288 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



Araon^ the prettiest and commonest inhabitants of 

 sparsely-wooded districts, these birds may be seen in 

 groups or flocks of from ten to twenty, flyincr swifty to and 

 fro under the trees during all the hours of daylight in pur- 

 suit of flies and other winged insects, and when tired, 

 resting in rows on the lower horizontal branches beneath 

 which they had been disporting themselves. As bitter 

 foes of the ubiquitous mosquito, they should be encouraged 

 and protected in every way. 



The nest is a neat cup-like structure, made of strips of 

 barks and lichens. It is always placed resting against the 

 trunk of a tree, generally a small one. The eggs are only 

 two, of a white colour and of elliptical shape. 



The writer has seen them caged, but they are as much 

 out of place in such a situation as one of our martins. 

 These captives fed mainly on flies that were attracted into 

 the cage by means of a piece of meat hung to the perch on 

 which the prisoners sat. 



THE ZOSTEROPS, OR WHITE EYES. 



These are very peculiar-looking birds on account of the 

 white circle of corrugated skin that surrounds the eyes, 

 giving the appearance of spectacles or "goggles," whence the 

 name s]iectacle birds by which they are also known. They 

 are olive green above, and white below, and about the size 

 of a blackcap. They can be caged, and live for a consider- 

 able time in captivity, eating ants' eggs and similar things, 

 and fruit. 



The zosterops is a native of New Zealand, and belongs 

 to the 



Family — Nectariniidcc. 



Genus — Zosterops. Z. lateralis. Lateral White Eye. 



Z. dorsalis. Grey -backed White E3'e. 



