So'}ne tnlercstbif) Birds. 211 



periods (about luilf-hour) of observation I g^ot of it, dis- 

 l)ortiiig itself amony the trees of my neiglibours' gardens. 

 'I'll is species, though plainly clad, is very handsome 

 and striking even in a siinall flight; but jsoeing it thus disporting 

 itself at large among tiie tops of my neighbours' fruit trees, 

 was the sight of a life-time — It was a bit of Australian wild 

 lil'i' enacted in a London suburb — and will ever be green in 

 my memory; it certainly was some compensation for the 

 anxiety I endured while it was at large. Plain! its beauty 

 was simply marvellous, and though it is a large bird its 

 deportment was Tit -like, with a beautii'ul Swallow-like Uight. 

 Its attitude was also very striking, as it stood on the topmost 

 twigs of some high tree, with its head thrown well back, utter- 

 ing its loud weird cries, which were answered by the female 

 (her's being quite different) and to this fact I attribute its 

 return. The cries were also uttered while it indulged in a 

 sort of wheeling-flight around the tree tops. 



After losing the hen, I let Mr, Willford have the cock 

 by way of exchange — after he had observed it and secured 

 several photographs of it, he also parted with it, but I Delieve 

 it is still fit and well, and a soui-ce of much injterestj in a 

 Chiswick aviary at the present time. In one of Mr. Willford's 

 rocmy flights its general demeanour, deportment, etc., was 

 most interesting, while its flight was admired by all, though 

 the quiet beauty of its plumage did not appeal to all. 



The Australian Honey -eaters are a large and variable 

 group of birds, many of them with really brilliant plumage, 

 varying in size from a Sparrow to that of a large Thl'ush. 

 The Friar -Birds {Philemon) are but a small genus of a most 

 interesting group of birds; they improve upon acquaintance, 

 and given suitable accommodation, are a source of continuous 

 interest. 



From my experience of the Australian Honey -eaters I 

 am convinced that nearly all the species would thrive on milk 

 sop, soft food, soft ripe fruit and live insects, such as meal- 

 worms, beetles, cockroaches, grasshoppers, etc. Their cage 

 or enclosure should be a roomy one. 



The Supkrb Tanagkr {Calliste fastuosa). Tanagers 

 are a group of birds, clad almost without exception in irides- 



