BIRDS OF THE BLOSSOMS AND OUTER FOLIAGE 
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notes. Usually in pairs, frequenting the tropicai ^crtib, hunnng 
about among the leaves and branches for insects and their larvae. The 
young birds have four peculiar head-plumes, which they have the 
power of erecting and quivering vigorously-probably a piotective 
device. # 
nest. A compact, pear-shaped structure with a hooded entrance near 
the top, and a tail-piece; composed of palm-fibre and bark, held 
together with spiders’ webs and lichen; lined with soft materials. The 
nest of this species is suspended from the thm leafy branch of a tree, 
and built adjacent to a wasp’s nest. 
eggs. Two or three, fleshy-white, speckled nearly all over with 
purplish-brown or red markings. Breeding-season: January. 
9. Western Warbler Gerygone fusca Gould 
fus'-ca- L., fuscus, brown 
distribution. From Perth (Western Australia) to north-western 
Australia, northern South Australia to southern Queensland and to 
Rutherglen (north-eastern Victoria). 
notes. Usually in pairs, frequenting open forest and scrub-lands. 
In New South Wales it is a migrant, arriving in the spring and depart¬ 
ing again early in February. It is an active bird, constantly searching 
among the leaves and branches for insect-life, or catching insects on 
the wing; it has a sweet but feeble song, and is said to be a ventrilo- 
quist. . . 
nest. A pear-shaped structure with a short tail-piece and an entrance 
near the top, slightly sheltered by a small hood; composed of very 
fine strips of bark, dried grasses, and spiders’ cocoons matted together; 
lined with dried grass and a few feathers. The nest of this species 
is suspended from the thin leafy branch of a tree, and often placed 
near the nest of a small yellow wasp. 
eggs Three, pinkish-white, with reddish-brown markings which 
predominate at the larger end. Breeding-season: October to January. 
10 Mistletoe-bird Dicaeum hirundinaccum Shaw—10A. Female 
Dl-cae'-um-G k, dicairan, an Indian bird: hir-un-din-a’-ce-um- L., 
hirundinaccus, like a swallow 
distribution. Australia generally. 
notes. Also called Flowerpecker and Dicaeum Swallow. Usually in 
pairs, frequenting the topmost branches of trees, or among the blossoms 
of the different species of mistletoe ( Loranthus). This species is a 
medium for distributing these harmful parasitic plants. It has a pretty 
warbling song. Food: insects and berries, chiefly those of the mistletoe. 
nest. A neat, pear-shaped structure with a slit-like entrance in the 
side; composed of spiders’ egg-bags, downy plant seeds, and the sawdust¬ 
like'excreta of various wood-boring insects, matted together with cob¬ 
webs. Usually suspended from a thin branch of a leafy tree up to 
30 feet from the ground. 
eggs. Usually three, pure white. Breeding-season: September to 
December or January. 
