204 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



peculiar to the areas, for it then starts its most western line of 

 habitation in South Africa, working northward to China, and 

 south from there to New Zealand, closely traversing the 

 intermediate countries. If we include the Silver-eyes, of 

 which there are six species in Australia, we find our continent 

 and Tasmania have seventy-five species of Honey-eaters. 

 Thirty-seven of these are recorded for the extreme south-east, 

 and nearly all are decidedly useful birds, if not entirely 

 insectivorous. The New Holland species, its nearest of 

 kin, the Crescent, and the White-cheeked species are insect- 

 eating as well as being true Honey-eaters. 



The Yellow-faced Honey-eater is strongly attracted by the 

 working of a pioneer's lease, and, if satisfied that fruit is one 

 of the products, decides to stay. To do the bird justice I 

 might say its diet is strongly composed of insects in the 

 winter, when most of the bad characters are, from a human 

 standpoint, on their best behaviour. 



Nest. — Cup-shaped and suspended ; made of grasses and 

 covered with mosses ; position near the ground. 



Eggs. — Two or three to a sitting. The colour varies con- 

 siderably, but it is generally a pale salmon, with spots of 

 chestnut-red and greyish-purple. Length, 0.75 inch ; breadth, 

 0.5 inch. 



