SOME BIRDS OF THE MANGROVES 
159 
Notes .—Inhabits the mangroves, tea-tree swamps, and scrubs ad¬ 
jacent to water, where it is to be seen among the leaves, twigs, and blos¬ 
soms searching for insects and honey; its call-note is sharp, shrill, and 
monotonous. 
Nest. —A dome-shaped structure with a hooded side entrance, com¬ 
posed of fine strips and pieces of paper bark, lightly bound with cobwebs 
and silk from cocoons; lined with pieces of soft paper bark, and sus¬ 
pended from a small twig of a bush, up to 8 feet from the ground. 
Eggs. — Two or three, white, finely spotted and speckled with dark 
brown and almost black markings, chiefly at the larger end. Breeding-sea¬ 
son: August to April. 
7. Rufous-banded Honey-eater Conopophila albognlaris Gould 
Cd-nd-popti-il-a —Gk, conops, gnat; Gk, p kilos> fond of : al-bo-gu-lar -is — 
L. y albus, white; L., gularis, throated. 
Distribution. —Northern Territory and northern Queensland; also 
occurs in the Aru Islands. 
Notes. —Inhabits the mangroves and paper-bark tree swamps; it is 
an active bird, constantly flitting from branch to branch and taking ir¬ 
regular flights, during which it utters its pretty song. Food: chiefly in¬ 
sects. 
Nest. —A small, cup-shaped structure, composed of fine strips of bark 
matted together with spiders’ webs; lined with fine grass; suspended from 
the extremity of a thin projecting branch, usually overhanging water. 
Eggs. —Two or three, white, finely spotted and speckled nearly all 
over with bright chestnut-red markings, particularly at the larger end. 
Breeding-season: October to January. 
8. Varied Honey-eater Meliphaga versicolor Gould 
Mel-ipN-ag-a —Gk, nieli, honey; Gk, pkagein, to eat: ver -si-col-or —L., 
versicolor, different coloured. 
Distribution. —Northern Queensland, chiefly on the islands off the 
coast; also occurs in New Guinea. 
Notes. —Inhabits the mangroves; it is an extremely active bird and a 
splendid songster; flits among the leaves and blossoms, searching for in¬ 
sects and honey. 
Nest. —A small, cup-shaped structure, neatly composed of dried sea- 
grasses, weeds, and dead leaves ; lined with fine rootlets. Frequently placed 
in the foliage of a mangrove tree. 
Eggs. —Two, pale pinkish-buff, possessing an indistinct cap of clouded 
and very minute spots of pale reddish-brown markings. Breeding-season : 
July to November. 
9. Mangrove Honey-eater Meliphaga fasciogularis Gould 
fas-ci-o-gu-ld-ris —L., fascia, band ; L., gularis, throated. 
Distribution. —Northern and eastern Queensland, chiefly on the is¬ 
lands off the coast. 
