WHITE PLUMED HONEY-EATER. 
flight-quills dark brown with pale edgings. Eyes dull grey, feet fleshy-pink, bill 
light fleshy-brown. Collected at Auburn, Victoria, on the 13th of September, 1910. 
Nest. Cup-shaped, suspended by the rims from a twig. Composed of grass and fine 
rootlets ; on the outside a number of spiders’ cocoons, which are sometimes green. 
Scantily lined sometimes with very fine rootlets, at others with wool. Outside 
measurements, 2 inches to 2| deep by 3 to 4 inches wide ; inside, lj to 1J inches 
deep by about 2£ inches wide (four nests). The eggs are visible through the 
bottom ( penicillata). 
Cup-shaped, situated in the fork of a small twig. Composed of rootlets which 
hold together the w r oolly substance forming the sides. No particular lining. 
Outside measurements, li inches deep by 3 wide ; inside, 1£ deep by If wide 
(ccirteri). 
Collected by Dr. Cleland on the Strelly River, Mid-west Australia. Situated in an 
acacia tree. Nest constructed of fine rootlets interwoven with wool and fluffy 
grass heads. Lined at the bottom with wool. Suspended from a fork. Inside 
measurements, If inches by 1 (carteri). 
Collected at Blackwood, South Australia, by Dr. Morgan. Begun to build October 
9th, 1908 ; finished October 31st, 1908. Two fresh eggs taken November 7th, 
1908 ; built in overhanging branch of small gum 7 feet from the ground. Cup¬ 
shaped, constructed of grass, etc., interwoven with spider-w r ebs and lined with soft 
material. Sides convex. Inside measurements, 2J inches by 2. 
Eggs. Three eggs usually form the clutch. A clutch of three eggs taken at Belltrees, Upper 
Hunter River, New r South Wales, on the 29th of September, 1907, is of a delicate 
pinkish-white ground-colour, spotted with small markings of reddish-brown, pinkish- 
brown, and purplish-grey, becoming more numerous about the larger ends. Ovals 
in shape, surface of shell smooth and slightly glossy. 18-19 by 14 mm. 
Nest. An open cup-shaped structure, made of grasses and bound well together with 
cobwebs, etc., and lined with wool or hair Dimensions over all, varies from 2 to 
nearly 3 inches across by 2J to 3 inches in depth. Placed in bushes and trees in a 
variety of situations, sometimes high up, at other times within hand’s reach of the 
ground. 
Breeding-months. Usually June to December, even on to April. 
Agaix Gould described this species before he went to Australia and 
afterwards wrote : u This species, which is rarely met with in New South 
Wales, is very abundant in South Australia ; I met with it even in the streets 
and gardens of Adelaide ; and it doubtless enjoys a wide range over the 
interior of the country. From what I observed of its habits it appears to differ 
from the generality of Honey-eaters in the partiality it evinces for the ground ; 
for although most of its time is spent among the leafy branches of the gums 
and wattles, it is often, to be seen hopping about under the trees m search of 
insects and seeds, which with the pollen of the flowers of the Eucalypti and 
Acacice constitute its food.” 
Captain S. A. White has written me : “ This bird has a very wide range 
and does vary much in coloration. Some of the darkest birds I have seen 
have been taken round Adelaide and on the Adelaide plains , another form is 
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