CRESCENT HONEY-EATER. 
Nest. A rather deep cup-shaped structure, composed chiefly of strips of bark and twigs, 
lined with grass, and a little soft material. Dimensions over all, 4 to 6 inches by 3 to 
3^ inches in depth. Usually placed in a thick bush or other situations close to the 
ground. 
Breeding-months. July to December or January. 
No notes of the habits of tliis bird were given until Gould’s were published: 
“ This little Honey-eater is abundantly dispersed over every part of Tasmania, 
South Australia and New South Wales. It is one of the few species which 
enliven with their presence the almost impenetrable forests that cover a great 
portion of Tasmania, giving preference to such parts as are clothed with a 
thick brush of dwarf slu'ubby trees growing beneath the more lofty gums. 
It also resorts to the thick beds of the Epacris impressa, whose red and white 
heath-like flowers bespangle the sides of the more open hills ; the blossoms 
of this beautiful plant afford it an abundant supply of food, which it seeks as 
intently as to admit of a sufficiently close approach to enable one to observe 
its actions without disturbing it; while thus occupied it may be seen clinging 
to the stems in every possible attitude, and inserting its .slender brush-like 
tongue up the tube of every floret with amazing rapidity. Independently of 
honey it feeds on insects of various kinds, particularly those of the orders 
Diptera and Hymenoptera, When disturbed it flits off with a quick darting 
flight, settling again at the distance of a few yards among the thickest tufts 
of the Epacris, or slnouds itself from observation among the foliage of the 
sapling gums. It breeds in September and the four following months.” 
Captain S. A. Wliite has sent me the follo\ving note : “ This speeies keeps 
to the wettest parts of this State (South Australia) and is not seen in the dry 
country, for it inhabits the thick undergroAVth of swampy or damp land. It 
is very plentiful on Kangaroo Island. On the mainland they breed in September, 
October and November. Theii’ call is at fii-st of one note followed by one 
of two notes ; these are deep-toned but melodious and at times metallic in 
soimd.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor has written me : “ The Crescent Honey-eater is a fairly 
common bird in South Australia, also in Victoria and Tasmania, and the 
islands adjacent, as well as in New South Wales. In South Austraha I have 
had ample opportunity of studying their habits in the Mount Lofty Ranges, 
where they are to be seen in the thickly wooded gullies, as they delight to be 
in such secluded places, where their loud clear notes are especially pleasing 
in the early morning when the dewdrops shine like diamonds in the rays of 
the rising sun. On Eyre Peninsula I saw these birds in the Cleve Ranges in 
June, 1911, where they were in the thicldy timbered parts, especially in the 
gullies. The nesting time of these birds is from August to November and 
VOL. xn. 
9 
