THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
that this species is not found around Frankston, for the country appears quite 
suitable for them. At Melton and Parwon, points further north, they are 
plentiful.” 
Writing about the birds of Ararat, Victoria, G. F. Hill stated : “lam 
unable to say if these Honey-eaters arrive in pairs or in flocks, but I believe 
it is in pairs. Nesting commences in July, and continues through August, 
September, and October.” 
F. E. Howe has written: “ The young of this bird are born blind and 
featherless ; the gape is yellow, as is also the inside of the mouth, with the 
exception of two black spots on the lower mandible ; the legs and feet are 
of a light flesh-colour. At about three days old a dark grey down appears, 
and the eyes are beginning to open. At about seven days old the yellow 
feathers of the abdomen are well defined, and the primaries in long blue quills. 
Young that appeared to be very little older had the primaries unfurling, and 
we calculated that they would leave the nest when about 15 or 16 days old. 
The hides of the adult are dark maroon, but in the nestling they were 
dark brown. I took one very beautiful pair of eggs, and whilst at 
the nest two birds appeared, and seemed greatly agitated at my presence. 
They were secured, and to my surprise both proved to be females; and 
it was strange that of all the Honey-eaters we got on the trip not one 
was a male.” 
An interesting note and photograph of Darnell Smith appeared in the 
Emu, VoL X., which I quote: “On 19th December, Dr. J. Burton Cleland 
and myself observed a number of birds feeding upon ‘ manna ’ winch was 
exuding from a large wound hi a grey gum ( Eucalyptus punctata ) at Milsou 
Island, Hawkesbury River. Among them my colleague identified Ptilotis 
auricomis (Yellow-tufted Honey-eater), P. chrysops (Yellow-faced Honey- 
eater), P. leucotis (White-eared Honey-eater), Melithreptus lunulatus (White- 
naped Honey-eater), M. brevirostris (Brown-headed Honey-eater) and Mdiphaga 
phrygia (Warty-faced Honey-eater). The birds flew down from the upper¬ 
most branches of the neighbouring trees, and, clinging to the large trunk of 
the grey gum, licked the yellowish exudation with the greatest relish. So 
eager were they that, as we stood near the tree, numbers of them, while 
looking for a foothold upon the tree trunk, fluttered round our heads. A 
photograph of the birds clinging to the tree was taken, but they did not show 
up well against the dark background. A small branch w r as therefore thrust 
into a portion of the wound in the tree, and a very good photograph of seven 
specimens of Ptilotis auricomis, in various positions, was obtained. The 
exudation from the tree had a very sw r eet taste, and such exudations are 
apparently used as a supplementary food by Honey-eaters when they have 
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