BIRDS OF THE BLOSSOMS AND OUTER FOLIAGE 
IO5 
eggs. Two or three, pale buff, marked, chiefly at the larger end, 
with spots of chestnut and dull purplish-grey. Breeding-season: August 
to December 
15. Western Spinebill Acanthorhynchus superciliosus Gould 
5 u-per-cil-i-ds'-us—'L ., superciliosus , browed. 
distribution. South-western Australia, from Perth to the Stirling 
Ranges. 
notes. Also called White-browed Spinebill. Usually in pairs, fre¬ 
quenting banksia and tea-tree country; in habits it is similar to the 
Eastern Spinebill. Food: insects and nectar. 
nest. Like that of the Eastern Spinebill, but slightly smaller. 
eggs. Two usually, pale pinkish-white, marked, chiefly at the larger 
end, with spots of chestnut and dull purplish-grey. Breeding-season: 
August to December. 
16. White-naped Honey-eater Melithreptus lunatus Vieillot 
Mel-i’t/irep'-tus—Gk, meli, honey; Gk, threptos, nourished: lu-na'-tus— 
L., lunatus , moon-shaped = markings. 
distribution. Queensland to Victoria to Western Australia, and 
the Kent Group (Bass Strait). 
notes. Also called Lunulated Honey-eater and Blackcap. Usually 
in small flocks; a common bird throughout the coastal districts, tim¬ 
bered mountain ranges, and open forest country inland; it is also 
numerous in gardens and is tame and fearless; seen chiefly among the 
flowering eucalypt trees, seeking insects, pollen, and nectar. Call-note, 
a single piping whistle, uttered frequently. 
nest. A small, cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of bark 
matted together with cobwebs and spiders* egg-bags; lined with grass, 
rootlets, soft bark, and occasionally fur. Suspended from a drooping 
branch of a tree at a considerable height from the ground. 
eggs. Two or three, pale buff, finely spotted and freckled, chiefly at 
the larger end, with reddish-brown and pale purplish-grey markings. 
Breeding-season: July to November. 
17. White-throated Honey-eater Melithreptus albogularis Gould 
al-bo-gu-ldr'-is— L., albus r white; L., gularis, throated. 
distribution. Northern Australia and north-eastern Queensland; 
also occurs in south-eastern New Guinea. 
notes. Also called White-chinned Honey-eater. Similar in habits to 
the White-naped Honey-eater. 
nest. Closely resembles that of the White-naped Honey-eater. 
eggs. Usually two, pale salmon-pink, spotted and speckled with red¬ 
dish-brown markings, chiefly at the larger end. Breeding-season: July 
to January. 
