotis versicolor Gould; and strange 
to say even the huffy adult birds show that peculiarity in the plumage which 
is usually characteristic of immaturity. At first I considered them all young 
P. versicolor ; but after having obtained and examined, from several sources, 
extending over a period of six years, numerous fine specimens, all in si milar 
plumage, and shot at various times through the year, I felt convinced that they 
belonged to a distinct species. The species has not a very extensive range, 
being confined, as far as we yet know, to the coast range from the Herbert 
River north to Cooktown on the Endeavour. I found them nowhere plentiful, 
and always of a shy and retiring disposition. The sexes are alike in plumage. 
The only note I heard them utter is a simple feeble cry resembling that of 
P. chrysops, but not so loud ; in their actions and retiring disposition they 
resemble most P. lewinii .” 
Broadbent simply wrote : “Common on Maunga Creek, Cardwell.” 
Here again Campbell and Barnard failed to add anything of value to the 
above meagre account, satisfying themselves with the following report: “ This 
rare and fine Honey-eater was of especial interest to us, as it was first collected 
here by Broadbent, and Gould described one of the specimens from 
Rockingham Bay in 1875 as P. flavostriata — a very descriptive name; but 
Ramsay anticipated him earlier in the year by a specimen from Cooktown 
with the name P. macleayana. It was interesting watching these birds 
feeding on the large, wreath-like whitish flowers of Darlingia and among the 
honey-laden flowers of a climbing Pisomia .” 
No sub-species are yet definitely fixed, the Cairns bird I named as being 
darker being here synonymised until more birds are available. 
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