SPIJSTY-CHEEKED HONEY-EATER. 
Plains in New South Wales. It was the commonest species of the Meliphagidce 
I met with in the interior of South Austraha; and I have also received a pair 
of this or a closely alhed species fiom the interior of Western Australia; as, 
however, some difference exists between these latter and the birds from New 
South Wales, I refrahi, until I have seen other examples, from stating that it 
goes as far to the westward as the Swan River Settlement. Like the Brush 
Wattle-Bird it is rather a shy species, but its presence may at aU times be 
detected by the loud, hollow, whisthng note wliich it frequently utters wliile 
on the Aving, or while passing -with a diving flight from tree to tree. It 
appears to give a decided preference to the Banksia and other trees groAving 
upon sandy soil; its presence therefore is a ceriain indication of the poverty 
of the land. It is very active among the branches, cHnging and creeping 
about Avith the greatest ease and elegance of position.” 
Mr. Thos. P. Austin has Avritten me; “ This species is only a visitor to 
tliis district (Cobbora, New South Wales), they only come here from the Avestem 
part of the state during very severe drought. While I was on a visit to the 
Bourke district in November, 1910, I foimd numbers of them breeding there.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor’s notes state : “ In South Australia it is common in most 
places; I have seen it on Eyre’s Peninsula, Yorke’s Peninsula, aU along the 
valley of the River Murray, and even on the Coorong. It feeds on honey 
from flowers, but also largely on insects, and breeds from September to 
November. This bird has a most pleasing and melodious Avhistle, quite a 
contrast to that of the Wattle-Bird group ; it is full, round and somewhat 
prolonged, and when heard in the natural smToundings it strikes one as being 
most melodious and pleasing.” 
Captain S. A. Wliite has Avritten me : “ This is a dry-country bird although 
it is at times found near the coast AAdthui the heavy rainfall zone. My first 
meeting vith this bud was on the River Murray in 1887 when it was quite 
new to me, but strange to say Avithin the last few years it has come on to the 
Adelaide plains, and I have heard them caUing in their wonderfiil way for 
months in the garden. I have met Avith them in numbers on every trip I 
have made mto the interior. Their nestmg-season varies according to the 
raurfall but generally from August to November, and the nest is a small but 
deep structure suspended in a shrub generally not more than six or seven 
feet from the ground and composed of grass stems (often green ones) bound 
up Avith cobAvebs and cocoons, eggs being two or three in number’. The flight 
is strong and rapid, at times erratic ; the food, insects (mostly beetles), nectar 
and berries. The note is a Avonderful one, being a series of jerky, guttui-al, 
gui’ghng, hquid sounds, breaking off suddenly for a moment as if out of breath, 
then continuing. WMle the bird is singing it sits Avith its head up and SAvays 
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