154 Stray Feathers. i'^i'lt oT 



Meliphaga fusca ( Fusc(ni> Honey Eaters). — These Honey- 

 caters (Meliplia(/a fusca), liitherto regarded as purely bush 

 birds that required, as a rule, some searching for high u|) in 

 eucalypts, have this year (at W'ahroonga) come down to our 

 doors. In the autumn (which was dry) they were observed at 

 the drinking bath a little way from the verandah in company 

 with White-naped Honey-eaters {Melithreptus lunulatus), at 

 first one or two odd ones, then in increasing numbers and fre- 

 (|uency until, through the winter, the bath was rarely without 

 them. Both these sj)ecies are \ery fond of water. Perched on 

 the edge of the bath and taking drink after drink, they hold the 

 water in the bill, and oi)ening the mandibles a little, kee]^ niDving 

 the tongue about, frequently beyond the end of the bill, evidently 

 enjoying the feel of the water in the mouth. At other times, 

 they indulge in vigorous splashings until the feathers are quite 

 drenched. Later on, the fuscous birds took to coming to the 

 ground just outside the kitchen door and picking up morsels of 

 food. Here they were usually associated with Yellow-faced 

 Honey-eaters (.1/. chrysops ). and soon acquired such a taste for 

 this new diet that they were sometimes flushed out of the scrap 

 bucket. Later still (in July), while the loquat trees were in 

 flower, they were to be seen going over the trees gathering honey 

 and insects. Here again with different companions — their beau- 

 tiful yellow-tufted brothers (]\I. mela)wps) — vocal duets were 

 frequently to be heard, [^leasing enough to bird-lovers, but not 

 very sweet or melodious. In general appearance their colouring 

 is quite dull — a grey brown above, light grey below with chest 

 faintly marked. The olive yellow about the middle of the wing- 

 quills (which are brown towards the ends) and the touch of 

 the same colour on the side of the outer tail quills is not seen 

 unless the bird is cpiite close, nor is the small pale yellow patch 

 by the ear or the slight black marking about the eye easily 

 visible. The bill is a clear light brown at base with a dark tip. 

 They have typical Honey-eater notes — some cut short like those 

 of the Yellow-faced; others rather ciuerulous, somewhat resemb- 

 ling those of the Yellow-tufted, but not so rasi)ing. There is a 

 marked dift'erence in the size of the birds — the females seem to 

 be smaller relatively than is usual. — H. W'oi.stkniiolmk, W'ah- 

 roonga, Svdney. 



* * * 



The "Lost" Paradise Parrot. -This bird was fairly numerous 

 twenty-five years ago in parts of the Wide Bay district. I .saw 

 many of them, also their nests, as described in your last issue. 

 They gradually disai)peared. Possibly continual firing of the 

 grass, heavy stocking, and ring-barking on a large scale deprived 

 them of certain grass seeds essential to their natural existence. 

 Further, being ground-loving birds, they would be an easy prey 

 to wild cats, which during late years have become very plentiful, 

 and one of the greatest enemies of many useful birrls. — W. H. 

 Kdwakds. R..\.C).r.. ••Coongoold." Colosseum. X.K. Line. Q. 



