76



On the genus Zoster ops.



The white-eves are by nature tame and confiding birds, :: but

they resent interference with what they regard as their rights, and

Mr. Campbell’s account of the manner in which one of these delicate

little creatures stabbed an interfering Sparrow to the heart with its

bill proves that Zosterops is quite as quick at bayonet practice as

its human compatriots: perhaps it might be well to bear this in

mind before associating it in an aviary with meddlesome birds, it

might be disastrous for any who attempted to rob it of building

material when nesting.


After the breeding-season these birds visit orchards and

gardens where they regale themselves chiefly upon fruits and berries,

though they doubtless still continue to pick up such small insects and

caterpillars as they come across during their rambles. In captivity

a good insectivorous mixture with soft fruit, green fly and small

smooth caterpillars or living ant-cocoons seem to suit them well;

potato chopped up with yolk of hard-boiled egg and moistened

sponge-cake make a pleasant variety in diet.


Like others of the smaller insectivorous birds the white-eyes

prefer not to settle on the ground, but they will alight on the edge

of a food-pan to feed although it is natural for them to obtain their

food while clinging to a twig, either above or below it. When

roosting at night a pair will sit close together in the most affection¬

ate manner like many other little birds, in which respect (according

to my experience) they differ entirely from at least some of the tit¬

mice.


Various essays have been made both on the Continent and in

this country to breed different species of Zosterops , but not always

with success. To my mind the most delightful account of the suc¬

cessful breeding of an African species {Z. viridis) was that published

in last year’s volume of our Society by Dr. L. Lovell-Keays, and I

was exceedingly sorry when I heard that the author had recently

put his collection of birds upon the market; I only hope that this

does not indicate that we shall have no more interesting articles

from his pen.


Our Editor wrote to say that he had acquired a lovely pair

of the Australian species from the above collection, and as he

* See Journ. S. Afr. Ornith. Un., Yol. 3, p. 18.



