On Honey-Eaters.



353



black and golden garb, the head, throat and chest being black,

while the rest of the plumage in general is beautifully mottled

with black and pure yellow. There is a patch of small wart-like

excrescences on either side of the face, hence the distinguishing

name, Warty-faced. This handsome Honey-eater is about the

size of a Thrush, or about SJ inches in length. Imagine a flock

of about fifty of these beauties darting from tree to tree through

the bush. I have been spell-bound by such a sight, and what a

picture, too, their beautifully constructed, cup-shaped, bark-made

nests make, when resting on a horizontal limb, not to mention

the “ pigeon” pair of lovely salmon-coloured eggs!


Now I have come to the last as well as the least of the

captive and captivating Honey-eaters—a little Sanguineous or

Blood-Bird. There was only one specimen—a female (some

gorgeous males having succumbed)—her plumage as usual

being uniform light brown and her length about five inches,

including a long (one inch) Humming-Bird-like bill, so

admirably adapted for prospecting tempting flowers. The males

have their heads, necks and backs of shining scarlet, hence the

name Blood-Bird. In the tropics I have enjoyed watching

scores of these little beauties in their brilliant livery, disporting

themselves and feeding, on dewy mornings, among the Melaleuca

blossoms.


To conclude, I suppose I have come to the crux of my

article from an aviculturist’s point of view. How are all these

delightful birds kept in captivity ? Miss Bowie informs me the

food is very simple—garden honey diluted with water ( i.e hone} 7

two parts to one part water—pure honey makes the birds too

fat); a little Lark-food, or instead, bread and water sugared;

plenty of green stuff—lettuce, etc.,—and any seasonable fruit.

Of course, not forgetting a few flies or sucli-like insects.


[The heart\ r thanks of the members of the Avicultural

Society are due to Mr. Campbell for his most interesting

article.—E d.)



