Its note is a double one, rapidly repeated, and much resembles the double call of the Pardalotus striatus, but is much louder and more distinct.
The breeding-season lasts from August to February. The nests observed were constructed in the fork of a small dead branch in an exposed situation, and without the slightest shelter; they were very similar to that of Meliphaga longirostris, but more shallow and less neatly formed. The eggs also closely resembled those of that bird; the ground colour being delicate buff, clouded with reddish buff at the larger end, and distinctly spotted with chestnut-red and purplish grey, thickly disposed at the larger end, but very sparingly over the rest of the surface; the eggs are nine and a half lines long by seven lines broad.
The sexes present no difference in colour or markings, but as usual the female is much less in size.
Forehead, lores, a narrow ring round the eye, and a narrow line running from the angle of the lower mandible white; crown of the head black, each feather slightly margined with white; ear-coverts silvery blackish grey, behind which an irregular line of white; all the upper surface brown, irregularly margined with white, producing a mottled appearance; wings and tail brown, the primaries margined externally with yellowish green; chin and throat brownish black, the former minutely speckled with white; under surface of the wing buff; chest and abdomen white, striped with blackish brown on the flanks; irides dark brown; naked skin round the eyes dark brownish black in front, arterial blood-red behind; bill black; legs and feet greenish grey.
The figures are of the natural size.
GLYCIPHILA FASCIATA: Gould.
J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp.
GLYCIPHILA FASCIATA, Gould.
Fasciated Honey-eater.
Glyciphila fasciata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., October 11, 1842.
All the specimens hitherto collected of this new species have been obtained from the Cobourg Peninsula, in the neighbourhood of Port Essington, where, according to Mr. Gilbert, it is far from being common, for in his notes he says, “I only once observed it near the settlement, and once again met with it on the neck of the peninsula near the main land. Its favourite haunts appeared to be the upper branches of the Melaleucæ, from the blossoms of which it collects its food. In both instances I observed small families of about twelve in number. Its note is a sharp shrill piping call, very rapidly repeated.”