RED WATTLE-BIRD. 
Hill there is a strip of rough scrubby ground, left in its natui-al state as a 
reserve for wild life. Upon it are thickets of saplings of the Mallet trees 
(Euc. occidentalis) which towards the end of summer are usually covered 
mth masses of blooms full of honey. This is a favomite feeduig ground for 
Wattle-birds and many species of Honey-eaters, and at such times birds 
swarm there, and the chorus of the voices of the thousands of Wattle-birds 
can be heard at a considerable distance in calm weather. The Wattle-bhds 
are of a very bullying and pugnacious disposition, constantly chiving away 
smaller birds from their vicinity. The breeding-season is a very extended one, 
in fact I tliink that odd pairs of birds breed any time, and some I’ear two broods 
in a season. The nests are rather flat in shape and rough in make, mostly 
of small sticks, and lined mth grass and roots, and some sheep’s wool when 
procurable. Clutch two or tlu-ee. The situation of nests varies much, 
sometimes being only fom* feet above gromid, at others any height up to 
forty feet. May 28, 1911. Three fresh eggs. August 21, 1912. Two fresh 
eggs. October seems chief breeding month. Many nests foimd with eggs, 
and young birds fledged from early nests. December 5, 1910. Small young 
m nest (second brood in same nest). Dec. 11, 1906. Two fresh eggs in nest. 
Dec. 1, 1912. Three eggs, just hatching.” 
Although no forms had been differentiated when I prepared my “ Reference 
List ” hi 1912, I found that tliree could be easily diagnosed thus : 
Anthochcera caruncidata carunculata (Latham). 
South Queensland, New South Wales. 
Anthochcera carunculata tregellasi IMathews. 
“Differs from A. c. carunculata in its darker coloration above and in having the 
wattles shghtly more elongated than in the typical form. (Frankston) Victoria.” 
Victoria, South Austraha. 
Anthochcera carunculata woodwardi Mathews. 
“Differs at sight from A. c. carunculata in its elongated wattle and more 
thickly striped mider-surface (Broome Hill).” 
West Austraha. 
With transference to the genus Coleia no addition was made in my 1913 
“ List,” but as long ago as 1906 A. G. CampbeU had wTitten of the Kangaroo 
Island form: “ One specimen examined has a bill 1*2 in. long, wing 6'4 in., 
both of which are larger than the mainland form, while it is ivithout the 
prominent silky-wliite patch under the eye.” 
I have named the Kangaroo Island subspecies 
Coleia carunculata clelandi 
and the Perth form 
Coleia carunculata jperthi. 
69 
