MELLOR— Regent lhmey.<aters. 75 



higher elevations in the ranges. Upon making enquiries 

 after the birds" departure, however, 1 found that tliey had not 

 made the Adehiide hills (heir rendezvous. Their visit to the 

 Adelaide Tlains 1 believe is unique, and it will be interesting to 

 note Avliether, having once made this their line of migration, 

 they will repeat the ronte in future seasons. The suddenness, 

 of their appearance, and their equally quick disappearance, 

 left no doubt in uiy miu<l that they were 

 migrating i-apidly. most lilu'ly foi-ced on their jiuirney by the 

 exceptioually dry season expei-ienced in this ^^tate. While 

 they were with us they pro\-ed a beautiful sight and kept the 

 locality gay with their bright plumage and remarkably sweet 

 and continuous song. The latter is a tlute-like warble, of 

 silvery liquid notes, not unlike the song of the Oriole, but 

 more lively and continuous. 



The tameness of the birds was especially noticeable. 

 They even came to the back door, and three or four at a time 

 would drink at a bucket beneath the tap. or suck the water 

 ;is it drip])ed from the noz?:le of the taj*. They were in num- 

 bers, even in the fowls' yard, and hero 1 was able to note their 

 habits at close quarters. Their food consisted chiefly of in 

 sects, whicli they sometimes caught in the gnarled boughs of 

 Ihe old gum trees, but ])rincipally by sallying out 

 on the wing to catch them in mid air, and then flying to a 

 neighbouring bough to eat the cajitured tit-bit. 



The following notes from my ornithological notebook 

 may be of interest to show the exact dates of arrival and de 

 parture, etc.-- 



April 28, 1919 — "I noted a small covey of what I took to 

 be these birds (Regent Honey eaters) flying from a gum tree 

 at Lockleys, late in the afternoon, there >\as about a dozen." 



April 29, — "I made sure of the identity of the birds, by 

 shooting one in a gum tree in the fowls' yard, there being 

 several birds about during the day, but I did not get more 

 than I he one specimen, which I was exceedingly i)leased to 

 secure, as it was the first time that \ had noted the 

 birds down here. They were making a very sweet and 

 pleasing warbling whistle, not unlike the notes of the Oriole, 

 bul not nearly so powerful. and continued this 

 melody at intervals all day. as they searched amongst the 

 boughs of the gum trees for their food. Ever and anon thoy 

 sallied forth after a beeih'. which they caughi on the wing, 

 and then flew into a tree to eat it." 



