BIRDS OF THE BLOSSOMS AND OUTER FOLIAGE lo 3 
notes. Apparently nomadic, in flocks, frequenting the flowering 
trees and shrubs. It shows a preference for country through which a 
bush-fire has previously passed; an active bird; its flight is remarkably 
quick, and performed with sudden zigzag movements; it has a feeble 
plaintive call-note. Food: chiefly insects, nectar, and the fruit of the 
mistletoe. 
nest. A small, open, shallow structure, loosely constructed of small 
dead twigs, pieces of dry grass, and other materials, matted together 
with cobwebs; lined with fine grasses and vegetable down. Usually 
placed in the fork of a small horizontal limb of a dead bush, up to 
6 feet from the ground. 
eggs. Usually two, yellowish-buff, with an indistinct band of minute 
spots or clouded markings of pale slate and umber forming a zone at 
the larger end. Breeding-season: September to December. 
10. Green-backed Honey-eater Glycichcea claudi Mathews 
Glyc-i-char'-a- Gk, glycichcera, glycerine; Gk, glycys, sweet; Gk, chai- 
rein, to rejoice: c/audi-Claudie River, Northern Queensland. 
distribution. Northern Queensland (Claudie River district). 
notes. Also called Buff-backed Honey-eater. The only field notes 
state: “. . . fairly common in the scrub, but always high up in the 
leaves, where only the trained eye of one accustomed to look for such 
things can be expected to find them.” 
nest. Not described. 
eggs. Not described. 
11. White-breasted Honey-eater Gliciphila fasciata Gould 
Gli-ciph'-il-a—G k, glycys, sweet; Gk, philos, fond of: fas-ci-a'-ta— L., 
jasciatus, banded. 
distribution. Tropical northern Australia, from Napier Broome 
Bay (north-western Australia) to Inkerman (Queensland) and eastern 
Queensland to Mackay. 
notes. Usually in flocks, frequenting the paper-bark ( Melaleuca ) 
swamps, from the blossoms of which it collects its food, consisting 
chiefly of insects, nectar, and occasionally the buds of flowers. Its note 
is a sharp, shrill, piping call, rapidly repeated. 
nest. A bulky, dome-shaped structure, composed of strips of paper- 
bark and fine rootlets woven together with cobwebs; lined with soft 
bark. Usually suspended from a pendent branch, overhanging water. 
eggs. Three or four, white, spotted and blotched with light and 
dark reddish-brown markings, particularly at the larger end. Breeding- 
season: October to January (to May). 
12. Rufous-throated Honey-eater Conopophila rufogularis Gould 
Cd-no-poph’-il-a- Gk, conops, gnat; Gk, philos, fond of: ru-fo-gu-la'-ris- 
L., rufus, red; L., gularis, throated. 
distribution. Tropical northern Australia (except Cape York 
Peninsula). 
