BIRDS OF THE BLOSSOMS AND OUTER FOLIAGE 
III 
^-Usually in pairs, frequenting the tropical scrub, hunting 
about among the leaves and branches for insects and their larva The 
young birds have four peculiar head-plumes, which they have the'power 
of erecting and quivering vigorously—probably a protective 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 thin leafy branch of a tree, and built adjacent 
to a wasps nest. J 
Eggs.— Two or three, fleshy-white, speckled nearly all over with pur¬ 
plish-brown or red markings. Breeding-season : January. 
9. Western Warbler Gcrygone fusca Gould 
fus-ca — L., fuscus , brown. 
Distribution. -From Perth (Western Australia) to north-western 
Australia, northern South Australia to southern Queensland and to Ruth- 
erglen (north-eastern Victoria). 
m in pairS ; frec l uentin g OP^ forest and scrub-lands. In 
New South Wales it is a migrant, arriving in the spring and departing 
again early in February It is an active bird, constantly searching amonf 
the lau es and branches for insect-life, or catching insects on the wing • it 
has a sweet but teeble song, and is said to be a ventriloquist 
Nest. A pear-shaped structure with a short tail-piece and an en¬ 
trance near the top, sightly sheltered by a small hood; composed of 
\ery fine strips of bark, dried grasses, and spiders’ cocoons matted to¬ 
gether; 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 kirundinaceum Shaw—10A. Female 
Dl-cae'-um—G k dicairon, an Indian bird: hir-un-din-a-ce-um— L„ 
hirundinaccuSj like a swallow. 
Distribution. —Australia generally. 
Notes.— Also called Flowerpecker and Dicaeum Swallow. Usually in 
Wientmg the topmost branches of trees, or among the blossoms 
of the different species of mistletoe (Loranthus). This species is a me¬ 
dium for distributing these harmful parasitic plants. It has a pretty warb- 
iing song. Food: insects and berries, chiefly those of the mistletoe. 
i cst. A neat, pear-shaped structure with a slit-like entrance in the 
side; composed of spiders’ egg-bags, downy plant seeds, and the sawdust- 
nice 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 
irom the ground. ' 1 
Eggs. Usually three, pure white. Breeding-season: September to 
December or January. 
