72 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
eggs. Three usually, pale flesh-coloured, becoming darker at the 
larger end, spotted and speckled with reddish-chestnut and a few 
scattered markings of dull purplish-grey, particularly at the larger 
end. Breeding-season: July to December or January. 
15. Tawny-crowned Honey-eater Gliciphila melanops Latham 
mel'-an-ops— Gk, mclas ( melanos ), black; Gk, ops , face. 
distribution. New South Wales, Victoria, South and south¬ 
western Australia, Kangaroo Island, and Tasmania. 
notes. Also called Fulvous-frontcd Honey-eater. Usually in pairs 
or small parties, inhabiting heath and dwarf scrub-lands. Its song, 
which is somewhat mournful, commences with a single note slowly 
drawn out, followed by a quick double note, repeated six or eight 
times; it is usually uttered while the bird is perched on the topmost 
branch of a shrub. Food: insects, nectar, and pollen. 
nest. A deep, cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of bark and 
grass, well matted together with spiders’ egg-bags and cobwebs; lined 
with plant down. Generally placed near the ground in a low bush or 
tussock. 
EGGS. Two or three, white, sparsely spotted and speckled, chiefly 
at the larger end, with dull chestnut-brown markings. Breeding- 
season: June to February or later. ® 
16. White-fronted Honey-eater Gliciphila albifrons Gould 
al'-bi-frons— L., alb us, white; L., frons , forehead. 
distribution. Extra-tropical Australia (accidental to southern 
Australia). 11 
notes. Usually in pairs or small parties, inhabiting heath and dwarf 
scrub-lands of the interior. It is an active bird, darting about the 
iohage and blossoms in search of insects and nectar; at all times it ic 
shy and wary. Its flight is erratic, and similar to that of the Tawnv- 
ciowned Honey-eater. A local migrant in large flocks. 
NEST. A cup shaped structure, composed of bark and grasses; usuallv 
lined with the brown velvety material removed from the cones <?r 
the banksias, and sometimes with hair or fur. Mostly placed in 
low bush, within 5 feet of the ground. X P a 
fo G | GS ' U , sua , lly two > pale pinkish-white, spotted and blotched nartiY,, 
arly at the larger end, with reddish-brown and dull purple markino ’ 
Breeding-season: generally July or August to January 1 . ,ngS - 
17. White-eared Honey-eater Meliphaga leucatis Latham 
meli ’ hone >’ : Gk ’ P ha g'in, to eat: leuc-ot'-is- Gk 
leucos, white; Gk, otos, genitive of ous, ear. 
1BUTI °N. Southern Queensland to Victoria, South Australia 
Kangaioo Island, and south-western Australia. c * ia ' 
notes. Usually in pairs or small parties, frequenting alike heath and 
