SOUTH AND CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 175 



Queensland, the Torresian sub-region; Tasmania 

 being the now isolated terminal. 



Honey-eaters are everywhere in Australia; in 

 the driest, in the wettest, in the warmest, in the 

 coldest ; though not breeding at so high an altitude 

 as the Pipit. Some are modest in plumage colour, 

 others beautiful in brillancy. There are numerous 

 structural pecularities, the Spine-bill of Tasmania, 

 having the longest and most wonderful beak, while 

 the Friar Bird is bare headed. 



SOUTH AND CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 



Areas 6 — 7 



The areas 6, 7, map 1, are subject to a flood or a 

 drought, a feast or a famine. 



When an all absorbing drought has established 

 itself in the back country of Australia most birds 

 make an effort to get away, while others new to 

 the country come along with the desperate hope 

 of getting food and drink. 



The last to hang on to the homestead supplies 

 are the Chestnut-eared Finch, the Budgerigar 

 Shell-Parrot and the Crested Pigeon. Tit-Warblers 

 just exist in endless belts of mulga scrub, while 

 Wren-Warblers get food and drink in the succulent 

 leaves of salt bushes. The White-face (Xerophila) 

 is evidently the most common bird over the wide 

 tracts of southern salsolaceous country about Lake 

 Gardner. 



