The nest, which is constructed among the large-leaved Banksias, is of a round compact form, and is composed of dried fine grasses, tendrils of flowers, narrow threads of bark and fine wiry fibrous roots matted together with zamia wool, forming a thick body, which is warmly lined with feathers and zamia wool mingled together; the external diameter of the nest is three inches, and that of the cavity about one inch and a quarter. The eggs are two in number, nine lines long by six and a half broad; their ground colour in some instances is a delicate buff, in others a very delicate bluish white with a few specks of reddish brown distributed over the surface, these specks being most numerous at the larger end, where they frequently assume the form of a zone. The breeding-season is in October.
The sexes present little or no difference in external appearance, but the female may generally be distinguished from her mate by her more diminutive size and the more slender contour of her body.
Crown of the head, all the upper surface, wings, and six middle tail-feathers greyish brown, the remainder of the tail-feathers black, largely tipped with white and narrowly margined on their external edges with brown; space between the bill and eye, and the ear-coverts blackish brown; stripe over the eye, chin, and a broader stripe beneath the eye white; back part of the neck light chestnut-brown; centre of the throat rich chestnut, bounded below by a crescent of white, which is succeeded by another of black; abdomen and under tail-coverts light greyish brown, in some specimens deepening into buff; irides reddish brown; bill black; legs dark brown.
The figures are those of a male and a female of the natural size.
MYZOMELA SANGUINOLENTA.
J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp.
MYZOMELA SANGUINOLENTA.
Sanguineous Honey-eater.
Certhia sanguinolenta, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xxxvii.
L’Heorotaire sanguin, Vieill. Ois. Dor., tom. ii. p. 127.
Sanguineous Creeper, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 167. pl. 130.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 235.