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Mr. A. J. Campbell,



They build a nest in a cosy bush, lining it with the brown,

velvety particles of Banksici cones, sometimes with soft seed-

cases of other vegetation. The other wild Melinoris was the

Crescent Honey-eater ( M. australasiana). No wonder this

splendid little fellow appeared timid, because its natural home is

the depths of the forest, especially where the thick undergrowth

flourishes in moist or swampy situations. The bird is not so gay

in appearance as its White-bearded cousin, and takes its

vernacular name (Crescent) from the black lunar-shaped mark

down each side of the breast of the male. A prettily situated

nest I once found was placed a foot or two from the ground in a

bunch of graceful coral fern ( Cleichenia ). The nest was

beautifully lined with the reddish flowering stalks of moss, upon

which three richly coloured eggs rested.


The biggest Honey-eater in the aviary was a solitary

Warty-faced Honey-eater (Meliphaga phrygia). It was happy upon



From Mivart’s Elements of Ornithology.



WARTY-FACED HONEY-EATER.


Meliphaga phrygia.



a rafter, pouring forth its plaintive song, but seemed a bit pale

coloured, for in the bush nothing can exceed the splendour of its



