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Show 598 MR. E. P. RAMSAY ON [Nov. 16, out their varied and pleasing song, which often lasted for ten or fifteen minutes without ceasing. I have since heard their song under more comfortable circumstances ; and m y brother and I at once recognized our old friends. The nest and eggs are similar but slightly larger than those of M. lunulatus ; eggs" two in number, pale salmon-pink with deep reddish salmon dots on tbe larger end; the nest is cup-shaped, slung by the rim between twigs at the end of a leafy bough, and composed of fine grasses and strips of bark webbed together with spider's nests. 146. DICTUM HIRUNDINACEUM. This species seems dispersed over the whole of Australia;, nevertheless it is a bird seldom met with in collections, which may be accounted for by its habit of resorting to the highest trees. I found that both in Queensland and New South Wales they frequent the large clumps of mistletoe and Loranthus, of the fruit of which they seem to be particularly fond ; at times they enter the gardens and feed on the fruits of the Cape-mulberry (Morus, sp.). An Ehretia hottentotica at Dobroyde, when its berries are ripe, is a favourite place of resort for this species. 147. NECTARINIA AUSTRALIS. I only met with this interesting species on one occasion near Cardwell; it is by no means common in that district. 148. ZOSTEROPS CEERULESCENS. The Queensland specimens of this species are frequently smaller than our New-Scuth-Wales birds, aud often of a brighter tint on the head and throat, the silver ring round the eye is comparatively larger and more conspicuous. 149. PTILORHIS PARADISEA. The most northerly point that I met with this species was at Port Mackay on the Pioneer river; it was considered there a very rare bird. I have heard of its being occasionally met with in the ranges near Gympie. This bird is very similar to Climacteris in its actions. While encamped for some three or four months in the ranges of the North Richmond river, the great stronghold of this species, I had abundant opportunities of studying its habits, and was struck with the similarity of its actions to our Tree-creepers. The young males and females, seldom accompanied by more than one adult male in livery, are frequently met with together traversing the stems and thick branches of the trees, especially those showing signs or in a state of decay. The call-note of the adult male is a shrill scream, easily imitated sufficiently to attract its attention and cause it to remain until you approach. By this means I have frequently watched it closely as it hopped round the bole of some decaying tree, or tore off the loose bark in search of insects. |