WHITE-EARED HONEY-EATER. 
V 
buff; under-surface of flight-quills pale brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its 
upper-surface. Collected in Torquay in Victoria on the 31st of December, 1902. 
Nest. Cup-shaped, situated in a fork of a tree, low down. Composed of fine pieces of 
bark, joined together with cocoons. Lined with hair. Outside measurements, 
4 to 5 inches deep by almost 4 wide. Inside, 2 inches deep by 2| wide. 
Eggs. Two to three eggs form the clutch. A clutch of three eggs taken at Somerville, 
Victoria, on the 27th of September, 1904, is of a pale flesh-tint ground-colour, spotted 
and blotched with pinkish-red and reddish-brown, becoming more numerous at the 
larger ends. Swollen ovals in shape. Surface of shell smooth and slightly glossy. 
21 by 15 mm. Frequently the ground-colour of the eggs of this species is white. 
Nest. An open cup-shaped structure, composed of thin strips of bark, grasses, etc., and 
well bound together with cobwebs, and lined with fur, or other warm material. 
As a rule the nest is built near the ground in a bush or small tree. Dimensions 
over all, 4 inches by 3 inches in depth. 
Breeding-months. July to early December. 
This was one of the earliest “ Ptilotis ” to be described as will be 
hereafter shown. 
Vigors and Horsfield recorded it, writing : “ One of the specimens of this 
species in the Society’s collection was procured by Mr. Brown at Shoalwater 
Bay in 1802. The species, as well as the next (chrysops), are noticed by 
Sir. Caley as being by no means uncommon, but he has made no remarks 
upon their manners.” 
Gould’s notes read: “ The White-eared Honey-eater enjoys a very wide 
range of habitat; I found it in abundance in the belts of the Murray and 
other parts of South Australia, and in the brushes near tho coast as well as 
in the open forests of Eucalypti in New South Wales ; it is very common in 
the Bargo brush on the road to Argyle, and Gilbert mentions that he shot 
a specimen near York in the interior of Western Australia, but it is there so 
rare that he believed the individual he procured was the only one that had 
been seen. It is as much an inhabitant of the mountainous as of the lowland 
parts of the country, and is always engaged in creeping and clinging about 
among the leafy branches of the Eucalypti, particularly those of a low or 
stunted growth. Its note is loud, and very much resembles that of the 
Ptilotis penicillata. The stomach is small and membranous, and the food 
consists of insects of various kinds.” 
Mr. Thos. P. Austin has written from Cobbora, New South Wales: A 
bird which might be more common than it appears. Some years they 
appear to be more plentifully dispersed than others, but only met with here 
in the heavy timbered dry scrubby country. Owing to its habit of keeping 
in the thick undergrowth, and being rather shy and wary, it frequently 
escapes notice, but if one keeps quiet the bird’s natural curiosity will bring 
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