THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



^93 



Most of the foregoing birds are more nearly related by 

 their habits to the sparrows than to the finches, properly so 

 called. 



THE HONEY-EATERS. 



The Honey-eaters, or nectivorous birds are a fairly 

 numerous group found in Australia, New Guinea, New 

 Zealand, and some of the islands in the Pacific. The best 

 known of them is the PoE, or Parson Bird of New Zealand, 

 where it used to be found in abundance, but now is much 

 reduced in numbers. 



It is a large bird, about the size of a jackdaw, but with 

 a longer and slimmer build. It is in much request for its 

 song and great imitative powers. It requires good 

 management to keep it alive in confinement, but, by a 

 judicious mixture of insect with vegetable matters and 

 honey, this can be done ; though even under the most favour- 

 able circumstances, the poe will often be unreasonable 

 enough to have a fit and die, the result, probably, of diges- 

 tive trouble. From the disinclination it evinces to go on 

 the ground, it is probable that in its native islands it 

 catches its insect prey on the wing, or, at least, among the 

 branches of the trees it frequents. 



Family — MelipJiagidcB. 

 Genus — 



1. ProstJiemadura. P. novce zelandice. 



2. Anthornis. A. nielanura. 



3. Xanthoinyza. X. pJirygia. 



4. Entomyza. E. cyanotis. 



Poe. 

 Black-tailed 



Flower Bird. 

 Warty-faced 



Honey-Eater. 

 Blue -faced Honey 

 Eater. 



