WHITE-GAPED HONEY-EATER. 
To date I can see no young birds nor signs of their pairing. They are not 
numerous, but some are seen every day.” 
Hall had recorded Rogers’ note from Derby, North-west Australia : “ My 
experience with this bird is to find it never away from the thick scrub along the 
Fitzroy River. It is very quiet, so much so that I have never heard its note. 
It is very fond of the small fruit of the native fig (6/12/00). On 20th September 
I saw the young of this species. It is very unusual to see the young of Honey- 
eaters at this time of the year, as it is usual for them to breed in the 
heavy tropical rains. Where I saw these birds a heavy storm had recently 
occurred, and possibly that accounts for the diversion.” 
Hill simply added: “A rather uncommon species in all localities from 
Parry Harbour to the Drysdale River, Kimberley, N.W.A.” and from Borroloola, 
Northern Territory, noted: “ Fairly plentiful. Found in sheltered localities 
near water.” 
Macgillivray has recorded: “ These fine, large Honey-eaters were first 
met with on the Leichhardt River beyond Caloola Station, thence onward to 
Burketown they became more numerous. They are very noisy birds with a 
loud whistling note, and were never met with away from the tea-tree which 
borders the rivers, d, taken on 12th June, irides greyish-brown, bill black, 
naked patch of skin at base of upper mandible bright sulphur-yellow, legs 
dark slate. Stomach contained skins and seeds of the wild grape, portions of 
mistletoe flowers, and ladybird beetles. The female resembled the male in 
these particulars.” 
Barnard wrote from Borroloola, Northern Territory : “ Common in the 
brush along the river and near sandstone bluffs.” 
McLennan’s notes on his King River trip, recorded by H. L. White, read: 
“MacArthur River, 7/8/15. Fairly plentiful along river above limit of man¬ 
groves. Liverpool River, 21/9/15. A few noted. King River. Fairly plenti¬ 
ful about river flats and in small patches of scrub at springs. Occasionally 
seen in the mangroves. Roper River. Noted along the river beyond the 
limi t, of mangroves. Stomach, skins and seeds of berries and fruit, remains of 
beetles and other insects.” 
Campbell wrote regarding this collection : “ One o, wing 98 mm., 3 $-•, 
wing 87-90 mm. This unique bird, Gould records, ‘ is one of the many species 
that rewarded Gilbert’s researches at Port Essington.’ It is well named 
specifically, being of a uniform olive-brown appearance. It is not appreciably 
different from Gulf (Carpentaria) birds, or those from the north-west, which 
latter, however, may be a trifle (tint) fighter. One specimen, in the ‘ H. L. 
White Collection,’ from Cairns has a greenish hue—perhaps a seasonal or age- 
stage of plumage. If not, Mathews’s subspecies (yarra) is a good race.” 
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