9 s 



I have not yet had the birds under observation sufficiently 

 to form very conclusive opinions as to their demeanour, call 

 notes, and general habits; but after reading Gould's account of 

 the Common Friar Bird, than which he states there are few birds 

 more familiarly known in N.S. Wales, I am already convinced 

 that the habits and economy of the Silvery-crowned and Common 

 Friar Birds must be very similar. Gould dubs them a remark- 

 able genus, and I am assured that all who get an opportunity of 

 viewing these birds in the Western Aviary at the Zoo will agree 

 with him ; and I am certainly looking forward to studying the pair 

 I have reserved for myself in one of my bird-room enclosures. 

 Vernacular names : Its bare head and neck have secured for 

 the genus the names of ' Friar Bird,' ' Monk,' ' Leather 

 Head,' while yet another very appropriate one suggests 

 itself to me, viz., Vulture-headed Honey-eater. 

 As regards description, that given by Gould is quite 

 accurate, save that I should describe the throat and under 

 surface as hoary and not white, but then my specimens may 

 not yet be full}'- mature. 



In a state of nature they frequent the tops of very lofty 

 trees, their flight is undulating and powerful ; they are very agile 

 among the branches and can assume almost any position with 

 ease. 



"Its food consists of the pollen of the Eucalypti, insects, and wild figs and hemes." 

 " {Gould's Birds of Australia, Vol. I.)." 



In the aviary, both its undulating and powerful flight, its 

 clinging attitudes are both Tit- and Parrot-like strike one at 

 once ; no position seems to come amiss to it, whether on the 

 upper or underside of perch or branch or clinging with one or 

 both feet. 



The nest of the Silvery-crowned does not yet appear to 

 have been described or I have overlooked it, but that of the 

 Common Friar Gould describes as rudely constructed, cup- 

 shaped and of large size; composed outwardly of string bark 

 and wool, to which succeeds a layer of fine twigs lined with 

 grasses and fibrous roots, the whole being suspended to the 

 horizontal branch of an apple- {Angophora) or gum-tree without 

 the least regard to secrecy, frequently within a few feet of the 

 ground. Eggs, usually three in number and of a pale salmon- 



