34? 



NESTS A.\D EGGS OE AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



that the instinct of a foi-mer northciii inheritance was strong in the 

 bu'ds, and that they may have been endeavouring to reach it. 



Mr. Travers invents the ingenious theory that the oi-iginal White 

 Eyes came to New Zealand after the memorable " Black Thiu-sday,' 

 which occurred in Austraha^ 1851. 



I have obsei-ved on the mainland that the White Eyes have migratory 

 tendencies, altliough I have seen them in Victoria at all seasons. Gould 

 regarded it as a stationary species, I have found their pretty nests 

 in the coastal scrubs duiing summer ; while in winter the birds in small 

 companies are frequently seen darting about our gardens, where they 

 are specially fond of the heating berries of the pepper-tree ( Schiiius). 

 When threading the branches, feeding, a bird occasionally utters a soft, 

 sweet, chattering warble, as if singing inwardly, or to itself. The well- 

 known call or alarm note is a short, feeble, whistle-like sound, often 

 repeated. 



While mentioning pepper-trees, 1 may mention that my son Archie 

 was once watching White Eyes feeding in our tree, when a Sparrow 

 (introduced) intnided. One of the White Eyes, with its sharp httle 

 beak, made a lunge at the Sparrow, piercing it to the heart, so that it 

 immediatel}' fell dead beneath and was brought to me for examination. 



Owing, no doubt, to the bird's familiar disposition, it does not shun 

 the presence of man, and has been found nesting in bushes bordering 

 well frequented paths in gardens, both pubhc and private. My friend 

 Mr. Ed. D Ombrain presented me with three White Eyes wliich he 

 trapped in his gaiden. They are fed on ground sweet biscuit and fruit, 

 and are now thriving in the aviary with a pair of canaries. Occasionally 

 the canaries have been observed feeding their native brethren. Mr. 

 D'Ombrain tells me he heard from a relation in England, lately, who 

 saw exliibited in a bird show, a pair of Zosterops ticketed " AustraUan 

 Spectacle Birds. Price £5." 



I said that the Wliite Eye was an orchard pest; but the late Mr. T. 

 H. Potts puts its case very nicely when he wi'ote, " Tlie White Eye or 

 BUglit (eating) Bird, with cheerful note, in crowded flocks, sweeps over 

 the face of the country, and its progress clears away multitudes of small 

 insect pests that persistently beset a great variety of cultivated plants 

 and trees. It is tiiie that in spring-time it insists in taking boldly and 

 openly its retaining fee for its services, probing with its needle beak the 

 luscious pulp of clienies that hang most temptingly in ckistcring ripes, 

 red and pm-jjle. Tlie fniit grower may not just then like to admit the 

 claims of the White Eye, deeming it an inconvenient time for that kind 

 of visitation ; but we believe the little worker has honestly earned 

 liis wages. " Mr. Potts obsei^ves that incubation in the case of the 

 Wliite Eye lasts about ten days ; another ten days sees the yoimg 

 fledged. 



Although a considerable variety of material is used for nest^building, 

 moss, gi-ass, and hair predominate. One beautiful example I received 

 from a thoughtful friend who was photographing in the Apollo Bay 

 district was so ciuiously furnished with long white hairs that the strag- 

 gUng ends projected from every part of the stiiicture. Many of the hairs 

 were a foot in length, while one mea-sured 19 inches. 



