Ohe Geelong  dYuiurulist. $a 
Vor. TI. JANUARY, 1893. No. 7. 
Lach Contibutor is responsible for the facts mentioned 
in his Paper. 
PEARLS FOUND IN CORIO BAY. 
One of the greatest curiosities ever found in our Bay was 
secured by Messrs. Wills and O'Neal, who wentto Bird Rock to 
secure mussels for fishing. After they had opened one to bait 
with they were surprised to find that it contained pearls. On 
bringing it to town it was purchased by Mr. J. Hammerton, 
who found it contained 100 loose pearls and at least 200 about 
the flesh. The loose portion was really one beautiful piece of 
pearl fancy work; it was shown at our meeting, and greatly 
admired, although now it has been cured it has lost a little of 
its original beauty. 
SOME FAMILIAR HONEY-EATERS. 
Of the Order Insessores the family Meliphagidae or Honey- 
eaters are, as Gould says, the peculiar and most striking feature 
in Australian ornithology. Their characteristic is the curious 
brush-shaped tongue with which they are furnished, most 
admirably adapted for their manner of feeding, for as their 
name implies they are honey-eaters. The flower cups of most of 
the Eucalypti are eagerly explored by this brush-like tongue, 
and their graceful busy movements and lively notes are familiar 
to all who take an interest in our local bird life. Perhaps the 
best known of all is the White-Plumed Honey-Hater, or 
** Greenie,” as most boys call him. When the gums and acacias 
are in bloom, it is almost always to be seen searching out the 
honey-bearing flowers, now hanging head downward, anon 
squabbling with its mates. The nest is small and cup-shaped, 
usually placed fairly high up in some gum or acacia. ‘The eggs 
are three in number, of a pale fleshy pink, spotted with dark 
brown or marone spots, rather morely densely at the thicker 
end. Another graceful and pretty honey-eater is the New 
Holland Honey-Eater, not so familiar to most on account of its 
habit, as it prefers flat sandy districts, densely covered with 
scrub, and there lives and nests, never or rarely leaving the low 
bushes. It is a handsome bird, and when flying shows the rich 
golden bands of its wings to perfection. Its note is shrill and 
not musical. One of its favorite localities in Victoria is on the 
sandy lands that lie around Mordialloc and Frankston. The 
