My Sombre Hoiicy-Eatcr. ,39 



must pass on. Refusiiii;- to be cajoled by hundreds of Gouldian 

 F-nches (both Red and Black-head), all in exhibition plumage, I 

 n^ade arrangements for pairs of Red-naped Lorikeets, Peaceful 

 Doves, Painted Finches {Emhlcma f^icta). 4 Silvery-crowned 

 Friar-Birds, and one Sombre Honey-eater to be put on rail to me 

 on the following Monday, and then, after dining with Capt. and 

 Mrs. Perreau, I returned to Swindon — duly receiving" the birds 

 on the Monday evening. 



This reminiscence has raised sad as well as pleasant 

 memories for. though T had corresponded long with Capt. 

 Perreau, this was our first meeting— we met afterwards on 

 each succeeding leave — n.ow he has crossed the great beyond, 

 one of those wdio made the supreme sacrifice for King and 

 Country, and not only do I anew feel the pang of the loss of a 

 personal friend, but the loss of one who so ably assisted me for 

 many years to fill the pages of this Journal — a valued contrib- 

 utor, missed still, for " the times " have provided no substitute. 

 I am sure my readers will pardon this digression. 



There was one sharp distinction (contrast) in this 

 marvellous Australian collection, viz: while all the hard-bills 

 were in exhibition trim, the softbills, though healthy, were in 

 very poor feather. 



When the Sombre Honey-eater arrived it was in juvenal 

 plumage, and I put it into my outdoor birdroom, in a flight 4ft. 

 X 2ft. X 3ft. high, and it did well, in fact it never looked back 

 and was soon well and tightly feathered and the picture of 

 health. In spite of its name, which is certainly a misnomer, it 

 was a beautiful bird and an object of interest to all callers. He 

 shared his flight with a very fine Shama. which was already in 

 possession, and a little inclined at first to resent the intrusion 

 r.t the new-comer. Naturally for some days the Shama ruled 

 the roost, fed first and took " the pick " of everything, but this 

 was only temporary and nearly led to disaster, for one evening 

 on my return from business I found the Shama partially disabled; 

 fortunately he recovered, for he was a favourite of some three 

 years' standing — he had tried acting the master once too often, 

 and the under-dog had turned. I found another flight, not 

 quite so large, and put the Sombre Honey-eater into sole 

 possession. 



