File:A handbook of the birds of Tasmania and its dependencies (1910) (14749617932).jpg

Identifier: handbookofbirdso00litt (find matches)
Title: A handbook of the birds of Tasmania and its dependencies
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Littler, Frank Mervyn
Subjects: Birds -- Australia Tasmania
Publisher: Launceston, Tasmania : F.M. Littler
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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d, in a thick bush. Eggs.—Clutch two to three usually, four rarely; oval and offine texture; surface sUghtly glossy; colovu pinkish-buff; thespots, which are principally reddish-chestnut, are concentratedround the stouter ead, giving that part a decidedly pinky tinge.Dimensions in mm. of a clutch :—(1) 21 x 15, (2) 21 x 15.25; (3)20.75 X 15. Breeding Season.—August to December. Geographical Distribution.—Tasmania and a number of islandsin Bass Strait; also New South Wales, Victoria, South Austraha,and part of Queensland. Observatio7is.—In many localities throughout Tasmania thisHoney-eater is decidedly plentiful. The Spinebill, the Crescent, and this species are frequentlyfound in close company. Banksia and Epacris country is mostlyfavoured. Suburban gardens are often visited for what theycontain in the way of salvia, daphne, and abutilon bushes. Softfruits, such as grapes and ripe pears, are readily eaten if placedwithin reach. Its movements on the ground remind one much of
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NEST OF NEW HOLLAND HONEY-EATER.Photo, by H. C. THOMPSON. BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 61 the English JMagpie. When moving amoug the branches of a bush,either in search of insects or for the purpose of extracting honeyfrom the blossoms, its actions are somewhat slow—it has not thebright alertness of cither the Spinebill or the Crescent Honey-eater. On being approached when feeding, instead of taking alarmand at once flying away, it will dodge the observer round the treeor bush, taking care to keep as far away as possible. *MINER(Myzantha (Manorhina) garrula, Lath.) Male.—Forehead greyish-white; crown of the head, ear coverts,and base of the jaws black; hind-neck grey, narrowly barred withwhitish; back dark grey, slightly washed with yellow, with blackshaft-streaks to feathers; rump and upper tail coverts a littlelighter; tail feathers brownish-grey, black on the inner webs;the centre ones have the extreme outer webs yellow; all are broadlytipped with white; wing coverts same colour as back,

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